192 clutches and power-stop control – Clutches – Axially engaging
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-14
2001-08-21
Estremsky, Sherry (Department: 3681)
192 clutches and power-stop control
Clutches
Axially engaging
C192S070251, C192S089240
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276505
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-disk clutch, comprising a housing with a toothed ring and a cover connected to the toothed ring. The toothed ring, on an inner circumferential surface, has a plurality of disk carrier teeth distributed in the circumferential direction. At least one outer disk engages, by means of an external toothing, with the disk carrier teeth on the toothed ring. At least one inner disk is connected in rotation-proof fashion to a coupling hub. The clutch also has a pressure plate, and an energy storage device, preferably a diaphragm spring, which rests on the housing, on one side, and on the pressure plate, on the other, and prestresses the pressure plate in the direction of the outer or inner disks.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
A multi-disk clutch with a structure of this type is known from German reference DE 195 45 972 Al. In that multi-disk clutch, which is of the pressed type, the diaphragm spring is held in a radially central area on the cover of the housing of the multi-disk clutch by means of a plurality of spacing bolts and with the intermediate mounting of wire rings or the like. The diaphragm spring is thus secured, relative to the housing, against movement in the circumferential and radial directions. One problem with this arrangement is that the spacing bolts penetrate the diaphragm spring exactly in the area that, in view of the pressure force produced by the diaphragm spring, is critical in terms of stress. Thus, when relatively large openings must be provided in the diaphragm spring for the spacing bolts, the force characteristic of the diaphragm spring can be disadvantageously impaired.
Furthermore, in the case of drawn clutches wherein diaphragm springs rest in their radial outer area on the housing cover, it is known to secure the diaphragm springs against rotation on the pressure plate by means of either clamping pins or so-called “fingers” in the housing cover. Securing the diaphragm springs by means of clamping pins or “fingers” formed on the housing requires a relatively large structural space and results in vibrating-friction wear at the contact points of the individual components.
Further, from European reference EP 0 627 051 B1, which discloses a non-generic clutch, a drawn-type clutch is known in which the diaphragm spring is secured in its position in its radially outer area by means of a tilt surface made of elastic material, which surrounds the diaphragm spring on the housing. Providing this tilt surface increases the number of parts and thus makes the assembly process more difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a multi-disk clutch in which the energy storage device can be secured in its position in the clutch simply and without impairing the force characteristic of the energy storage device.
According to the invention, this object is attained by means of a multi-disk clutch that comprises a housing with a toothed ring and a cover connected to the toothed ring, whereby the toothed ring, on an inner circumferential surface, has a plurality of disk carrier teeth distributed in the circumferential direction. At least one outer disk engages, by means of an external toothing, with the disk carrier teeth on the toothed ring. At least one inner disk is connected in rotationproof fashion to a coupling hub. The clutch further has a pressure plate, and an energy storage device, preferably a diaphragm spring, which rests on the housing, on one side, and on the pressure plate, on the other, and prestresses the pressure plate in the direction of the outer or inner disks.
Further, in the multi-disk clutch according to the invention, the energy storage device, in an outer circumferential area, has a recess associated with at least one disk carrier tooth, which recess is open substantially toward the radial outside and into which the disk carrier tooth engages.
The engagement of at least one disk carrier tooth into an associated recess creates a simple means of securing the position of the diaphragm spring, especially against rotation, in the housing, without any additional components being necessary.
Advantageously, the breadth of the recess in the circumferential direction corresponds substantially to the breadth of the disk carrier tooth in the circumferential direction.
Wear in the contact area between the energy storage device and the disk carrier tooth can be kept very low when a contour of the recess corresponds, at least area-wise, to a cross-sectional contour of the disk carrier tooth.
Because such disk carrier teeth generally narrow toward the radial inside, the recess is preferably enlarged toward the radial outside.
When, further, a bottom area of the recess rests on an inner surface of the disk carrier teeth or is located at a short distance therefrom, care must also be taken to prevent undesired movement of the energy storage device in the radial direction. Here, a “short distance” is one that permits the function of protecting against radial movement to be fulfilled, but at the same time allows the pivoting movement needed to engage and disengage the clutch to be carried out without hindrance.
To embody the rotational coupling between the energy storage device and the housing in a stable manner and, in particular, to prevent undesired radial movement by the energy storage device relative to the housing as well as possible, in another embodiment of the invention at least every second disk carrier tooth, and preferably every carrier tooth, has a recess associated with it.
The above-described embodiment is especially advantageous in the case of multi-disk clutches of the drawn type. When, in such an embodiment, care is taken to ensure that the energy storage device rests on the cover in a radial area close to the recess(es), the pivoting movement of the energy storage device during engagement and disengagement procedures will be minimized in the area of the energy storage device that engages with the disk carrier teeth, specifically, in a longitudinal direction of the disk carrier teeth. As a result, the wear occurring in this area due to reciprocal friction will also be very low.
The present invention further relates to a diaphragm spring, especially for a multi-disk clutch, whereby the diaphragm spring is embodied in a substantially disk-like fashion and, on an outer circumferential area, has at least one recess to accommodate a carrier tooth.
In the diaphragm spring according to the invention, care is taken to ensure that the positionsecuring components can be embodied integrally with the diaphragm spring. It is therefore proposed that the diaphragm spring be stamped from a material blank and subjected as needed to subsequent deformation, hardening or the like.
It should be pointed out that the diaphragm spring according to the invention can have at least one of the features that are described above in reference to the multi-disk clutch according to the invention and relate specifically to energy storage.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4633990 (1987-01-01), Fukutake et al.
patent: 4680847 (1987-07-01), Bauer
patent: 4747586 (1988-05-01), Reik
patent: 4802564 (1989-02-01), Stodt
patent: 4844226 (1989-07-01), Taketani
patent: 4886153 (1989-12-01), Takenaka et al.
patent: 5878857 (1999-03-01), Fukuda et al.
patent: 3304671 (1984-08-01), None
patent: 693 13 264 (1994-06-01), None
patent: 195 45 972 (1997-06-01), None
patent: 627 051 B1 (1994-12-01), None
patent: 812 998 A1 (1997-12-01), None
patent: 2 307 958 (1997-11-01), None
Friedrich Horst
Hofmann Klaus
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
Estremsky Sherry
Lewis Tisha D.
Sachs Race Engineering GmbH
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