US 5,423,235 AGranted

Device for switching on a drive train

AssigneeGKN Automotive AG

InventorsJohn R. Botterill, Robert Rickell, Eugen Stall

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Abstract

A device for switching on a drive train in a motor vehicle has a power divider for several drive trains, one of which is permanently coupled with a drive unit and the other of which can be connected to the drive unit. The device also has an input shaft (2, 42, 82, 142) and an output shaft (4, 44, 84, 144) which can be connected to the input shaft (2, 42, 82, 142) through a switchable coupling (10, 50, 90, 150) in the form of an axially actuated friction clutch. The friction clutch is actuated by two rings (28, 30; 68, 70; 108, 110; 168, 170) which are coaxial with the clutch disks and which can be rotated relative to each other through 180.degree.. One ring is an axially supported support ring (28, 68, 108, 168) and the other ring is a pressure ring (30, 70, 110, 170) which slides axially on one of the shafts. The rings bear against each other on paths which can be varied axially around the periphery.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A device for switching on a plurality of drive trains in a motor vehicle comprising:

a housing;
an input shaft rotatably mounted in said housing, said input shaft driven by an engine of said vehicle;
a plurality of output shafts rotatably mounted in said housing;
a first of said plurality of output shafts coupled with said input shaft for driving said first output shaft;
a friction clutch rotatably mounted on said input shaft, said clutch including a plurality of disks;
a first drive train coupled with said friction clutch for driving a second output shaft;
a second drive train coupled with said friction clutch for engaging said friction clutch, said second drive train including a drive unit for independently driving said second drive train;
and
a pair of ring members rotatable 180.degree. with respect to one another, said ring members coaxially positioned with respect to said clutch disks, said rings bearing against one another on paths which are variable around their periphery, one of said rings being rotatably by said second drive train and the other ring being axially movable to engage said clutch which, in turn, rotates said second output shaft.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.