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US 9,790,999 B2Granted
Clutch apparatus with lockable actuating device
AssigneeBorgWarner Inc.
InventorsMatthias Gerhard Veit, Alexander Moser, Richard Baeumler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A number of variations may include a clutch apparatus having at least one clutch and having an actuating device for actuating the clutch, the actuating device being movable from an opening position, in which the clutch is open, into a closing position, in which the clutch is closed. The actuating device can be locked with form-fit action in the closing position or opening position.
Claims18
A clutch apparatus comprising:
- at least one clutch pack;
- an actuating device for actuating the clutch pack, the actuating device being movable from an opening position, in which the clutch pack is open, into a closing position, in which the clutch pack is closed, wherein the actuating device comprises a piston and a pressure chamber, the piston being responsive to hydraulic pressure in the pressure chamber and wherein the piston comprises a force-transmitting element with a ramp section formed on the force-transmitting element;
- an annular part extending between the force-transmitting element and the clutch pack that transmits force from the force-transmitting element and exerts a load onto the clutch pack;
- a restoring element exerting a restoring force on the piston through the force-transmitting element, the restoring force acting to oppose the hydraulic pressure, wherein the actuating device is lockable under operation of the ramp section, in the closing position;
- and
- a support element that defines the pressure chamber and houses the clutch apparatus, wherein the piston has a piston head adjacent the pressure chamber, the piston head contacts the support element, and the piston has an inner side in stepped relation to the piston head so that the force transmitting element is spaced away from the support element and the force transmitting element extends in the axial direction over the annular part, wherein a free space is defined in the axial direction between the piston head and the annular part, wherein the piston head remains spaced apart from the annular part with the free space being variable in size in the axial direction between the closing position and the opening position.
3 more elements
A clutch apparatus comprising:
- a clutch;
- a piston actuating the clutch, the piston comprises a piston head and a force-transmitting element that has a ramp section formed on the force-transmitting element
- an annular part extending between the force-transmitting element of the piston and the clutch that transmits force from the force-transmitting element and exerts a load onto the clutch, the annular part defining a cutout containing a locking element, and wherein the annular part is lockable under operation of the ramp pushing the locking element into a mating depression when the clutch is applied;
- and
- wherein the clutch apparatus is moveable between a closing position and an opening position, and comprising a support element that defines the pressure chamber and houses the clutch apparatus, wherein the piston head is acted on by a pressure in the pressure chamber, wherein the piston head contacts the support element, and the piston has an inner side in stepped relation to the piston head so that the force transmitting element is spaced away from the support element and the force transmitting element extends in an axial direction over the annular part, wherein a free space is defined in the axial direction between the piston head and the annular part, wherein the piston head remains spaced apart from the annular part with the free space being variable in size in the axial direction between the closing position and the opening position.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.