192 clutches and power-stop control – Clutches – Axially engaging
Patent
1994-11-17
1997-06-24
Bonck, Rodney H.
192 clutches and power-stop control
Clutches
Axially engaging
192109R, 19211324, F16D 1371
Patent
active
056410476
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention concerns clutch mechanisms, notably for motor vehicles, of the type comprising an annular cover having a base connected to a peripheral flange by a connecting area, an annular thrust plate provided with lugs projecting radially outwards, elastic means with axial action bearing on the base of the cover to act on the thrust plate and push the latter in the axially opposite direction to the base of the cover, axially flexible circumferential tongues fixed at their ends, by means of fixing devices, each respectively to a coupling area of the flange of the cover and to a lug on the thrust plate, and at least one means for limiting the axial travel of the thrust plate so as to prevent the latter from moving more than a predetermined distance away from the base of the cover, the said means being integral with a device for fixing the said tongues to the thrust plate and passing through, for this purpose, an opening formed in a stop zone at least partly forming part of a limitation area on the flange of the cover and having a continuous shoulder, larger in size than the said opening, suitable for coming to bear against the said stop zone.
Such a unitary mechanism is described in the document FR-A-867 177. In this, in the storage position (with the mechanism not fixed to its reaction plate), the shoulder cooperates with the edge of its associated opening in order to limit the axial travel of the thrust plate under the action of the elastic means with axial action. The tongues are thus protected and there is no risk that they will be damaged by deformation, notably by their elastic limit being exceeded.
Nonetheless, this limitation means may become a hindrance when the clutch casing, adjacent to the cover, is located in the immediate vicinity of the said cover and more precisely of its peripheral flange comprising fixing areas equipped with fixing holes for the device for fixing the cover or reaction plate of the clutch to pass through and, circumferentially and axially offset with respect to the fixing areas, coupling and limitation areas as alluded to previously. In this case the limitation areas are near to the clutch casing.
For this reason, document FR-A-2 642 125 provided, so as not to change the position and size of the elastic means with axial action, for the creation of a limitation means with a shouldered head, the size of whose upper part is such that it matches the contour of the clutch casing. The result of this is that the shoulder is trimmed so that the bearing surface that the said shoulder offers to the stop zone is reduced.
The object of the present invention is to overcome this drawback and therefore to create, in a simple and economical manner, a novel clutch mechanism, whose cover can be located in the immediate vicinity of the clutch casing, while having a limitation means with a continuous shoulder, and without changing the location of the elastic means with axial action.
According to the invention, a mechanism of the type indicated above is characterised in that the said stop zone is delimited on the inside by a slot affecting the connecting area and partly extends radially below the limitation area, and in that the limitation means partly extends radially below the limitation area.
By means of the slot according to the invention it is possible, considering the document FR-A-2 642 125, to offset the limitation means radially inwards in order to produce a continuous shoulder, without modifying the said elastic means. Thus there is no risk that this shoulder will interfere with the clutch casing and may be located more towards the centre of the mechanism, while the shoulder has a good seating.
Moreover, the elastic means with axial action can be located on the same circumference as in the document FR-A-2 642 125, in such a way that the performance of the clutch, notably the transmissible torque, is not reduced. Moreover, no trimming of the head need be undertaken. The solution is therefore simple and economical.
Advantageously, the slot delimits a tongue extending the limit
REFERENCES:
patent: 4577740 (1986-03-01), Carmillet
patent: 4655334 (1987-04-01), Valier
patent: 4781280 (1988-11-01), Huber
patent: 4846330 (1989-07-01), Takeuchi
Dequesnes Laurent
Hagnere Raymond
Bonck Rodney H.
Valeo
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