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US 5,630,491 AGranted
Friction clutch for a transmission of a motor vehicle and a clutch disc for a friction clutch
AssigneeFichtel & Sachs AG
InventorsNorbert Ament, Harald Raab
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transmission of a motor vehicle can have a friction clutch with a torsional vibration damper and a clutch disc. In the friction clutch there can be a control plate for the control of a friction action as a function of the torsion angle, which control plate can be centered in one direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation by means of at least two diagonally opposite stop edges. The stop edges preferably can interact with two opposite-facing end surfaces of the coil springs within the clutch disc. It can thereby be possible to center the control plate independently of the guide diameter of the hub.
Claims14
A friction clutch for a transmission for a motor vehicle, said friction clutch comprising:
- a housing;
- a clutch disc disposed within said housing, said clutch disc defining an axis of rotation and an axial direction parallel to said axis of rotation;
- pressure plate means disposed within said housing and movable in said axial direction, said pressure plate means for applying an axial force to said clutch disc along the axial direction;
- biasing means for biasing said pressure plate means in the axial direction to apply said axial force to said clutch disc;
- said clutch disc comprising:
- a hub, said hub comprising means for engaging shaft means of a transmission, and said hub having a diameter and a circumference;
- a hub disc disposed concentrically about said hub and extending radially away from said hub, said hub disc having a first side and a second side;
- a first cover plate disposed adjacent said first side of said hub disc;
- a second cover plate disposed adjacent said second side of said hub disc;
- said first and second cover plates being rotatable about said hub with respect to said hub disc;
- a plurality of biasing members disposed about said hub for torsionally damping said friction clutch;
- control plate means disposed about said hub, said control plate means having an orifice for being disposed about said hub, said orifice having a diameter, said diameter of said orifice being substantially greater than said diameter of said hub to define an annular space between said control plate means and said hub;
- said control plate means comprising means for centering said control plate means about said hub in at least one direction;
- and
- said means for centering comprising means for engaging at least one of said biasing members;
- said plurality of biasing members comprises two biasing members disposed spaced apart from one another about a substantial portion of the circumference of said hub;
- said two spaced apart biasing members are disposed substantially circumferentially about said hub, and said two spaced apart biasing members are disposed substantially diametrically opposite one another with respect to said hub;
- each of said at least two spaced apart biasing members has an end surface for being engaged by said means for engaging;
- said means for engaging comprises:
- means for engaging said end surface of a first one of said two spaced apart biasing members;
- and
- means for engaging said end surface of a second one of said two spaced apart biasing members;
- to center said control plate means in at least a first centering direction, the first centering direction being substantially transverse to the axis of rotation;
- and
- said means for engaging said end surface of said first biasing member and said means for engaging said end surface of said second biasing member being disposed essentially diametrically opposite one another with respect to said hub;
- said means for engaging said end surface of said first biasing member and said means for engaging said end surface of said second biasing member are disposed diametrically opposite one another with respect to said hub;
- and
- means for centering said control plate means about said hub in a second centering direction, the second centering direction being substantially perpendicular to said first centering direction and said axis of rotation.
25 more elements
A clutch disc for a friction clutch, said clutch disc comprising:
- a hub, said hub defining an axis of rotation;
- a hub disc disposed concentrically about said hub and extending radially away from said hub, said hub disc having a first side and a second side;
- a first cover plate disposed adjacent said first side of said hub disc;
- a second cover plate disposed adjacent said second side of said hub disc;
- said first and second cover plates being rotatable about said hub with respect to said hub disc;
- a plurality of biasing members disposed about said hub for torsionally damping said friction clutch;
- said plurality of biasing members comprising at least two biasing members;
- said at least two biasing members being a first biasing member and a second biasing member;
- each of said first biasing member and said second biasing member having an end surface;
- control plate means disposed about said hub;
- said control plate means comprising means for centering said control plate means about said hub in at least one first direction;
- said means for centering comprises means for engaging said end surface of said first biasing member;
- said means for centering comprises means for engaging said end of said second biasing member;
- said hub has a diameter and a circumference;
- said control plate means has an orifice for being disposed about said hub, said orifice having a diameter, said diameter of said orifice being greater than said diameter of said hub to define a space between said control plate means and said hub;
- said means for engaging said end surface of said first biasing member and said means for engaging said end surface of said second biasing member are disposed diametrically opposite one another with respect to said hub;
- and
- means for centering said control plate means about said hub in a second centering direction, the second centering direction being substanitially perpendicular to said first centering direction and said axis of rotation.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.