# US 2017/0254368 A1 · Multi-plate clutch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0254368 A1 - Document ID: US20170254368A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/431,854 - Filed: 2017-02-14 - Published: 2017-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-07 - Assignees: Miba Frictec GmbH - Applicants: Miba Frictec GmbH - Inventors: Gerhard HARTNER; Florian MARKOWSKY - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170254368A1 ## CPC - F16D 13/72: Features relating to cooling - F16D 13/74: Features relating to lubrication - F16D 13/52: Clutches with multiple lamellae {; Clutches in which three or more axially moveable members are fixed alternately to the shafts to be coupled and are pressed from one side towards an axially-located member (F16D13/385 takes precedence)} - F16D 13/648: {for clutches with multiple lamellae} - F16D 13/683: {for clutches with multiple lamellae} - F16D 25/0638: with more than two discs, e.g. multiple lamellae - F16D 69/02: Composition of linings {; Methods of manufacturing} - F16D 2069/002: {Combination of different friction materials} - F16D 2069/004: {Profiled friction surfaces, e.g. grooves, dimples} - F16D 2069/005: {having a layered structure} - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES ## Abstract The invention relates to a wet-running multi-plate clutch (1) comprising a number of inner plates (2) and a number of outer plates (3), and a first friction lining (6) is disposed on either side of every inner plate (2) respectively and a second friction lining (8) is disposed on either side of every outer plate (3) respectively, and the first friction linings (6) are located entirely underneath the second friction linings (8) in the radial direction so that the first friction linings (6) move into frictional contact with the outer plate main bodies (7) when the multi-plate clutch (1) is engaged and the second friction linings (8) move into frictional contact with the inner plate main bodies (5) when the multi-plate clutch (1) is engaged. The first friction linings (6) respectively have at least one first groove (13) with a groove depth of up to 100% of a friction lining thickness of the first friction linings (6) and the second friction linings (8) have no or respectively have at least one second groove (16) which has a smaller cross-sectional surface area, as viewed in the longitudinal extension of the second grooves (16), than the first grooves (13) as viewed in the same direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Wet-running multi-plate clutch (1) comprising a number of inner plates (2) and a number of outer plates (3) disposed in an alternating arrangement in the axial direction, and every inner plate (2) has an inner plate main body (5) on either side of which a first friction lining (6) is disposed respectively, and every outer plate (3) has an outer plate main body (7) on either side of which a second friction lining (8) is disposed respectively, and the first friction linings (6) are located entirely underneath the second friction linings (8) in the radial direction so that the first friction linings (6) move into frictional contact with the outer plate main bodies (7) when the multi-plate clutch (1) is engaged and the second friction linings (8) move into frictional contact with the inner plate main bodies (5) when the multi-plate clutch (1) is engaged, wherein the first friction linings (6) respectively have at least one first groove (13) with a groove depth of up to 100% of a friction lining thickness of the first friction linings (6) and the second friction linings (8) have no or respectively have at least one second groove (16) having a smaller cross-sectional surface area, as viewed in the longitudinal extension of the second grooves (16), than the first grooves (13) as viewed in the same direction, and/or the first grooves (3) are disposed offset from the second grooves (16) in the circumferential direction (15). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Multi-plate clutch (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or the second grooves (13, 16) extend at an angle with respect to the radial direction (9). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) Multi-plate clutch (1) according to claim 2, wherein the first and/or the second grooves (13, 16) are disposed so as to extend at an angle (17) of between 1° and 30° with respect to the radial direction (9). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Multi-plate clutch (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or the second grooves (13, 16) extend in a curved arrangement. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Multi-plate clutch (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first friction linings (6) are made from a material that is different from the material of the second friction linings (8). ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) Multi-plate clutch (1) according to claim 5, wherein the second friction linings (8) are made from a material that is more resistant to wear than the material of the first friction linings (6). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Multi-plate clutch (1) according to claim 1, wherein the second friction linings (8) have a bigger layer thickness than the first friction linings (6). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Multi-plate clutch (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first friction lining (6) is formed by first friction lining segments (18), and at least one third groove (19) and a number of fourth grooves (20) are provided in each of the first friction lining segments (18), and the at least one third groove (19) extends from a radially inner end face (21) of the first friction lining segments (18) in the direction towards a radially outer end face (22) of the first friction lining segments (18) and terminates at a distance apart from the radially outer end face (22), and the fourth grooves (20) have a maximum width (24) in the circumferential direction (15) of between 1% and 20% of a maximum width (25) of the third groove (19) in the same direction and the fourth grooves (20) extend, without interruption and without branching, from the radially inner end face (21) of the first friction lining segments (18) to the radially outer end face (22) of the first friction lining segments (18). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Multi-plate clutch (1) according to claim 1, wherein the second friction lining (8) is formed by second friction lining segments, and several fifth grooves are provided in each one of the second friction lining segments, and the fifth grooves have a maximum width in the circumferential direction of between 1% and 20% of a maximum width of the second groove (16) in the same direction and the fifth grooves extend, without interruption and without branching, from the radially inner end face of the second friction lining segments to the radially outer end face of the second friction lining segments. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) Multi-plate clutch (1) according to claim 8, wherein the fourth grooves (20) and/or fifth grooves have a triangular cross-section. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) Multi-plate clutch (1) according to claim 8, wherein a sixth groove (31) is disposed adjoining the radially outer end of the third groove (19), and the sixth groove (31) extends as far as the radially outer end face (22) of the first friction lining segments (18) and/or a seventh groove is disposed adjoining the radially outer end of the second groove (16) and the seventh third groove extends as far as the radially outer end face of the second friction lining segments. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) Multi-plate clutch (1) according to claim 10, wherein the sixth groove (31) has a maximum width in the circumferential direction (15) of between 1% and 20% of a maximum width (25) of the third groove (21) in the same direction and/or the seventh groove has a maximum width in the circumferential direction (15) of between 1% and 20% of a maximum width of the second groove (16) in the same direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) Multi-plate clutch (1) according to claim 8, wherein the third groove (19) has a cross-section which becomes wider in the direction towards the radially inner end face (21) of the first friction lining segments (18) and/or the second groove (16) has a cross-section which becomes wider in the direction towards the radially inner end face of the second friction lining segments. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) Multi-plate clutch (1) according to claim 8, wherein the third groove (19) has a cross-sectional widening (32) in the region of the radially outer end and/or the second groove (16) has a cross-sectional widening in the region of the radially outer end. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) Multi-plate clutch (1) according to claim 14, wherein the third groove (19) is at least approximately mushroom-shaped and/or the second groove (16) is at least approximately mushroom-shaped. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) Multi-plate clutch (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least two first friction linings (6) are disposed on the inner plate main body (5) at a radial distance (34) apart and the radial distance (34) is bigger than a radial width (35) of the second friction lining (8) or second friction linings (8) so that the second friction lining (8) or second friction linings (8) is or are able to engage between the first friction linings (6) when the multi-plate clutch (1) is engaged. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) Multi-plate clutch (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least two second friction linings (8) are disposed on the outer plate main body (7) at a radial distance apart and the radial distance is bigger than a radial width of the first friction lining (6) or first friction linings (6) so that the first friction lining (6) or first friction linings (6) is or are able to engage between the second friction linings (6) when the multi-plate clutch (1) is engaged.