US 4,733,762 AGranted

Couplable/decouplable clutch release bearing assembly

AssigneeValeo

InventorsChristian Gay, Philippe Lassiaz

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Abstract

A clutch release bearing assembly comprises a coupling part adapted to couple a clutch release bearing to a clutch release device of a clutch. The coupling part is attached to the clutch release device. A drive part forms part of the clutch release bearing and there is an annular retaining groove on the coupling part or the drive part. A fastening device operative in traction between the coupling part and the drive part couples these parts together in the axial direction from the clutch release device to the clutch release bearing. The fastening device comprises an annular coupling member which is elastically deformable in the radial direction and at least partly engaged in the annular retaining groove. It further comprises a substantially transverse drive bearing surface on the other (coupling or drive) part, on which the coupling member bears axially in the axial direction in question. There is a groove in the same part as the drive bearing surface. An annular decoupling member is adapted to decouple the clutch release bearing from the clutch release device of the clutch. It is movable axially in the previously mentioned groove, of one flank of which the drive bearing surface forms part. The coupling member is carried by the coupling part. The decoupling member is carried by the drive part. The decoupling member comprises engagement means adapted to couple it releasably to the coupling member in at least the axial direction from the clutch release device to the clutch release bearing.

Claims16

Dependent claims

Clutch release bearing assembly comprising a clutch release bearing including a drive part, and a coupling part adapted to be attached to a clutch release device of a clutch and to couple such a clutch release device to said clutch release bearing, an annular retaining groove on said coupling part, fastening means operative in traction and between said coupling part and said drive part for coupling said coupling and drive parts together in an axial direction away from the clutch release device and towards said clutch release bearing, said fastening means comprising a radially elastically deformable annular coupling member partly engaged in said annular retaining groove, and a substantially transverse drive bearing surface on said drive part, said drive bearing surface being adapted to bear axially against said coupling member in said axial direction, another groove in said drive part, and an annular decoupling member adapted to decouple said clutch release bearing from the clutch release device, said decoupling member being axially movable in said other groove, said other groove having one transverse flank on which is defined said drive bearing surface, said decoupling member having engagement means for releasably coupling said decoupling member to said coupling member in the course of decoupling of said parts to permit movement of said coupling member with said decoupling member in said axial direction, said engagement means comprising at least one radially elastically deformable axial drive tang on said decoupling member having a free end radially outward of the periphery of said decoupling member.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.