Electrically driven clutch actuator

An electrically driven clutch actuator for actuating a clutch of a transmission of a vehicle, comprising:

• a pressure piece that is axially movable between a first position and a second position corresponding to engaging and disengaging of the clutch, respectively, wherein the pressure piece is driven from the first position into the second position by a spindle drive that comprises a threaded spindle rotationally driven by an electric motor, and a spindle nut mounted on the threaded spindle and being axially displaceable by rotation of the threaded spindle;
• wherein the spindle nut and the pressure piece are displaceable relative to each other in an axial direction, and are coupled to each other by a biasing spring interposed between the spindle nut and the pressure piece such that by rotation of the threaded spindle under a driving force of the electric motor, the spindle nut compresses the biasing spring and displaces the pressure piece towards the second position to disengage the clutch,
• wherein when the driving force provided by the electric motor is reduced below a predetermined level, the pressure piece is returned to the first position by the restoring force of the clutch and the biasing spring expands to displace the spindle nut away from the pressure piece,
• wherein a latching mechanism that is configured to limit displacement of the spindle nut away from the pressure piece under the force of the expanding biasing spring such that the biasing spring is held in a preload state, the latching mechanism comprises first latching means and second latching means, wherein the first latching means are firmly connected to the rotatable threaded spindle or the axially displaceable spindle nut.