Twin-clutch device

A twin-clutch device for transmitting and intercepting power between a flywheel of an engine and a transmission shaft, comprising:

• a first clutch disk assembly having a first friction member adapted to be positioned to face the flywheel;
• a second clutch disk assembly having a second friction member in a position corresponding to said first friction member;
• an intermediate plate located between said first and second clutch disk assemblies and adapted to be non-rotatably and axially movably coupled to the flywheel, said intermediate plate having friction surfaces on both sides for abutting against said first and second friction members;
• a pushing device adapted to be fixedly coupled to the flywheel, said pushing device having a pressure plate and a pushing member, said pressure plate having a friction surface facing said second friction member, said pushing member operatively applying a biasing force on said pressure plate toward said second friction member in a clutch engaged position;
• a first biasing member operatively coupled to said pressure plate to bias said pressure plate in a first direction away from the flywheel and said intermediate plate when said biasing force from said pushing device is released during a release operation;
• and
• control assembly operatively coupled to said intermediate plate, said control assembly operating in a clutch switching operation during movement between a clutch released position and said clutch engaged position, said control assembly operatively moves said intermediate plate in response to movement of said pressure plate, such that said intermediate plate initially moves at a speed slower than a moving speed of said pressure plate and after said pressure plate has moved a distance corresponding to a predetermined stroke, said intermediate plate and said pressure plate move at identical speeds,
• said control assembly includes:
• a second biasing member operatively coupled to said intermediate plate to apply a biasing force to said intermediate plate in a second direction which is opposite said first direction;
• an engagement member operatively engaged with said intermediate plate to move said intermediate plate in said first direction after said pressure plate moves said predetermined distance in said first direction;
• and
• a third biasing member operatively coupled to said intermediate plate to apply a biasing force to said intermediate plate in said first direction, said biasing force of said third biasing member being smaller than said biasing force of said pushing member and larger than said biasing force of said second biasing member when in said clutch engaged position.

A vehicle comprising:

• an engine having a flywheel;
• a transmission with an input shaft;
• and
• a twin-clutch device for transmitting and intercepting power between said flywheel of said engine and said transmission, said twin-clutch device comprising
• a first clutch disk assembly having a first friction member facing said flywheel;
• a second clutch disk assembly having a second friction member in a position corresponding to said first friction member;
• an intermediate plate located between said first and second clutch disk assemblies, said intermediate plate being unrotatably and axially movably attached to said flywheel, said intermediate plate having friction surfaces on both sides for abutting against said first and second friction members;
• a pushing device fixedly coupled to said flywheel and having a pressure plate and a pushing member, with said pressure plate having a friction surface facing said second friction member, said pushing member operatively applying a biasing force on said pressure plate toward said second friction member in a clutch engaged position;
• a first biasing member operatively coupled to said pressure plate to bias said pressure plate in a first direction away from said flywheel and said intermediate plate when said biasing force from said pushing device is released during a release operation;
• and
• control assembly operatively coupled to said intermediate plate, said control assembly operating in a clutch switching operation during movement between a clutch released position and said clutch engaged position, said control assembly operatively moves said intermediate plate in response to movement of pressure plate at least during said releasing operation, such that said intermediate plate initially moves relative to the flywheel at a speed grater than zero and slower than a moving speed of said pressure plate and after said pressure plate has moved a distance corresponding to a predetermined stroke, said intermediate plate and said pressure plate move at identical speeds.

A vehicle comprising:

• an engine having a flywheel;
• a transmission with an input shaft;
• and
• a twin-clutch device for transmitting and intercepting power between said flywheel of said engine and said transmission, said twin-clutch device comprising
• a first clutch disk assembly having a first friction member facing said flywheel;
• a second clutch disk assembly having a second friction member in a position corresponding to said first friction member;
• an intermediate plate located between said first and second clutch disk assemblies, said intermediate plate being unrotatably and axially movably attached to said flywheel, said intermediate plate having friction surfaces on both sides for abutting against said first and second friction members;
• a pushing device fixedly coupled to said flywheel and having a pressure plate and a pushing member, with said pressure plate having a friction surface facing said second friction member, said pushing member operatively applying a biasing force on said pressure plate toward said second friction member in a clutch engaged position;
• a first biasing member operatively coupled to said pressure plate to bias said pressure plate in a first direction away from said flywheel and said intermediate plate when said biasing force from said pushing device is released during a release operation;
• and
• control assembly operatively coupled to said intermediate plate, said control assembly operating in a clutch switching operation during movement between a clutch released position and said clutch engaged position, said control assembly operatively moves said intermediate plate in response to movement of pressure plate, such that said intermediate plate initially moves at a speed slower than a moving speed of said pressure plate and after said pressure plate has moved a distance corresponding to a predetermined stroke, said intermediate plate and said pressure plate move at identical speeds,
• said control assembly includes:
• a second biasing member operatively coupled to said intermediate plate to apply a biasing force to said intermediate plate in a second direction which is opposite said first direction;
• an engagement member operatively engaged with said intermediate plate to move said intermediate plate in said first direction after said pressure plate moves said predetermined distance in said first direction;
• and
• a third biasing member operatively coupled to said intermediate plate to apply a biasing force to said intermediate plate in said first direction, said biasing force of said third biasing member being smaller than said biasing force of said pushing member and larger than said biasing force of said second biasing member when in said clutch engaged position.