# US 7,607,525 B2 · Friction device for a clutch, in particular for a motor vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,607,525 B2 - Document ID: US7607525B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/635,347 - Filed: 2006-12-08 - Published: 2007-06-14 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2005-12-13 - Assignees: Valeo Materiaux de Friction - Societe Par Actions Simplifiee - Inventors: Géraud Vatin; Philippe Walter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607525B2 ## CPC - F16D 13/64: Clutch-plates; Clutch-lamellae (brake-plates, brake-lamellae F16D65/12) - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES ## Abstract This device (10) comprises first (24A) and second (24B) friction lining members, substantially annular and coaxial, separated axially and delimited by opposing friction faces. The first friction lining member (24A) comprises a radially external part (32A) comprising a friction lining (26A), a radially internal part (30A) intended to be fixed to the second friction lining member (24B), and elastic connecting tongues (35A) each provided with a first end (36A) for connection to the radially external part (32A) and a second end (38A) for connection to the radially internal part (30A), the first (36A) and second (38A) connecting ends having an angular offset between them that is variable according to the axial separation of the two friction lining members (24A, 24B). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A friction device (10) for a clutch for a motor vehicle, comprising first (24A) and second (24B) friction lining members, substantially annular and coaxial with a rotation axis (11) of the friction device (10), separated axially and delimited by opposing friction faces, wherein the first friction lining member (24A) comprises: a first friction lining (26A); and a substantially annular first support (28A) including: a radially external part (32A) fixed to the first friction lining (26A); a radially internal part (30A) connected to the second friction lining member (24B); and elastic connecting tongues (35A) each provided with a first end (36A) for connection with the radially external part (32A) and a second end for connection with the radially internal part (30A), the first (36A) and second (38A) connecting ends being variably angularly offset from each other with respect to a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis according to the axial separation of the first and second friction lining members (24A, 24B). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The friction device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the connecting tongues (35A) are folded so that the first (36A) and second (38A) connecting ends are offset axially from each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The friction device (10) according to claim 1, wherein each connecting tongue (35A) is made in one piece with the radially internal (30A) and external (32A) parts. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The friction device (10) according to claim 1, further comprising means (42) of connecting the radially internal part (30A) with the second friction lining member (24B), comprising at least one fixing orifice (44A) formed in the radially internal part (30A). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The friction device (10) according to claim 4, wherein the connecting means (42) comprise at least one connecting orifice (44B) formed in the second friction lining member (24B), opposite the orifice (44A) formed in the radially internal part (30A), and a connecting rivet (46) passing though the connecting orifices (44A, 44B). ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The friction device (10) according to claim 4, wherein the connecting means (42) are also intended to couple the radially internal part (30A) with a hub (16) coaxial with the radially internal part (30A). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The friction device (10) according to claim 1, further comprising elastic means (47) for axial bracing of the first (24A) and second (24B) friction lining members, intended to ensure the progressiveness of the clutch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The friction device (10) according to claim 7, wherein the elastic means (47) comprise an elastomeric mass (48) including generally annular shaped beads, substantially coaxially arranged between the first and second friction lining members (24A, 24B). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The friction device 10 according to claim 1, wherein the radially internal part (30A) of the first friction lining member (24A) extends radially as far as a friction bearing (50) surrounding a hub (16) and free to rotate with respect to the hub (16), so as to participate on one hand in the centering of the first support (28A) with respect to the hub (16) and on the other hand in the axial positioning of this bearing (50) by cooperation with a shoulder (50E) on this bearing (50). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The friction device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the second friction lining member (24B) comprises: a second friction lining (26B); and a substantially annular second support (28B) including: a radially external part (32B) fixed to the second friction lining (26B); a radially internal part (30B) connected to the first friction lining member (24A); and elastic connecting tongues (35B) each provided with a first end for connection with the radially external part (32B) and a second end for connection with the radially internal part (30B), the first and second connecting ends being variably angularly offset from each other with respect to a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis according to the axial separation of the first and second friction lining members. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The friction device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the first (36A) and second (38A) connecting ends are variably radially offset from each other according to the axial separation of the first and second friction lining members (24A, 24B).