192 clutches and power-stop control – Clutches – Axially engaging
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-27
2001-10-23
Lorence, Richard M. (Department: 3681)
192 clutches and power-stop control
Clutches
Axially engaging
C192S070270, C192S070180, C192S089230, C192S089250, C192S111400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305520
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to friction clutches in general, and more particularly to improvements in friction clutches of the type having arrangements serving to automatically compensate for wear upon various component parts such as the friction linings of the so-called clutch disc or clutch plate.
Friction clutches with automatic wear compensating units or arrangements are disclosed or referred to, for example, in published German patent applications Serial Nos. 42 39 291, 43 06 505, 42 39 289, 43 22 677, 44 18 026, 44 31 641 and 195 10 905. Such friction clutches can be utilized with advantage in the power trains of motor vehicles, e.g., to transmit or to interrupt the transmission of torque between a prime mover (such as a combustion engine or a hybrid including an engine and a motor) and a variable-speed (manual, automated or automatic) transmission.
As a rule, a friction clutch comprises a rotary housing which is coaxial with and spaced apart from the clutch disc, a pressure plate which rotates with the housing and is movable axially between the housing and the clutch disc, and at least one clutch spring (normally a diaphragm spring) which is caused or permitted to bias the pressure plate against the adjacent friction linings of the clutch disc so that the latter is urged against a driven counterpressure plate and shares (with or without slip) the rotary movement of the housing. The housing (as well as the counterpressure plate) receives torque from the prime mover and can rotate the pressure plate as well as the diaphragm spring. The latter reacts against the housing and bears upon the pressure plate at least in the engaged condition of the clutch.
The wear compensating unit is arranged to move (when necessary) the diaphragm spring away from the housing to an extent commensurate with the extent of wear upon various component parts (particularly the friction linings) of the clutch. Furthermore, the wear compensating unit is or can be designed to ensure that the amount of energy stored by the diaphragm spring remains at least substantially constant during the useful life of the power train. In many or most instances, the wear compensating unit is installed (at least in part) between the diaphragm spring and the adjacent (inner) side of the housing. Reference may be had, for example, to commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,409,091 (granted Apr. 25, 1995 to Reik et al. for “AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE FRICTION CLUTCH”) and 5,450,934 (granted Sep. 19, 1995 to Maucher for “FRICTION CLUTCH”).
The disclosures of all U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications identified in the specification of the present application are incorporated herein by reference. The disclosure of the German priority application Serial No. 199 24 954.7 (filed May 31, 1999) is also incorporated herein by reference.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the instant invention is to provide a friction clutch which embodies an automatic wear compensating unit and is simpler and less expensive than but at least as reliable as heretofore known friction clutches of such character.
Another object of the invention is to provide a friction clutch which embodies a wear compensating unit comprising fewer parts than the wear compensating units of heretofore known friction clutches.
A further object of the present invention is to provide novel and improved component parts for use in the above outlined friction clutch.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved clutch spring for use in the above outlined friction clutch.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of assembling the parts of the above outlined friction clutch.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel housing for use in the above outlined friction clutch.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved combination of clutch spring and housing for use in the above outlined friction clutch.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a friction clutch which comprises a small number of simple, compact, relatively inexpensive and readily combinable parts which do not adversely affect its utility and/or versatility and/or the duration of its useful life.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a friction clutch the operation of which necessitates the exertion of smaller forces than that of conventional friction clutches.
A further object of the invention is to provide a friction clutch which can be engaged and/or disengaged in response to the exertion of a relatively small force and in such a way that the fluctuations of required force are small or negligible.
Another object of the invention is to provide a friction clutch which is constructed and assembled in such a way that the magnitude of the required engaging and/or disengaging force is not influenced by the extent of wear upon the friction linings, pressure plate and other parts of the clutch.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a friction clutch which is constructed and assembled in such a way that the magnitude of the clutch disengaging force need not vary, or need not vary to an appreciable extent, during disengagement as well as and especially subsequent to disengagement of the friction linings of the clutch disc from the neighboring parts.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a power train, particularly for use in motor vehicles, which embodies a friction clutch of the above outlined character.
A further object of the invention is to provide a friction clutch which can be installed in existing power trains as a superior substitute for presently known friction clutches having automatic wear compensating means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is embodied in a repeatedly engageable and disengageable friction clutch which comprises a housing rotatable about a predetermined axis, a rotary clutch disc which is coaxial with and is spaced apart from the housing and is subject to progressing wear in response to repeated engagement of the clutch, a pressure plate which is coaxial with and is disposed between the clutch disc and the housing and is rotatable with and movable within limits axially of the housing, at least one diaphragm spring which is disposed between the pressure plate and the housing and is arranged to bias the pressure plate against the clutch disc in the engaged condition of the clutch, and means for automatically compensating for wear at least upon the clutch disc. The wear compensating means includes a seat which pivotably mounts the at least one diaphragm spring and means (such as complementary first and second sets of ramps respectively provided on the housing and on the seat as well as means for biasing one of such sets of ramps to turn relative to the other set of ramps and to thus move the seat axially and away from the housing) for intermittently moving the at least one diaphragm spring axially of and away from the housing toward the clutch disc. The at least one diaphragm spring comprises resilient means reacting against a portion of the housing (e.g., against the heads of an annular array of rivets anchored in the housing) and serving to urge the at least one diaphragm spring against the seat.
The clutch further comprises means for rotating the housing and/or the pressure plate, and such means for rotating can form part of a power train in a motor vehicle. For example, the means for rotating can constitute the output element of an internal combustion engine or a device (e.g., a flywheel) which receives torque from the engine.
The housing is rotated in response to rotation of the pressure plate or vice versa, e.g., by way of leaf springs which are affixed to the housing and to the pressure plate and extend circumferentially of the pressure plate.
The at least one diaphragm spring is arranged to store energy at least in the engaged condition of the clutch, and the aforementioned means for intermittently moving the at least one diaphragm spring axially of and away from the housing to thus compensate f
Kimmig Karl-Ludwig
Wachtel Michael
Darby & Darby
Lorence Richard M.
LuK Lamellon und Kupplungsbau GmbH
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