192 clutches and power-stop control – Clutches – Torque responsive
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-15
2002-04-30
Bonck, Rodney H. (Department: 3681)
192 clutches and power-stop control
Clutches
Torque responsive
C192S070180, C464S041000, C464S046000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06378678
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to twin mass flywheels, hereinafter referred to as of the kind specified, comprising an input mass for connection with an associated engine and an output mass for connection with an associated vehicle driveline, said masses being relatively rotatable against the action of a torsional damping means to damp torsional vibrations in the associated vehicle driveline and to twin mass flywheel assemblies including such flywheels.
One of the problems associated with such flywheels is the protection of the flywheel and associated driveline against high level but short duration loading which can arise during stopping and starting of the associated vehicle and also during certain abusive driving conditions such as speed gear shifting and bump starting of the vehicle.
These problems are particularly apparent with twin mass flywheels of the kind specified in which the relative rotation of the flywheel masses is opposed by compressing coil springs and the angular relative rotation of the masses is relatively high. This can give rise to a bounce condition which results in multiple reversals of drive torque with the level of torque being successively increased on each torque reversal.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a twin mass flywheel assembly which offers a relatively low cost but effective solution to the protection of the twin mass flywheel and associated drive line against such high level but short duration torque loading.
Thus according to the present invention there is provided a twin mass flywheel assembly comprising a twin mass flywheel of the kind specified, a clutch cover attached to the flywheel, a clutch driven plate, a clutch pressure plate, and spring means supported from the cover to clamp said driven plate between the flywheel and pressure plate to transmit torque through the assembly, said driven plate including a central hub portion and an outer friction portion supported from the hub portion via a slipping clutch which allows relative rotation between said portions at torque levels above a predetermined torque.
Such a twin mass flywheel assembly protects both the twin mass flywheel and associated drive-line from the high level torque loading which may arise during, for example, stopping and starting of the associated vehicle by allowing slippage of the slipping clutch to absorb the high level torque loading.
The friction portion of the slipping clutch may be mounted on the hub portion via an annular tolerance ring which slips relative to the hub portion and/or friction portion at torque levels above said predetermined level.
The hub portion may be divided radially into inner and outer hub portions with said friction portion supported from the outer hub portion and an annular tolerance ring located between the inner and outer hub portions, the tolerance ring allowing relative rotation between the hub portions at torque levels above said predetermined level.
The friction portion may be held rotationally fast with the hub portion up to said predetermined level of torque by a friction clutch which includes an axial acting spring means.
The friction clutch may include a belleville or other dished spring member which acts against an abutment on the hub portion at one location and frictionally grips the friction portion at another location.
The friction clutch may include two bellevilles or dished spring members which act towards each other and grip the friction portion therebetween.
The present invention also provides a clutch cover assembly comprising a clutch cover for attachment to an associated flywheel, a pressure plate mounted on the cover via torque straps designed to be loaded in torsion when the clutch is transmitting torque in the normal forward drive direction, spring means acting to bias the pressure plate towards the flywheel, and a driven plate for clamping against the flywheel by the spring means via the pressure plate, the driven plate comprising a central hub portion and an outer friction portion supported from the hub portion via a slipping clutch which allows relative rotation between said portions at torque levels above a predetermined torque to prevent excessive loading of the torque straps particularly in buckling.
Such a clutch cover assembly has particular benefit when used with a twin mass flywheel of the kind specified as discussed above when it protects the torque straps against the high torque levels which can be generated (up to 10 times the strap design load) which can cause strap failure particularly when the straps are loaded in buckling. The clutch assembly is also of benefit when used with a normal flywheel.
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Armitage Bradley
Curtis Anthony John
Lambert Adam Johnson
Automotive Products UK, LTD
Bonck Rodney H.
Milliken Paul E
Weber Ray L
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