Thrust plate unit for a friction clutch

A thrust plate unit for a friction clutch having a rotation axis comprising:

• (a) a clutch cover of unitary annular pot from which comprises an annular face wall part extending transversely of the rotation axis and having a circumferentially extending inner edge and a circumferentially extending outer edge and a side wall part extending from the outer edge of said face wall part generally parallel to the rotation axis away from the face wall part with the side wall part being free of open spaces,
• (b) an annular presser plate arranged within and spaced radially inwardly from the side wall part of the clutch cover and encircling the rotation axis,
• (c) a diaphragm spring arranged in the rotation axis direction between the face wall part and the presser plate, which spring abuts on a circle with a first diameter on the face wall part and on a circle with a second diameter on the presser plate,
• (d) several separate leaf springs staggered in relation to one another in the circumferential direction of the presser plate each having a first and a second end, with each first end connected to the presser plate for guiding the presser plate non-rotatably but axially movably relative to the rotation axis on the clutch cover,
• (e) an annular retaining element encircling the rotation axis and arranged axially between the diaphragm spring and the presser plate, which element is secured to the face wall part of the clutch cover through several distance elements staggered in relation to one another in the circumferential direction of the retaining element and on which element said second end of each leaf spring is secured,
• (f) said retaining element has the form of an annular disc and wherein the distance elements are made as axial extensions of and are located in the region of the internal circumference of the annular disc, which extensions pass axially through openings in the diaphragm spring and are connected firmly by their ends remote from the annular disc with the face wall part of the clutch cover, the diaphragm spring is supported axially between the face wall part of the clutch cover and the annular disc, and
• (g) a support ring is arranged axially between and in contact with the diaphragm spring and the annular disc and wherein the extensions radially center the support ring.