Multiple-clutch device

Multiple-clutch device, for installation in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle between a drive unit and a transmission, comprising a first clutch arrangement associated with a first transmission input shaft of the transmission, and a second clutch arrangement associated with a second transmission input shaft of the transmission for transmitting torque between the drive unit and the transmission, at least one of the clutch arrangements having an actuating piston defining a pressure chamber for pressure medium actuation of the at least one clutch arrangement, the at least one clutch arrangement being constructed as a plate clutch arrangement wherein a radial outer clutch annularly encloses a radial inner clutch arrangement, the actuating piston associated with the radial outer clutch arrangement being guided at an outer plate carrier of the radial outer clutch arrangement, and at an outer plate carrier, of the radial inner clutch arrangement so as to be axially displaceable to seal the pressure chamber, the actuating piston defining a centrifugal force pressure compensation chamber receiving pressure compensation medium, wherein the actuating piston is guided further at the plate carriers so as to seal the centrifugal force pressure compensation chamber, the centrifugal force pressure compensation chamber associated with the radial outer clutch arrangement being defined by the outer carrier of the radial inner clutch arrangement, another actuating piston associated with the radial inner clutch arrangement defines another pressure chamber and is guided to be axially displaceable at the outer plate carrier of the radial inner clutch arrangement and, at a wall of another centrifugal force pressure compensation chamber associated with said other actuating piston, and so as to seal the associated pressure chamber and the centrifugal force pressure compensation chamber which receives a pressure compensation medium, sealing elements cooperate with the actuating pistons of the at least one clutch arrangement and said another piston to seal the respective ones of the pressure chambers and the centrifugal force pressure compensation chambers, said sealing elements being arranged radially staggered and partially overlapping axially.

Multiple-clutch device, for installation in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle between a drive unit and a transmission, the clutch device comprising a first clutch arrangement associated with a first transmission input shaft of the transmission, and a second clutch arrangement associated with a second transmission input shaft of the transmission for transmitting torque between the drive unit and the transmission, each of the clutch arrangements having an actuating piston defining an associated pressure chamber for pressure medium actuation of the clutch arrangement in which:

• (a) a first radial outer sealing element seals the first clutch arrangement actuating piston associated pressure chamber on at least one of a radial outer side thereof and axially, and which acts between the said first clutch arrangement actuating piston and a wall of the pressure chamber associated therewith, and a second radial outer sealing element seals the second clutch arrangement actuating piston associated pressure chamber on at least one of a radial outer thereof side and axially, and which acts between said second clutch arrangement actuating piston and a wall of the pressure chamber associated therewith, are arranged at different radial distances from an axis of rotation (A) of the clutch device, and
• (b) a third radial inner sealing element seals the first clutch arrangement actuating piston associated pressure chamber on at least one of a radial inner side thereof and axially, and which acts between the said first clutch arrangement actuating piston and a wall of the pressure chamber associated therewith, and a radial fourth inner sealing element which seals the second clutch arrangement actuating piston associated pressure chamber on at least one of a radial inner side thereof and axially, and which acts between said second clutch arrangement actuating piston and a wall of the pressure chamber associated therewith, are arranged at different radial distances from said axis of rotation (A) of the clutch device, the first and second outer sealing elements and the third and fourth inner sealing elements are so arranged with respect to a section plane co-directional with the axis of rotation (A) of the clutch device, that one angle α between a straight line which intersects, said first and third sealing elements and a line parallel to the axis of rotation (A) of the clutch device, and another angle α between a straight line which intersects said second and fourth sealing elements and a line parallel to the axis of rotation (A) of the clutch device are formed in the disengaged and engaged states of the two clutch arrangements, the angles α being between about 10° to about 70°, the actuating pistons divide the respective associated pressure chambers from an associated pressure compensation chamber which receives a pressure compensation medium, wherein
• (c) a fifth radial outer sealing element seals the pressure compensation chamber of the first clutch arrangement on the radial outer side and axially and which acts between the actuating piston of said first clutch arrangement, and a wall of the associated pressure compensation chamber, and a sixth radial outer sealing element which seals the pressure compensation chamber of the second clutch arrangement on at least one of the radial outer side and axially and which acts between the actuating piston of said second clutch arrangement and a wall of the associated pressure compensation chamber, said fifth and sixth sealing elements being arranged at different radial distances from said axis of rotation (A) of the clutch device, and wherein
• (d) a seventh radial inner sealing element seals the pressure compensation chamber of the first clutch arrangement on at least one of the radial inner side and axially and which acts between the actuating piston of said first clutch arrangement and a wall of the associated pressure compensation chamber and an eighth radial inner sealing element seals the pressure compensation chamber of the second clutch arrangement on at least one of the radial inner side and axially and which acts between the actuating piston and of said second clutch arrangement a wall of the pressure compensation chamber, said seventh and eighth sealing elements being arranged at different radial distances from said axis of rotation (A) of the clutch device.

Multiple-clutch device, for installation in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle between a drive unit and a transmission, the clutch device comprising a fist clutch arrangement associated with a first transmission input shaft of the transmission, and a second clutch arrangement associated with a second transmission input shaft of the transmission for transmitting torque between the drive unit and the transmission, each of the clutch arrangements having an actuating piston defining an associated pressure chamber for pressure medium actuation of the clutch arrangement in which:

• (a) a first radial outer sealing element seals the first clutch arrangement actuating piston associated pressure chamber on at least one of a radial outer side thereof and axially, and which acts between the said first clutch arrangement actuating piston and a wall of the pressure chamber associated therewith, and a second radial outer sealing element seals the second clutch arrangement actuating piston associated pressure chamber on at least one of a radial outer thereof side and axially, and which acts between said second clutch arrangement actuating piston and a wall of the pressure chamber associated therewith, are arranged at different radial distances from an axis of rotation (A) of the clutch device, and
• (b) a third radial inner sealing element seals the first clutch arrangement actuating piston associated pressure chamber on at least one of a radial inner side thereof and axially, and which acts between the said first clutch arrangement actuating piston and a wall of the pressure chamber associated therewith, and a radial fourth inner sealing element which seals the second clutch arrangement actuating piston associated pressure chamber on at least one of a radial inner side thereof and axially, and which acts between said second clutch arrangement actuating piston and a wall of the pressure chamber associated therewith, are arranged at different radial distances from said axis of rotation (A) of the clutch device the first and second outer sealing elements and the third and fourth inner sealing elements are so arranged with respect to a section plane co-directional with the axis of rotation (A) of the clutch device, that one angle α between a straight line which intersects, said first and third sealing elements and a line parallel to the axis of rotation (A) of the clutch device, and another angle α between a straight line which intersects said second and fourth sealing elements and a line parallel to the axis of rotation (A) of the clutch device are formed in the disengaged and engaged states of the two clutch arrangements, the angles a being between about 10° to about 70°, the actuating pistons divide the respective associated pressure chambers from an associated pressure compensation chamber which receives a pressure compensation medium, wherein
• (c) a fifth radial outer sealing element seals the pressure compensation chamber of the first clutch arrangement on the radial outer side and axially and which acts between the actuating piston of said first clutch arrangement, and a wall of the associated pressure compensation chamber, and a sixth radial outer sealing element which seals the pressure compensation chamber of the second clutch arrangement on at least one of the radial outer side and axially and which acts between the actuating piston of said second clutch arrangement and a wall of the associated pressure compensation chamber, said fifth and sixth sealing elements being arranged at different radial distances from said axis of rotation (A) of the clutch device, and wherein
• (d) a seventh radial inner sealing element seals the pressure compensation chamber of the first clutch arrangement on at least one of the radial inner side and axially and which acts between the actuating piston of said first clutch arrangement and a wall of the associated pressure compensation chamber and an eighth radial inner sealing element seals the pressure compensation chamber of the second clutch arrangement on at least one of the radial inner side and axially and which acts between the actuating piston and of said second clutch arrangement a wall of the pressure compensation chamber, said seventh and eighth sealing elements being arranged at different radial distances from said axis of rotation (A) of the clutch device, the first and the fifth sealing element are separate sealing elements which are arranged at an essentially identical radial distance from the axis of rotation (A) of the clutch device, the second and the sixth sealing elements being separate sealing elements which are arranged at an essentially identical radial distance from the axis of rotation (A) of the clutch device, the third and the seventh sealing elements are formed by a sealing element associated with both the pressure chamber and the pressure compensation chamber of the first clutch arrangement, and the fourth and the eighth sealing elements are formed by a sealing element associated with both the pressure chamber and the pressure compensation chamber of the second clutch arrangement.