192 clutches and power-stop control – Clutches – Axially engaging
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-18
2002-04-16
Bonck, Rodney H. (Department: 3681)
192 clutches and power-stop control
Clutches
Axially engaging
C192S111400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06371269
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thrust plate subassembly, in particular for a motor vehicle friction clutch with automatic wear compensation comprising a housing which is fixable or fixed to a flywheel for joint rotation about an axis of rotation, a pressure plate arranged essentially fixedly in terms of rotation in the housing and axially displaceable relative to the latter, a force accumulator, preferably diaphragm spring, which is supported on the housing, on the one hand, and on the pressure plate, on the other hand, and presses the pressure plate in the direction of a side of the housing which is provided for connection to the flywheel, a wear-adjusting device arranged in the support path of the force accumulator between the force accumulator and one component of housing and pressure plate and having at least one adjusting element displaceable for wear compensation and prestressed in a wear-adjusting direction, and at least one play indicator arrangement for detecting a wear of friction linings of a clutch disk clampable or clamped between the pressure plate and the flywheel, the play indicator arrangement comprising: a blocking/detection element which is mounted on the one component and which is prestressed with a blocking portion against the wear-adjusting device and acts upon the latter, in order to prevent a movement of the at least one wear-adjusting element in the wear-adjusting direction, and a detection portion of which is in or is capable of being brought into interaction with another component or subassembly displaceable relative to the one component on the occurrence of wear, for the purpose of detecting the wear, on the occurrence of wear the blocking/detection element being capable of being brought, as a result of the interaction with the other component or subassembly, into a position for releasing the at least one adjusting element for the purpose of movement in the wear-adjusting direction.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
The prior art discloses a thrust plate arrangement constructed in this way, in which the play indicator arrangement is designed as follows: an axial passage orifice is provided in the pressure plate through which a pinlike detection portion of a play indicator passes. The pinlike detection portion is slightly tiltable in the passage orifice. Attached firmly to that end of the pinlike detection portion which is located at a distance from the flywheel is a leaf spring element which extends in the direction of the wear-adjusting device, so that the wear-adjusting device is clamped between the pressure plate and the leaf spring element. By the leaf spring element being supported on the wear-adjusting device, due to the spring elasticity of said leaf spring element, the pinlike detection portion is tilted in its passage orifice and thus prestressed into a frictional clamping fit. When a wear of friction linings of a clutch disk which are located between the pressure plate and flywheel occurs, the pressure plate moves in the direction of the flywheel, until the pinlike detection portion stands up on the flywheel. At the same time, the detection portion is shifted axially in its passage orifice relative to the pressure plate counter to the prestressing action and the frictional clamping fit. That is to say, the end of the detection portion by which the latter is connected to the leaf spring element is also pushed away by the pressure plate, so that the prestressing force with which the leaf spring element acts upon the wear-adjusting device decreases. If, in a subsequent clutch disengagement operation, the action of the force of the diaphragm spring on the wear-adjusting device is reduced or released, the at least one adjusting element can move in the wear-adjusting direction, along with an increasing tension of the leaf spring element, until the prestressing force with which the at least one wear-adjusting element is prestressed in the wear-adjusting direction and the active force provided by the leaf spring element compensate one another and further movement of the at least one wear-adjusting element in the wear-adjusting direction is blocked by the leaf spring element. That is to say, in this arrangement, the play indicator, formed from the pinlike detection portion and the leaf spring element, is shifted increasingly relative to the pressure plate, and successive detensioning of the leaf spring element (during wear detection) and tensioning of the leaf spring element (during wear compensation) occurs.
In order, in an arrangement of this type, to carry out wear compensation to an extent which corresponds exactly to the wear of the friction linings which is detected by the play indicator, the spring elasticity or spring constant of the leaf spring element must be provided with the highest possible accuracy. If the leaf spring element is somewhat too soft, there is the risk that wear overcompensation will take place, and, if the leaf spring element is too rigid, there is the risk that the wear will not be sufficiently compensated for and that the interaction of the various components cannot take place in the intended way.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a thrust plate subassembly which, while being of simple design, can carry out accurate wear compensation automatically.
This object is achieved, according to the invention, by means of a thrust plate subassembly, in particular for a motor vehicle friction clutch with automatic wear compensation, comprising a housing which is fixable or fixed to a flywheel for joint rotation about an axis of rotation. A pressure plate is arranged essentially fixedly in terms of rotation in the housing and is axially displaceable relative to the housing. A force accumulator, preferably a diaphragm spring, is supported on the housing, on the one hand, and on the pressure plate, on the other hand, and presses the pressure plate in the direction of a side of the housing which is provided for connection to the flywheel. A wear-adjusting device is arranged in the support path of the force accumulator between the force accumulator and one component of the housing and the pressure plate and has at least one adjusting element displaceable for wear compensation and is prestressed in a wear-adjusting direction. At least one play indicator arrangement is provided for detecting wear of the friction linings of a clutch disk clampable or clamped between the pressure plate and the flywheel. The play indicator arrangement comprises a blocking/detection element which is mounted on the one component and which is prestressed with a blocking portion against the wear-adjusting device and acts upon the wear-adjusting device, in order to prevent a movement of the at least one wear-adjusting element in the wear-adjusting direction. A detection portion is in or is capable of being brought into interaction with another component or subassembly displaceable relative to the one component on the occurrence of wear, for the purpose of detecting the wear. Upon the occurrence of wear the blocking/detection element is capable of being brought, as a result of the interaction with the other component or subassembly, into a position for releasing the at least one adjusting element for the purpose of movement in the wear-adjusting direction.
In the thrust plate subassembly according to the invention, there is provided, furthermore, a detaining element, by means of which, when the blocking/detection element is brought into its position for releasing the at least one adjusting element, the blocking/detection element is capable of being detained against movement in its prestressing direction.
The construction according to the invention of the thrust plate subassembly allows operation on the following functional principle: on the occurrence of wear, the blocking/detection element is first brought, as a result of interaction of the detection portion with the other component or subassembly, into a position in which it does not act upon the wear-a
Bonck Rodney H.
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
Mannesmann Sachs AG
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