Clutches

Details Clutches Clutches

2000-02-04

2002-03-26

Lorence, Richard M. (Department: 3681)

192 clutches and power-stop control

Clutches

Operators

C192S090000, C192S03000R

Reexamination Certificate

active

06360863

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to clutches and in particular to vehicle clutches for use in vehicle drivelines to connect a vehicle engine with an associated transmission.
There is a requirement for a compact clutch assembly in which the clutch actuator is mounted on the clutch cover and is isolated, at least to a certain extent, from vibrations emanating from the associated vehicle flywheel.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus according to the present invention there is provided a clutch assembly comprising:
a clutch cover,
a pressure plate mounted on the cover,
spring means biasing the pressure plate away from the cover to engage the clutch,
lever means for releasing the clutch,
an annular hydraulic slave cylinder mounted on the cover via a support bearing for movement of the lever means to release the clutch, and
a vibration isolating means provided between the clutch cover and the slave cylinder.
The vibration isolating means may comprise a polymeric layer interposed between the bearing and the slave cylinder.
The vibration isolating means may comprise a polymeric layer interposed between the bearing and the cover.
The polymeric layer may be provided by coating a race of the support bearing with polymeric material.
A race of the bearing may be provided with an annular flange portion which encircles the axis of rotation of the clutch assembly, said flange being received in a correspondingly shaped recess in an annular piston of the slave cylinder. The polymeric layer may be provided on the annular flange portion.
The annular piston may be slidingly received in an annular bore in a housing of the slave cylinder to define a working chamber, said housing being connected with the lever means via a clutch release bearing so that pressurisation of the working chamber axially displaces the housing to move the lever means and disengage the clutch. The release bearing may be connected with the lever means via a thrust plate.
As will be appreciated the above clutch assembly is particularly compact and also at least partially isolates the slave cylinder from vibrations emanating in the associated vehicle flywheel due to the presence of the layer of polymeric material. This isolation helps to assist in reducing leakage between the piston and the associated annular bore and also jamming of the piston within the bore.
The present invention also provides a clutch assembly comprising:
a clutch cover
a pressure plate mounted on the cover,
spring means biasing the pressure plate away from the cover to engage the clutch,
lever means for releasing the clutch, and
an annular hydraulic slave cylinder mounted on the cover within a support bearing, a race of the support bearing being connected with an annular piston of the slave cylinder, said piston being slidably received in an annular bore in a housing of the slave to define a working chamber, said housing being connected with the lever means via a clutch release bearing so that pressurisation of the working chamber axially displaces the housing to move the lever means and disengage the clutch.
Such an assembly may or may not include the vibration isolating means of the first aspect of the invention between the clutch cover and slave cylinder.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:


REFERENCES:
patent: 4448294 (1984-05-01), Brandenstein et al.
patent: 4456111 (1984-06-01), Limbacher
patent: 5452781 (1995-09-01), Eckel

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