192 clutches and power-stop control – Clutches – Operators
Patent
1995-05-25
1998-03-24
Bonck, Rodney H.
192 clutches and power-stop control
Clutches
Operators
192 30W, 192 91A, F16D 2508, F16D 2512
Patent
active
057302685
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a friction clutch, especially for motor vehicles.
More particularly the invention relates to a friction clutch of the hydraulic type.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various designs of clutch are known that include a hydraulic actuating device which comprises at least one actuating piston, which is arranged to displace the clutch release bearing axially so as to disengage the clutch when the actuating device is supplied with fluid under pressure from a pressurised fluid source, such as for example a clutch cylinder.
One example of such a hydraulically actuated clutch is described and shown in the document U.S. Pat. No. 3,955,660, in which the actuating piston is made in the form of a cylindrical sleeve mounted for sliding movement on a cylindrical guide surface fixed to the clutch casing.
Such a type of hydraulically actuated clutch, which does not include any mechanical fork for actuating the clutch release bearing, does not enable indirect wear measurement in the friction liners of the clutch to be taken by observation of the relevant position of the end of the actuating fork lying outside the clutch casing, in relation to a fixed reference of the latter.
Such a type of hydraulically actuated clutch also has other drawbacks, among which are those related to the supply of pressurised fluid to the actuating chamber of the hydraulic piston, which makes it necessary to have at least one pressurised fluid feed duct that extends inside the clutch casing, which has to be connected hydraulically to the actuating chamber and to the source of fluid under pressure, and for which, in order to protect it mechanically, it is in general necessary to provide means for preventing the actuating piston from rotating.
An object of the present invention is to propose a new design of hydraulically actuated clutch which overcomes the drawbacks mentioned above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To this end, the invention proposes a friction clutch of the type comprising a clutch casing, within which there is arranged a clutch control device which comprises a clutch release bearing and a hydraulic actuating device comprising at least one actuating piston which is coupled to the clutch release bearing for axial straight line movement together, so as to urge the said release bearing in axial displacement, characterised in that it includes a device for indicating wear in the friction liners of the clutch and comprising a wear indicating member which is coupled to the actuating piston for axial straight line movement therewith, and which projects outside the casing via an aperture in the casing, so as to transmit mechanically information relating to the displacements of the actuating piston.
The invention makes it possible to measure wear in the friction liners visually, due to the fact that the indicating device projects outside the casing.
In addition, the aperture enables the piston to be prevented from rotating, by cooperation of the indicating device with the corresponding edge of the aperture.
To this end, the said aperture preferably has an oblong shape, being elongated parallel to the axis of axial sliding movement of the piston.
The size of the aperture depends on particular applications, and, in particular, on the wear in the friction liners.
In accordance with other features of the invention: actuating piston, and the second end portion of the wear indicating member projects through a window of the casing, so as to be displaceable in relation to a member for measuring displacements of the said second end portion; displacements of the second end portion of the wear indicating member; element which cooperates with an electrical potentiometer of the rheostatic type; for axial straight line movement with it, and is pivoted on the latter about a pivot axis at right angles to the axis of axial sliding movement of the piston; respect to the axis of the piston; fork; comprising at least one feed duct which connects the actuating chamber of the pisto
REFERENCES:
patent: 3955660 (1976-05-01), Poon et al.
patent: 4684003 (1987-08-01), Leigh-Monstevens
patent: 5058718 (1991-10-01), Tojima et al.
patent: 5113989 (1992-05-01), Feigler
patent: 5181593 (1993-01-01), Flotow et al.
patent: 5207306 (1993-05-01), Sato et al.
Bonck Rodney H.
Valeo
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