192 clutches and power-stop control – Clutches – Axially engaging
Patent
1995-07-10
1997-08-12
Bonck, Rodney H.
192 clutches and power-stop control
Clutches
Axially engaging
192 8923, F16D 1371, F16D 1350
Patent
active
056556381
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to clutch modules, especially for motor vehicles.
As is known, a clutch module is a unit which comprises a mechanism, a clutch friction wheel and a flywheel, the mechanism itself comprising a cover plate by which it is attached on the flywheel, a diaphragm which bears on the cover plate, and a pressure plate on which the diaphragm bears, with, interposed between the pressure plate and the cover plate, tongues which couple the pressure plate to the cover plate for rotation with it, while allowing it some degree of axial mobility with respect to the latter.
More particularly, the invention is directed to the case in which there are, also associated with the diaphragm, resilient gripping means which permanently bias the diaphragm towards its primary engagement on the cover plate.
Usually, the said resilient gripping means simply consist of an elastic ring which bears on lugs that project from the cover plate and embrace the diaphragm through openings which exist at the root of its radial fingers.
Because these very lugs have to be formed and bent, manufacture necessitates the use of specific tooling.
In the document DE-A-2 927 424, the resilient gripping means comprise an annular member which, bearing on the cover plate at its periphery of greatest diameter, engages on the diaphragm in the vicinity of its periphery having the smallest diameter.
For the engagement and fastening of this annular member on the cover plates, it is necessary to carry out a blanking and forming operation on at least part of the side wall of the latter, which accordingly carries the penalty that manufacture is complicated.
An object of the invention is to provide a clutch module of the kind having tongues between the pressure plate and the cover plate, and having resilient gripping means associated with the diaphragm, as described above, which has the advantage of affording great simplicity of manufacture.
This clutch mechanism is characterised in that the resilient gripping means of the diaphragm are divided into at least two sectors, which are secured to the cover plate, both circumferentially and axially, at each of their circumferential ends, and each of which defines an integral tongue.
Supplementary advantage is thus taken of the components constituting the resilient gripping means for the diaphragm, giving the benefit of simplified arrangements as regards both manufacture and fitting.
For example, for securing them to the cover plate, the sectors that constitute these components are gripped between the cover plate and the flywheel, in conjunction with centring and/or rotational coupling.
As a result, the arrangement is greatly simplified, both in manufacture, in which no pressing-out of the side wall of the cover plate is necessary, and in fitting, in which connection, fitting consists in this case of a simple stacking operation.
If special fastening means are interposed between the cover plate and the sectors by way of modification, the mechanism may have the advantage that it forms a unitary sub-assembly, by itself if desired, and this also facilitates fitting.
Such a mechanism constitutes a further objective of the present invention.
The objects of the invention and their features and advantages will appear more clearly from the description that follows by way of example, with reference to the attached diagrammatic drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a clutch module in accordance with the invention, shown locally cut away;
FIG. 2 is a view of the same, in axial cross section taken on the broken line II--II in FIG. 1, with the other components with which it cooperates shown in FIG. 2 in fine lines;
FIG. 3 is a partial view of the same, developed in the flat and in circumferential cross section taken on the line III--III in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view on a larger scale of one of the sectors employed in accordance with the invention in the said clutch module;
FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are partial views in cross section of the same sector, in cross section on the lines V--V, VI--VI and VI
REFERENCES:
patent: 3939951 (1976-02-01), Sink et al.
patent: 4084674 (1978-04-01), De Gennes
patent: 4666024 (1987-05-01), Blond et al.
patent: 5236070 (1993-08-01), Simoncic et al.
Bonck Rodney H.
Valeo
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