Friction clutch
AssigneeLuk Lamellen und Kupplungsbau GmbH
InventorPaul Maucher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A friction clutch which is provided with a system to compensate for wear upon the friction linings of the clutch disc and, if necessary, for wear upon certain other parts employs one or more diaphragm springs or other energy storing elements which assist in the disengagement of the clutch so that the disengaging force is relatively low and/or that such force fluctuates within a relatively narrow range. The energy storing element or elements can operate in parallel with the clutch spring and can be installed between the housing of the friction clutch and the clutch spring. The disengaging force of the energy storing element or elements can be assisted by the bias of resilient segments between the friction linings of the clutch disc.
Claims56
An engageable and disengageable friction clutch, comprising a housing rotatable about a predetermined axis;
- means for rotating said housing including a counterpressure plate rotatable about said axis;
- a pressure plate coaxial and rotatable with and disposed between said housing and said counterpressure plate and movable in the direction of said axis;
- a clutch disc coaxial with and disposed between said plates and being subject to wear upon repeated progressing frictional contact and progressing reduction of frictional contact with said plates in response to axial movement of said pressure plate toward and away from said counterpressure plate;
- means for engaging the clutch including at least one clutch spring arranged to bias said pressure plate against said clutch disc in the engaged condition of the clutch;
- means for reducing the bias of said at least one spring upon said pressure plate to thus disengage the clutch;
- at least one at least temporarily stressed energy storing element operative in parallel with said at least one spring to generate forces promoting at least in part the disengagement of the clutch;
- and means for automatically compensating for wear at least upon said clutch disc.
An engageable and disengageable friction clutch, comprising a housing rotatable about a predetermined axis;
- means for rotating said housing including a counterpressure plate rotatable about said axis;
- a pressure plate coaxial and rotatable with and disposed between said housing and said counterpressure plate and movable within limits in the direction of said axis;
- a clutch disc coaxial with and disposed between said plates and having friction linings subject to wear upon repreated progressing frictional contact and progressing reduction of frictional contact with said plates in response to axial movement of said pressure plate toward and away from said counterpressure plate;
- means for moving said pressure plate including at least one first diaphragm spring arranged to bias said pressure plate against said clutch disc in the engaged condition of the clutch;
- means for reducing the bias of said at least one first diaphragm spring upon said pressure plate to thus disengage the clutch;
- at least one stressed second diaphragm spring operative in parallel with said at least one first diaphragm spring to generate forces promoting at least in part the disengagement of the clutch;
- and means for automatically compensating for wear at least upon said friction linings, including means for adjusting the bias of said at least one first diaphragm spring upon said pressure plate.
An engageable and disengageable friction clutch, comprising a housing rotatable about a predetermined axis;
- means for rotating said housing including a counterpressure plate rotatable about said axis;
- a pressure plate coaxial and rotatable with and disposed between said housing and said counterpressure plate and movable within limits in the direction of said axis;
- a clutch disc coaxial with and disposed between said said plates and having friction linings subject to wear upon repeated progressing frictional contact and progressing reduction of frictional contact with said plates in response to axial movement of said pressure plate toward and away from said counterpressure plate;
- means for moving said pressure plate including at least one first energy storing element arranged to bias said pressure plate against said clutch disc in the engaged condition of the clutch;
- means for reducing the bias of said at least one first energy storing element upon said pressure plate to thus disengage the clutch;
- at least one second energy storing element operative in parallel with said at least one first energy storing element to generate forces promoting the disengagement of the clutch;
- resilient means disposed between said friction linings and also operative to generate forces promoting the disengagement of the clutch;
- and means for automatically compensating for wear at least upon said friction linings.
The clutch of 38, wherein said resilient means includes at least one spring which biases said friction linings away from each other in the direction of said axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.