US 5,685,407 A · Transmission device for a motor vehicle

the manual transmission comprising:

a flywheel having a circumference and a longitudinal axis, the circumference of the flywheel being disposed concentrically about the longitudinal axis;

a clutch pressure plate being releasably engageable with the flywheel;

a clutch disc;

the clutch disc being disposed between the clutch pressure plate and the flywheel;

the clutch disc comprising:

friction lining means;

the friction lining means for contacting the clutch pressure plate and the flywheel;

the clutch pressure plate being axially movable and for causing the clutch disc to engage and disengage with the flywheel;

a clutch housing disposed adjacent the clutch pressure plate;

the flywheel having a disk-like portion extending from the longitudinal axis to the circumference;

the transmission system further comprising:

crankshaft means;

crankshaft means having one end facing toward the flywheel and an end opposite the one end facing away from the flywheel;

a flexible transmission drive plate;

the flexible transmission drive plate having a thickness dimension;

the flexible transmission drive plate being disposed between and in contact with the flywheel and the crankshaft means;

connecting means for connecting the flexible transmission drive plate and engaging with the crankshaft means to fasten the flexible transmission drive plate to said crankshaft means;

connecting elements for fastening the flexible transmission drive plate to the flywheel;

the flexible transmission drive plate being fastened by the connecting elements to the flywheel;

each connecting element having a head and a shank connected to the head;

the shanks of the connecting elements being disposed at least partially in the flywheel;

the heads projecting and extending beyond the surface of the flywheel at a distance greater than the thickness of the flexible transmission drive plate prior to complete assembly of the transmission system;

the flexible transmission drive plate for being placed between the flywheel and the heads of the connecting elements;

the flexible transmission drive plate comprising:

a plurality of aperture means disposed in the flexible transmission drive plate;

the aperture means extending through the flexible transmission drive plate;

each aperture means comprising a first portion and a second portion;

the first portion being disposed and dimensioned to permit the heads of the connecting elements to pass through the aperture means;

the second portion being disposed and dimensioned to retain the connecting elements in the aperture means by permitting the heads of the connecting elements to be tightened against and to bear against the second portion during assembly of the transmission system;

the flywheel and the flexible transmission drive plate being positioned for movement one relative to the other to permit movement of the heads of the connecting elements into the first portion during assembly of the transmission system;

the position of the heads in the flywheel having been positioned to have permitted movement of the heads of the connecting elements relative to the flexible transmission drive plate from the first portion into the second portion during assembly of the transmission system;

the connecting elements having been disposed during assembly of the transmission system to permit the movement of the heads to the second portion and to permit the heads to be tightened against and to bear against the second portion;

the crankshaft means being disposed in an engine;

and the transmission system comprising the engine connected to the manual transmission by the flexible transmission drive plate;

said method comprising the steps of:

providing a flywheel having a circumference and a longitudinal axis, the circumference of the flywheel being disposed concentrically about the longitudinal axis, the flywheel having a disk-like portion extending from the longitudinal axis to the circumference;

providing a clutch pressure plate for being releasably engageable with the flywheel;

providing a clutch disc;

providing friction lining means for contacting the clutch pressure plate and the flywheel;

the clutch pressure plate for being axially movable, the clutch pressure plate for causing the clutch disc to engage and disengage with the flywheel;

providing a clutch housing;

providing crankshaft means having a first end and a second end;

the first end of the crankshaft means for being adjacent the flywheel and the second end of the crankshaft means for facing away from the flywheel;

providing a flexible transmission drive plate;

the flexible transmission drive plate having a thickness dimension;

providing connecting means;

the connecting means being for connecting the flexible transmission drive plate and engaging with the crankshaft means for fastening the flexible transmission drive plate to the crankshaft means;

providing connecting elements;

the connecting elements for fastening the flexible transmission drive plate to the flywheel;

each connecting element having a head and a shank connected to the head;

the flexible transmission drive plate for being placed between the flywheel and the heads of the connecting elements;

providing the flexible transmission drive plate with a plurality of aperture means;

the aperture means extending through the flexible transmission drive plate;

each of the aperture means comprising a first portion and a second portion;

the first portion to permit the heads of the connecting elements to pass through the aperture means;

the second portion to retain the connecting elements in the aperture means by permitting the heads of the connecting elements to be tightened against and to bear against the second portion during assembly of the transmission system;

said crankshaft means being disposed in an engine;

said method comprising the steps of:

disposing the clutch disc between the clutch pressure plate and the flywheel;

disposing the friction lining means in a position to contact the clutch pressure plate and the flywheel;

disposing the clutch pressure plate to be axially movable, disposing the clutch pressure plate for causing the clutch disc to engage and disengage with the flywheel;

disposing the clutch housing adjacent the clutch pressure plate;

disposing the first end of the crankshaft means adjacent the flywheel and disposing the second end of the crankshaft means away from the flywheel;

disposing the flexible transmission drive plate between and in contact with the flywheel and the crankshaft means;

connecting the connecting means to engage with the crankshaft means and to fasten the flexible transmission drive plate to the crankshaft means;

disposing the shanks of the connecting elements at least partially in the flywheel;

disposing the heads to project and extend beyond the surface of the flywheel at a distance greater than the thickness of the flexible transmission drive plate prior to complete assembly of the transmission system;

disposing the flexible transmission drive plate adjacent the flywheel and the heads of the connecting elements;

positioning the heads in the flywheel to permit movement of the heads of the connecting elements relative to the flexible transmission drive plate from the first portion into the second portion;

positioning the flywheel and the flexible transmission drive plate to be moved one relative to the other to permit movement of the heads of the connecting elements into the first portion;

moving the heads of the connecting elements into the first portion;

moving the heads of the connecting elements relative to the flexible transmission drive plate from the first portion into the second portion;

tightening the heads against the second portion of the aperture means so that the heads bear against the second portion of the aperture means;

and

disposing the crankshaft means in an engine whereby a manual transmission-engine unit is produced;

said aperture means comprising a peripheral area;

a collar being disposed in said peripheral area of said aperture means;

said collar comprising at least one raised projection disposed in the peripheral area of said flexible drive plate;

each said projection being disposed adjacent said first portion and opposite said second portion of said aperture means;

each said projection having aligned an assembly tool to the head during manufacture thereby generally preventing the tightening of the connecting elements before the connecting elements are positioned in said second portion of their corresponding aperture means;

said projections having been manufactured to comprise one of A), B), C), and D) as follows:

A) comprising a bracket;

B) comprising adhesion of a connection to said flexible drive plate;

C) comprising one of forging, pressing, and stamping of said collar;

and D) comprising a spacer;

said bracket of A) comprising a raised end on said flexible drive plate in the peripheral area of said aperture means such that the raised end of the bracket, which is unsupported, faces said aperture means;

B) comprising said connection being adhered by adhesive means to attach the collar onto the flexible drive plate in the peripheral area of said aperture means;

C) further comprising one of extruding, injecting, molding, forging, pressing and stamping the metal of said flexible drive plate during manufacture so as to cause a flow of the metal of said flexible drive plate and plastically deform said metal thereby forming the collar on the flexible drive plate in the peripheral area of said aperture means;

in D) said spacer comprising a rivet attached to and projecting from the flexible drive plate in the peripheral area of said aperture means.

Transmission device for a motor vehicle

Life of this patent

Transmission device for a motor vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17