192 clutches and power-stop control – Clutches – Axially engaging
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-11
2003-01-14
Lorence, Richard M. (Department: 3681)
192 clutches and power-stop control
Clutches
Axially engaging
C192S111400, C029S446000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06505724
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thrust plate assembly for a motor vehicle friction clutch with automatic wear compensation. The thrust plate assembly includes a housing connectable to a flywheel for common rotation about an axis of rotation, a pressure plate arranged substantially fixedly in terms of rotation in the housing and displaceable in the axial direction with respect thereto, a force accumulator supported between the housing and the pressure plate, a wear-adjustment device arranged in the support path of the force accumulator between the force accumulator and one component of the housing and the pressure plate having at least one adjustment element that is displaceable for wear compensation and is preloaded in a wear-adjustment direction, at least one play indicator arrangement including a blocking/detection element arranged on the one component and having a blocking section designed to act on the wear-adjustment device to prevent a movement of the at least one wear-adjustment element in the wear-adjustment direction, and a stop component which is in interaction or can be brought into interaction with a detection section of the blocking/detection element, the stop element being displacable with respect to the one component in the event of wear, the blocking/detection element being brought into a position for releasing the at least one adjustment element to move in the wear-adjustment direction by the interaction with the stop component.
2. Description of the Related Art
Thrust plate assemblies used in motor vehicle friction clutches with automatic wear compensation are known. These thrust plates include components which interact for wear compensation and/or also for wear detection for the new friction clutch which is to be assembled in such a manner with respect to one another that the friction clutch can have a clutch characteristic which remains constant throughout the entire operating life, without being significantly impaired by wear which occurs. During production and/or assembly of these known thrust plate assemblies, problems arise in arranging the components which interact for wear compensation and/or also for wear detection. In this context, it is particularly important for manufacturing reasons that the clutch disks or other components of a clutch of this type have certain manufacturing tolerances. However, the tolerances required for manufacturing reasons may result in a wear detection device or wear compensation device being unable to function correctly right from the start of the operating life.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a thrust plate assembly and a method for setting a basic installation configuration of a thrust plate assembly for a clutch having wear compensation which can be used to ensure that the clutch provides an operating characteristic which remains substantially constant and is unaffected by wear throughout the entire operating life.
According to a first embodiment of the present invention, the object is met by a thrust plate assembly for a motor vehicle friction clutch with automatic wear compensation including a housing that is or can be fixed to a flywheel for common rotation about an axis of rotation, a pressure plate which is substantially fixed with respect to rotation in the housing and axially displaceable thereto, a force accumulator such as a diaphragm spring which is supported on the housing and on the pressure plate, and a wear-adjustment device arranged in the support path of the force accumulator between the force accumulator and one component out of the housing and the pressure plate. The wear-adjustment device has at least one adjustment element that is displaceable for wear compensation and is preloaded in a wear-adjustment direction. The thrust assembly also comprises at least one play indicator arrangement including a blocking/detection element arranged on the one component and designed with a blocking section to act on the wear-adjustment device to prevent a movement of the at least one wear-adjustment element in the wear-adjustment direction and a detection section which is in interaction or can be brought into interaction with a stop component which can be displaced with respect to the one component in the event of wear. The blocking/detection element is brought into a position for releasing the at least one adjustment element to move in the wear-adjustment direction in response to wear by interaction with the stop component which has a stop face region with which the detection section is or can be brought into interaction.
According to the present invention, the face sections of the stop face region may be arranged at different axial positions. To select the position of the face section which for interaction with the detection section, the positioning of the stop component can be adjusted with respect to another component bearing the stop component.
A thrust plate assembly of this type allows the interaction characteristic of the stop component with the detection section to be set by suitable selection of the positioning of the stop component. Suitable selection of the positioning of the stop component when the thrust plate assembly is new ensures that wear which occurs is compensated for and there is no need for a certain minimum wear to occur before the arrangement for wear compensation can become active in any respect right from the beginning of the operating life of a friction clutch which has a thrust plate assembly of this type.
By way of example, the thrust plate assembly according to the present invention may include a stop component arranged in a substantially fixed position in the axial direction on the other component while its stop face region is arranged so that it can move substantially transversely to the axis of rotation for selection of the position of the face section which is intended to interact with the detection section.
To hold the stop component in the desired way with respect to the other component, the other component may include a fixing element which is held in a rotationally fixed manner with respect thereto and pivotably bears the stop component. The required freedom of choice in setting the positioning of the stop component can be obtained by the fact that the stop component can be pivoted with respect to the fixing element by overcoming a frictionally locking connection which acts between the stop component and the fixing element. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the stop component can be fixed to the other component by the fixing element.
The configuration in which face sections may be positioned with different axial positions are to be provided for the desired setting option may be achieved when the stop face region of the stop component is designed with a surface region which is inclined with respect to a plane which is substantially orthogonal to the axis of rotation.
The thrust plate assembly of the present invention may also include a retaining element arranged for retaining the blocking/detection element and preventing movement of the blocking/detection element toward the wear-adjustment device when the blocking/detection element is moved into its position for releasing the at least one adjustment element.
The utilization of the available space is optimized if the one component comprises the pressure plate and if the other component comprises the housing.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the object is met by a thrust plate assembly for a motor vehicle friction clutch with automatic wear compensation, including a housing which is fixed or can be fixed to a flywheel for common rotation about an axis of rotation, a pressure plate which is arranged substantially fixedly in terms of rotation in the housing and can be displaced in the axial direction with respect thereto, a force accumulator such as a diaphragm spring supported on the housing and on the pressure plate, and a wear-adjustment device arranged in the support path of the force accumulator betw
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
Lorence Richard M.
Mannesmann Sachs AG
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