# US 9,518,618 B2 · Manual shift transmission and clutch assembly therefore > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,618 B2 - Document ID: US9518618B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/577,606 - Filed: 2014-12-19 - Published: 2015-06-25 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-20 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Christian Ruebsam; Mathias Remmler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518618B2 ## CPC - F16D 21/06: at least two driving shafts or two driven shafts being concentric - F16D 13/40: in which the or each axially-movable member is pressed exclusively against an axially-located member - F16D 13/52: Clutches with multiple lamellae {; Clutches in which three or more axially moveable members are fixed alternately to the shafts to be coupled and are pressed from one side towards an axially-located member (F16D13/385 takes precedence)} - F16D 13/42: with means for increasing the effective force between the actuating sleeve or equivalent member and the pressure member - F16D 2021/0646: {Electrically actuated clutch with two clutch plates} - F16D 2021/0676: {Mechanically actuated multiple lamellae clutches} - F16D 2021/0684: {Mechanically actuated clutches with two clutch plates} - F16D 2023/123: {Clutch actuation by cams, ramps or ball-screw mechanisms} - F16H 3/006: {power being selectively transmitted by parallel flow paths, e.g. dual clutch transmissions} - F16H 2003/0931: {each countershaft having an output gear meshing with a single common gear on the output shaft} - F16H 2200/0052: the gear ratios comprising six forward speeds - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract A clutch assembly for a manual shift transmission includes a first shaft, which carries a first clutch disc, a second shaft that is coaxial to the first shaft. The second shaft carries an axially shiftable second clutch disc, a first ramp, of which at least one section describes a helical line that is coaxial to the shafts, and a first actuating body. The first actuating body is clamped between the first ramp and the second clutch disc and can be moved about a common axis of the shafts between an open position, in which the clutch discs are spaced from one another, and a closing position, in which the clutch discs contact one another in a frictionally joined manner. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A clutch assembly for a manual shift transmission comprises: a first shaft carrying a first clutch disc; a second shaft that is coaxial to the first shaft and carries an axially shiftable second clutch disc, a first ramp, of which at least one section describes a helical line that is coaxial to the first and second shafts, and a first actuating body, which is clamped between the first ramp and the second clutch disc; wherein the first actuating body is movable about a common axis of the first and second shafts between an open position, in which the first and second clutch discs are spaced from one another, and a closing position, in which the first and second clutch discs contact one another in a frictionally joined manner, wherein the first actuating body is received in bores of a holder that is rotatable about the second shaft, and wherein a link formed with a helicoid slot section and rotatable with the holder and a cam is engaged within the slot section and coupled to a gear shift sleeve to translate the gear shift sleeve axially along the common axis between a neutral position and a locking position corresponding to the open position and the closing position, respectively. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The clutch assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a rolling bearing clamped between the actuating body and the second clutch disc. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The clutch assembly according to claim 1, wherein the actuating body comprises a ball. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The clutch assembly according to claim 1, wherein the ramp comprises a neutral section, on which the actuating body is moveable while the clutch discs are in the open position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The clutch assembly according to claim 4, wherein the neutral section is surrounded on both sides by helicoid sections. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The clutch assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: a third clutch disc carried on the first shaft; and a third shaft formed a hollow shaft concentrically surrounding the second shaft and carrying an axially shiftable fourth clutch disc, and a second actuating body, clamped between a second ramp and the fourth clutch disc; wherein the second actuating body is movable about a common axis of the shafts between an open position, in which the third and fourth clutch disc are spaced from one another, and a closing position, in which the third and fourth clutch discs contact one another in a frictionally joined manner. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The clutch assembly according to claim 6, wherein the first and second clutch disc form a first disc assembly and the third and fourth clutch disc form a second disc assembly having different radii than the first disc assembly and arranged in an axially overlapping manner. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The clutch assembly according to claim 6, wherein first and second ramps are arranged on different radii with respect to the axis and are axially supported on a common carrier. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The clutch assembly according to claim 8, wherein a gap is maintained between the carrier and the ramp having a larger radius, and wherein a lever extends through the gap and engages the actuating body of the smaller radius. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The clutch assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least three first actuating bodies and at least three first ramps are distributed about the second shaft. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The clutch assembly according to claim 10, wherein the at least three first actuating bodies and at least three first ramps are distributed on a circle that is coaxial to the axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The clutch assembly according to claim 1, wherein the holder comprises a toothed segment. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The clutch assembly accordingly to claim 1, wherein the cam interacts with the helicoid slot section of the link when the first actuating body is situated on a neutral section of the first ramp to ensure that the clutch discs are in the open position while the gear shift sleeve is being moved.