192 clutches and power-stop control – Clutches – Plural clutch-assemblage
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-07
2004-12-14
Rodriguez, Saul (Department: 3681)
192 clutches and power-stop control
Clutches
Plural clutch-assemblage
C192S070160, C192S200000, C192S11000B, C192S11000B
Reexamination Certificate
active
06830140
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
In accordance with a first particular aspect, the invention pertains to a motor vehicle drive train with a multi-clutch device, especially with a dual clutch device, installed between a drive unit and a transmission to transmit torque between the drive unit and the transmission, where the clutch device comprises a first clutch arrangement assigned to a first transmission input shaft and a second clutch arrangement assigned to a second transmission input shaft, where the transmission input shafts are essentially coaxial to an axis of rotation of the clutch device. A where an input side of the clutch device is connected either directly or indirectly by way of a torque-transmitting arrangement to a connecting end of a power takeoff shaft of the drive unit, and the torque-transmitting arrangement has a radially outer connecting area for the connection to the clutch device and a radially inner connection area for the direct or indirect connection to the connecting end.
2. Description of the Related Art
The main type of clutch in question here is a dual clutch device of the friction disk type, referred to in brief as a dual clutch, which has at least one clutch disk per clutch arrangement to serve as the clutch disk and an associated clamping plate, by means of which at least one friction area of the clutch disk can be pressed against an opposing support area, which can rotate in common with a housing arrangement of the clutch device. It is also quite conceivable, however, that the ideas of the invention presented below could also be applied to clutch designs of other types. The torque-transmitting arrangement can be an integral part of a clutch module which comprises the clutch device; that is, the torque-transmitting arrangement and the clutch module can constitute a single component which forms the clutch device, or the torque-transmitting arrangement can be a component or assembly separate from such a module, in which case it could be provided in the form of, for example, a flexplate.
Especially in the case of dual clutch systems with their-relatively complex pressure plate geometries, the clutch disks must usually be premounted between the pressure plate and the associated clamping plate. To connect the clutch device to the power takeoff shaft, a torque-transmitting arrangement in the form of a flexplate is frequently used, which is attached by several screws arranged around a reference circle to a connecting end of the power takeoff shaft or to a flywheel in cases where a flywheel (possibly a dual-mass flywheel) is attached to the power takeoff shaft first. If the clutch disks are already premounted in the clutch device, it is usually no longer possible in cases where the clutch device is already mounted on the drive unit to gain access to the screw holes located on the reference circle, which means that it is impossible to mount a preassembled unit comprising the flexplate and the clutch device itself, as a single structural unit, on the drive unit, that is, it is impossible to connect the clutch device, using the flexplate, either directly or indirectly, to the power takeoff shaft (possibly the crankshaft) of the drive unit. It is therefore necessary to mount the clutch device itself, which is possibly preassembled as a structural unit, and the flexplate independently of each other in such a way, for example, that the flexplate is connected to the power takeoff shaft first, and then the clutch device is attached to the flexplate, whereupon the drive unit can be connected to the transmission; alternatively, the flexplate is mounted on the drive unit, whereas the clutch device is attached to the transmission, and then the drive unit with the flexplate and the transmission with the clutch device are connected to each other. In any case, the clutch device unit on the one hand and the flexplate (i.e., the torque-transmitting arrangement in general) must be delivered as separate components to the assembly line of the motor vehicle producer, whereupon the assembly steps described above must be carried out. As a rule, the clutch module will be set onto the transmission input shafts first, and then the flexplate will be mounted on the power takeoff shaft (especially the crankshaft), whereupon the transmission and the drive unit (engine) will be connected, and finally the clutch module will be attached to the flexplate from the outside through at least one hole in the transmission housing shroud by means of, for example, at least three screws or the like distributed around the circumference. This assembly procedure is very complicated and also highly susceptible to error, because it is difficult to verify that the assembly work has been carried out properly, especially that the flexplate has been properly connected to the clutch device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to make it possible to install a preassembled installation unit comprising the clutch device itself and the torque-transmitting arrangement (possibly the flexplate or flexplate arrangement) into the drive train as a single unit without the need to separate the torque-transmitting arrangement from the clutch assembly afterwards. It would be especially ideal if this installation unit could also comprise the actuation unit belonging to the clutch device, so that the drive train would then consist in practical terms of only three components, namely, the drive train, the transmission, and the installation unit described above.
According to the invention, the torque-transmitting arrangement is connected nonrotatably under mediation of at least one positive connecting element, which nonrotatably connects the radially inner connecting area to the connecting end or to a component or assembly attached nonrotatably to the connecting end and which secures the radially inner connecting area to the connecting end or to the component or assembly in the axial direction, where the positive connecting element is located in a central radial area relative to the axis of rotation, which area is essentially equal to or smaller than the radial area occupied by the transmission input shafts.
Because the positive connecting element, such as a screw or a threaded bolt, is located in the central radial area or is installed there during the assembly procedure, it becomes possible to proceed in the axial direction to install the positive element in the central radial area. Once the positive connecting element has been installed, it can be accessed in its central radial area from the axial direction when necessary for the sake of maintenance or repair so that, for example, the clutch device or the above-cited installation unit can be replaced.
As a rule, it will be advisable for the radial area occupied by the radially inner transmission input shaft to comprise the central radial area.
If the clutch arrangements in question are clutch arrangements of the friction disk type, each of which has at least one clutch disk serving as a friction disk, which is mounted nonrotatably by its connecting hub to the assigned transmission input shaft, then it is preferred that, in a state corresponding to an open or as yet unassembled drive train where the transmission and the drive unit are separate from each other, the positive connecting element be accessible or installable through a central channel in the clutch device mounted on the drive unit. This central channel is defined by the receiving openings in the connecting hubs for the transmission input shafts assigned to them and possibly by a central opening in an actuating module, which is connected to the clutch device to form a single structural unit and which serves to actuate the clutch arrangements, this opening allowing the transmission input shafts to pass through in the axial direction.
The proposals according to the invention are not limited to motor vehicle drive trains with multi-clutch devices or dual clutch devices. Therefore, in accordance with a general aspect of the invention, a motor vehicle drive train is provided w
Heiartz Markus
Orlamünder Andreas
Pagels Olaf
Vogt Sebastian
Zink Georg
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
Rodriguez Saul
ZF Sachs AG
LandOfFree
Clutch device connected centrally on the input side to a... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Clutch device connected centrally on the input side to a..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Clutch device connected centrally on the input side to a... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3297645