192 clutches and power-stop control – Clutches – Axially engaging
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-30
2001-08-28
Lorence, Richard M. (Department: 3681)
192 clutches and power-stop control
Clutches
Axially engaging
C192S070280, C192S089230, C192S113210, C192S113250
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279709
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a multi-plate clutch for a motor vehicle with at least one intermediate plate arranged between friction facings, two pressure plates for pretensioning the friction facings toward the intermediate plate, and a spring element for separating the pressure plates and the intermediate plate from the friction facings.
2. Description of the Related Art
Multi-plate clutches are characterized in that they are capable of transmitting high torques. The known multi-plate clutch has a plurality of spring elements arranged radially outside of the intermediate plate for pressing apart the pressure plates. When the pressure plates are spread apart by the spring elements, no transmission of torque should take place between a shaft which is connected with the friction facings so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to them and a shaft conlected with the pressure plates.
A disadvantage in this known arrangement for a known multi-plate clutch is that the intermediate plate is not reliably separated from the friction facings. The lack of reliable separation leads to high wear of the friction facings and to an unnecessary heating of the friction facings. The heat generated in this respect must subsequently be removed from the multi-plate clutch in a costly manner. Further, the drag torque brought about by the grinding of the friction facings puts a strain on a synchronization device of a transmission arranged downstream.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-plate clutch in which the grinding of the friction facings is minimized while the pressure plates are separated.
This object of the present invention is met by an arrangement of spring elements that contact each of the intermediate plates and the pressure plates.
As a result of this arrangement, each of the intermediate plates and the pressure plates are pressed apart by the spring elements. The springs ensure that a sufficient gap exists between each of the intermediate plates and pressure plates when the multi-plate clutch is in the disengaged state so that the friction facing arranged in the gap can rotate freely. The friction facings are therefore separated particularly reliably from the intermediate plate and pressure plates. Accordingly, the multi-plate clutch according to the invention exhibits particularly low wear.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the spring elements of the multi-plate clutch are fastened to the intermediate plate.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the spring elements have a U-shaped bend for clamping the intermediate plate. Alternatively, the spring elements may also be clamped to one of the pressure plates.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the spring elements include projecting spring tongues. The spring elements may have individual spring tongues or spring tongues located opposite one another. When the multi-plate clutch includes an individual intermediate plate, this intermediate plate is held reliably in the center between the pressure plates by the spring elements having spring tongues located opposite one another. When the multi-plate clutch includes a plurality of intermediate plates, a sufficient result is achieved when some of the spring elements have only one individual spring tongue. This embodiment ensures that the intermediate plates are held at a distance from one another with the same spring force in each instance.
In yet a further embodiment, a particularly large spring path may be generated in that the spring tongues are S-shaped.
Heat generated in the multi-plate clutch according to the invention may be guided away when the pressure plates have cooling lugs penetrating an opening in a clutch housing.
Heat generated in the multi-plate clutch according to the invention may also be guided away in a simple manner when a housing cover arranged in front of one of the pressure plates has ventilation slits. This contributes to a further reduction of the temperature level inside the clutch and accordingly to a further reduction in wear of the friction facings.
The guiding of heat from the multi-plate clutch according to the invention is further improved in that venting blades are arranged in front of the ventilation slits.
A continuous delivery of cooling air through the multi-plate clutch according to the invention may further be achieved by arranging venting blades in a diaphragm spring which pretensions the pressure plates toward the friction facings.
The known arrangement of spring elements for separating the pressure plate in an area located radially outside of the intermediate plate adds to the radial dimension of the clutch. Accordingly, the known multi-plate clutch having spring elements has a large radial diameter. In contrast to the known arrangement, the radial dimensions of the present invention may be kept particularly small in that the spring elements are arranged in a radial area of an external toothing of the intermediate plate.
To further reduce the radial dimensions of the multi-plate clutch according to the invention, an internal toothing of the housing engaging in the external toothing of the intermediate plate has recesses in the area of the spring elements.
According to another advantageous development of the invention, the spring elements require no installation space in the radial direction when the spring elements have dimensions corresponding to the radial dimensions of the external toothing of the intermediate plate. Since the external toothing is already present between the intermediate element and the housing, and since a very large number of spring elements can be used in this area, spring tongues with a width corresponding to the external toothing of the intermediate plate can be used without difficulty.
According to another advantageous further development of the invention, the spring elements are reliably held in their provided position at the pressure plate or intermediate plate when the spring elements are arranged so as to engage around a tooth of the external toothing.
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: 2600520 (1952-06-01), Spase
patent: 3174602 (1965-03-01), Schjolin
patent: 3994378 (1976-11-01), Schwabe et al.
patent: 4940124 (1990-07-01), Galuska et al.
patent: 5638932 (1997-06-01), Mizukami
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
Lorence Richard M.
Mannesmann Sachs AG
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