US 5,634,541 A · Automatically adjustable friction clutch

Abstract

A friction clutch wherein the wear upon the friction linings of the clutch disc is automatically compensated for in response to each disengagement and subsequent engagement of the clutch whenever an adjustment for wear is necessary. The compensating unit is mounted between the axially movable pressure plate and the diaphragm spring of the friction clutch, and the extent of axial adjustability of the pressure plate to compensate for wear upon the friction linings is determined by an arresting unit having one or more sensors carried by the pressure plate and cooperating with the counterpressure plate and/or with the cover of the friction clutch. The compensating unit comprises a ring-shaped locating element which is biased by the diaphragm spring toward the pressure plate, and two sets of wedges having abutting ramps which can shift the pressure plate and the locating element axially relative to one another in response to angular movement of one set of wedges relative to the other set.

Claims45

Dependent claims

An engageable and disengageable friction clutch, comprising:

a housing rotatable about a predetermined axis;
a pressure plate;
means for non-rotatably connecting said pressure plate to said housing with limited freedom of movement in the direction of said axis;
a rotary counterpressure plate adjacent said pressure plate;
a torque transmitting clutch disc disposed between said plates and having friction linings engageable by and disengageable from at least one of said plates and being subject to wear as a result of repeated engagement with and disengagement from said at least one plate;
at least one actuating device and a resilient device disposed between said housing and said pressure plate to bias said pressure plate toward said counterpressure plate and to thereby clamp said friction linings between said plates and to rotate said clutch disc about said axis;
means for compensating for wear at least upon said friction linings, said compensating means being disposed between said pressure plate and one of said devices and being axially adjustable to a position corresponding to the extent of wear upon said friction linings;
and
means for arresting said compensating means in said position to limit an adjustment of said compensating means and to prevent an adjustment of said compensating means when there is no wear, said arresting means being provided on said pressure plate, said compensating means including a locating element that is axially moveable, due to a biasing force from said resilient device, so as to be in contact with said pressure plate, said arresting means being axially moveable with respect to said locating element.

6 more elements

An engageable and disengageable friction clutch for motor vehicles with automatic compensation for wear upon a clutch disc, comprising a flywheel rotatable about a predetermined axis;

a pressure plate non-rotatably connectable with said flywheel and including a peripheral portion having at least one bore which is at least substantially parallel to said axis clutch disc having friction linings interposed between said flywheel and said pressure plate;
a rotary housing at least partially confining said pressure plate, said housing being rotatable with said pressure plate and said pressure plate being movable relative to said housing in the direction of said axis;
a prestressed diaphragm spring interposed between said housing and said pressure plate to urge the pressure plate against the friction linings in the engaged condition of the clutch with attendant wear at least upon said friction linings in response to repeated engagement and disengagement of the clutch, said spring having a radially inner portion and a radially outer portion, one of said inner and outer portions bearing upon said housing and the other of said inner and outer portions bearing upon a locating element at said pressure plate;
an automatic equalizing unit disposed between said other portion of said spring and one of said pressure plate and said locating element and arranged to move said pressure plate in the direction of said axis away from said spring to thus compensate for wear at least upon said friction linings, said pressure plate and said locating element defining a clearance which widens in the direction of said axis in response to progressing wear at least upon said friction linings;
a sleeve in said at least one bore;
at least one sensor member having a substantially radially inwardly extending portion at least indirectly bearing upon a portion of said equalizing unit, said at least one sensor member further having a second portion movable in the general direction of said axis and said at least one sensor member being in frictional engagement with said sleeve;
and a stop provided on said housing to limit the movements of said at least one sensor member relative to said pressure plate in a direction toward said flywheel, said equalizing unit being operative to fill said clearance during disengagement of the clutch following said progressing wear.

4 more elements

An engageable and disengageable friction clutch for motor vehicles with automatic compensation for wear upon a rotary clutch disc, comprising a flywheel rotatable about a predetermined axis;

a pressure plate non-rotatably connectable with said flywheel and including a peripheral portion having openings at least substantially parallel to said axis and spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of said pressure plate, said clutch disc having friction linings interposed between said flywheel and said pressure plate;
a rotary housing at least partially confining said pressure plate, said housing being rotatable with said pressure plate and said pressure plate being movable relative to said housing in the direction of said axis;
a prestressed diaphragm spring interposed between said housing and said pressure plate to urge the pressure plate against said friction linings in the engaged condition of the clutch with attendant wear at least upon said friction linings in response to repeated engagement and disengagement of the clutch, said spring having a radially inner portion and a radially outer portion, one of said inner and outer portions bearing upon said housing and the other of said inner and outer portions bearing upon a locating element at said pressure plate;
an automatic equalizing unit disposed between said other portion of said spring and one of said pressure plate and said locating element and arranged to move said pressure plate in the direction of said axis away from said spring to thus compensate for wear at least upon said friction linings, said pressure plate and said locating element defining a clearance which widens in the direction of said axis in response to progressing wear at least upon said friction linings;
a sensor element longitudinally movably received in each of said openings at least substantially without play and being in at least indirect frictional engagement with said pressure plate, each of said sensor members having a substantially radially inwardly extending portion at least indirectly bearing upon a portion of said equalizing unit;
and at least one stop provided at said housing to limit the movements of said sensor members relative to said pressure plate in a direction toward said flywheel, said equalizing unit being operative to fill said clearance during disengagement of the clutch following said progressing wear.

3 more elements