DE102016202036A1 - Coupling with floating thrust washer - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a clutch (1) for a drive train of a motor vehicle, comprising a plate spring (2) which, when actuated, is in contact with a thrust washer (3), the thrust washer (3) being mounted on a bearing ring (5; ) of a release bearing (4) is applied, wherein the thrust washer (3) is held / supported radially displaceable relative to a rotational axis of the release bearing (4).

Description

The present invention relates to a coupling for a drive train of a motor vehicle, such as a car, a truck or other commercial vehicle, with a plate spring which is in contact with a thrust washer when actuated, wherein the thrust washer bears against a bearing ring of a release bearing.

So-called clutch release bearings with thrust washers are already known in the prior art. For example, the DE 10 2006 040 463 A1 Such a clutch release bearing with a circumferential inner ring, wherein the outer ring and the inner ring raceways for rolling elements. The clutch release bearing is further provided with a longitudinally section L-shaped thrust washer for the start of clutch spring ends. The thrust washer in this case has a first leg in longitudinal section, which is supported axially on a flange and beyond, the thrust washer has a longitudinal section at an angle from the first leg outgoing second leg, which dips axially into a central through hole of the flange and the inner peripheral side the passage opening bears radially.

Such clutch release bearing with thrust washers are used for example in Concentric Slave Cylinder Systems (CSC) and lever disengagement systems and have at the contact point of the release bearing for coupling a (fixed) fixed (plastic) thrust washer. The fixation is realized here in all three spatial directions of a cylindrical coordinate system: in the axial direction by snap hook, in the radial direction by a centering collar and in the tangential direction by a pin-like connection.

However, the following problems may arise between the release bearing and disc spring tongues of the clutch during actuation of the release systems known from the prior art: Due to a relative movement of the plate spring tongue tips to the plastic disc (the clutch actuator spring moves eccentrically over the service life), the tips may be buried in the clutch actuation the disc come. These burials can prevent the bearing can move radially against the diaphragm spring tongues and thus can lead to an undesirable positive connection.

If the clutch is actuated, this may lead to a wear of the diaphragm spring centering in the clutch, as a result of which the clutch actuator spring will assume an increasingly eccentric position over the service life.

In combination with the described burial, so-called Verzwängungen of the actuating bearing or the actuating unit, which then actuates the clutch eccentrically, come. If a clutch is actuated eccentrically, it may, under certain boundary conditions, be prone to picking, that is to say nonuniform torque transmission, during an actuating operation, which may be noticeable in the vehicle, for example as starting pickups.

The object of the invention is to avoid or at least mitigate the disadvantages of the prior art, and in particular to provide a thrust washer so that such so-called Verzwängungen between the (plastic) thrust washer and the diaphragm spring tongues and thereby prevent the Anfahrrupfen.

The object of the invention is achieved in that the thrust washer is held / held radially displaceable relative to a rotational axis of the release bearing.

Advantageous embodiments are claimed in the subclaims and are explained below.

An advantageous embodiment provides that the thrust washer is mounted axially fixed on a release bearing fixed component or a clutch-fixed component or fixed.

This determination of the thrust washer can prevent the formation of bag-like wear and thus the formation of a positive connection between the thrust washer and the corresponding component.

Preferably, the thrust washer via one or more snap hooks and / or engaging behind locking devices axialpositions either on one or more plate spring tongues of the plate spring or on a bearing ring of the release bearing, such as the Ausrücklagerinnenring attached.

The thrust washer is in this case only so positively or non-positively connected to the clutch facing bearing ring of the release bearing, that a radial compensating movement, which prevents a Verzwängung, can take place.

Moreover, it is advantageous if the snap hook preferably completely engages behind a single plate spring tongue and ends, for example, in an end section (approximately free) pointing in the direction of the thrust washer, or the latching device engages around an inner edge of the release bearing inner ring, approximately in the manner of a latching hook.

The mounting of the thrust washer with the bearing ring via snap hooks or other locking devices prevents falling out of the thrust washer and is simple and inexpensive.

A further advantageous embodiment provides that the thrust washer is designed as a thrust ring.

The design in the form of a ring is material and weight saving compared to a disc.

With regard to the material, it is advantageous if the material of the thrust washer comprises plastic and / or the thrust washer is made of plastic, for example a tribologically optimized polymer material.

The use of plastic in general as a material for the thrust washer can be compared to for example metal significantly weight, and thus costs saved. By using a tribologically optimized polymer material, both the service life (wear resistance) and the efficiency, ie the pedal force constancy over the service life, can be optimized.

Furthermore, an embodiment is advantageous in which there is at least one coupling-side and / or disengagement-side anti-rotation lock on the thrust washer, preferably (in each case several).

The pitch, that is, the distance between the respective snap hook and the anti-rotation, preferably corresponds to the pitch of the clutch actuator spring.

Moreover, it is advantageous if a coupling-side rotation in a gap between two plate spring tongues preferably engages positively.

For this purpose, the retaining devices can engage in corresponding grooves in the bearing, for example. The anti-rotation device allows exact positioning of the thrust washer to the release bearing or to the clutch.

A possible further advantageous embodiment provides that the latching device is a part of an at least in the radial direction elastic / flexurally soft arm, which is preferably spaced over a circumferentially parallel slot of a main body of the thrust washer, and / or in an axially aligned and recessed in the radial direction Recess or groove engages.

This allows a so-called anti-rotation of the thrust washer can be realized, which additionally prevents erroneous positioning of the thrust washer. The number of arms is preferably two, three, four, five. But it can also be significantly more arms are attached, if this is consistent with the desired bending stiffness or tension.

It is advantageous if the arm protrudes from the main body against a motor and / or coupling direction of rotation to be charged exclusively or predominantly to train.

The design of the arms in the tangential direction to train is advantageous if the arms engage with the retaining devices in corresponding recesses or grooves on the bearing and thus serve as anti-rotation.

Further, it is advantageous if an axially projecting stop collar on the thrust washer is present at an outer diameter or inner diameter.

This stop collar may, on the one hand, limit the radial design travel of the arms whereby the disc can be protected in use. On the other hand can be attached to this covenant restraint devices, which can be dispensed with the on the arms and thus a clear separation of functions can be achieved.

In this case, the bending of the arm which is rigid in the axial direction and / or a cross section which changes in the tangential direction / circumferential direction is advantageous.

The arms formed in this way serve on the one hand a transport or assembly securing and on the other hand initially as a centering device of the thrust washer to the bearing or to the coupling. Here, the arms can be so pronounced in cross-section that result in the axial direction and radial direction different properties with respect to the forces. For example, the arms may preferably be rigid in the axial direction in order to allow better positioning and better retention, and preferably to be bendable in the radial direction in order to realize a better behavior when deflected by the eccentric disc spring.

It is advantageous if the arm runs meander arcuate.

A meandering arcuate configuration of the arm makes it possible to prevent an increase in the radial forces (due to the deflection) from the clutch to the actuation system, which at a straight or simply curved configuration of the arm can occur through the thus limited radial degree of freedom.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if at least one centering cam is present on the coupling side of the thrust washer.

About such a centering cam, the positioning of the thrust washer relative to the clutch can be improved or accelerated.

An additional advantageous embodiment provides that the snap hook and / or the locking device is designed as Verclipsung.

A clipping allows a particularly simple and uncomplicated installation or attachment of the thrust washer on the clutch or on the release bearing.

In other words, the invention is that the thrust washer floating, so it is mounted radially movable, so that they can follow the plate spring and no plucking due to Verzwängungen between the plastic thrust washer and the plate spring tongues longer arises. The thrust washer is preferably made of plastic on the release bearing ring or attached to the clutch, for which the thrust washer in the division of the plate spring (due to distances between the plate spring tongues) snap hooks and anti-rotation has, which are inserted.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with the aid of drawings, in which different variations are shown. Show it:

1 a longitudinal sectional view of a coupling shown in sections with mounted thrust washer and control unit with release bearing in a first embodiment, wherein the thrust washer is constructed of plastic and is synonymously referred to as plastic stop disk;

2 an exploded perspective view of 1 partially shown coupling with thrust washer and release bearing in the first embodiment;

3 a perspective view of a front (bottom) of the thrust washer of the first embodiment;

4 a perspective view of a back (top) of the thrust washer of the first embodiment;

5 a detail of a longitudinal sectional view through the release bearing and the thrust washer in a second embodiment;

6 a perspective view of the release bearing with mounted thrust washer; and

7 a partial perspective view of the release bearing.

The figures are merely schematic in nature and are only for the understanding of the invention. The same elements are provided with the same reference numerals. Features of the individual embodiments can also be realized in other embodiments. So they are interchangeable.

1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a sectionally illustrated coupling 1 with a (clutch) plate spring 2 and with a mounted (plastic) thrust washer 3 and control unit 7 or release bearing 4 in a first embodiment. In this exemplary first embodiment, the thrust washer is mounted on the clutch side, that is, on the clutch 1 attached.

Right in this view is the control unit 7 shown which the release bearing 4 includes. The release bearing 4 has an inner ring 5 and an outer ring 6 on. The thrust washer 3 lies on the right side on the inner ring 5 the release bearing 4 at. Left side touches the thrust washer 3 the plate spring 2 in the field of so-called diaphragm spring tongues 8th and is thus fixed in the axial direction in position. In the radial direction, however, is the thrust washer 3 floating, that is, it is mounted radially movable, resulting in a double arrow 9 is displayed in the up-down direction of the picture.

The thrust washer 3 has an anti-rotation 10 as well as snap hooks 11 which is in an area between two plate spring tongues 8th the plate spring 2 the clutch 1 in a circumferential direction of the plate spring 2 seen, protrude. The anti-twist device 10 is formed for example in the form of retaining devices, which in corresponding grooves (not shown) on the release bearing 3 be plugged or locked. The snap hooks 11 serve the mounting or attachment of the thrust washer and thus prevent falling out of the thrust washer 3 , Here corresponds to the pitch, that is, the distance between the snap hook 11 or the anti-rotation 10 the division of the plate spring 2 the clutch 1 ,

The thrust washer 3 This first embodiment has an inner ring stop 12 on which the flying away of the thrust washer 3 can limit in an emergency. Furthermore, there is the here pictured thrust washer 3 made of a plastic, which can be selected individually according to the required properties.

2 shows an exploded perspective view of the 1 Sectionally illustrated coupling 1 with thrust washer 3 and release bearing 4 in the first embodiment. The exploded view serves to clarify the assembly of these three components, consisting of the coupling 1 , the startup disk 3 and the release bearing 4 ,

In this view, it can be seen that the thrust washer 3 in the circumferential direction at equal intervals several anti-rotation 10 and snap hooks 11 has, which are arranged in pairs. A pair consisting of an anti-twist device 10 and a snap hook 11 are spaced apart in the circumferential direction so that a plate spring tongue 8th the plate spring 2 the clutch 1 between the anti-twist device 10 or the snap hook 11 can be inserted. In this embodiment, the thrust washer each has four anti-rotation 10 and four snap hooks 11 on.

The anti-rotation devices 10 However, they can also be independent of the position of the snap hooks 11 in the circumferential direction of the thrust washer 3 be positioned.

Above or on the side facing away from the coupling of the thrust washer 3 is the release bearing 4 assembled.

3 shows a perspective view of a front or bottom 13 the thrust washer 3 the first embodiment. On this page are circumferentially spaced from each other, the anti-rotation 10 and the snap hooks 11 that the dropping out of the thrust washer 3 prevent. In this embodiment, the thrust washer has 3 over three in the circumferential direction uniformly spaced pairs, each consisting of two anti-rotation 10 and two snap hooks 11 consist. In the middle between two such pairs is in the circumferential direction in each case a further rotation 10 arranged. Thus, the thrust washer has 3 in this embodiment, a total of six snap hooks 11 , which are arranged in pairs, facing each other in the circumferential direction, and over nine anti-rotation 10 ,

4 shows a perspective view of a back and top 14 the thrust washer 3 the first embodiment. On this page indicates the thrust washer 3 an inner ring stop 12 on which should prevent the thrust washer in an emergency 3 flies away. This means that the inner ring stop 12 can restrict the movement of the thrust washer in an emergency.

5 shows a section of a longitudinal sectional view, which the release bearing 4 and the thrust washer 3 in a second possible embodiment of the coupling 1 maps.

At the top of the illustration, this corresponds to one coupling side 23 the thrust washer 3 and at the bottom of the figure corresponds to an actuation side 24 on which the release bearing 4 at the thrust washer 3 is applied.

In this second exemplary embodiment, the thrust washer 3 at the release bearing 4 , instead of the clutch 1 , attached or mounted. For this purpose, the thrust washer 3 at least one arm 15 , or several arms 15 , preferably three to four such arms 15 , on. The poor 15 On the one hand represent a transport or mounting backup and on the other they serve initially as a centering of the thrust washer 3 to the release bearing 4 or for coupling 1 ,

In the second exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the arm has 15 in the radial direction at a free end integral / integrally a locking device 16 on. For fastening or mounting and for axially fixing the position of the thrust washer 3 at the release bearing 4 engages behind the locking device 16 the (rotating) inner ring 5 , Which for this purpose at the corresponding position over an oblique chamfer 17 features. The release bearing 4 has, as in the first illustrated embodiment, adjacent to the inner ring 5 also over an outer ring 6 , About at least one centering cam 18 becomes the thrust washer 3 opposite the clutch 1 positioned. This is the position of the thrust washer 3 determined / determined in the axial direction. In the radial direction is the thrust washer 3 , as already stored in the first embodiment, floating. That is, the thrust washer 3 is radially movable. Around the radial path of the thrust washer 3 , and thus also the radial design of the arm or arms 15 to limit, in this embodiment, on the outer diameter of the thrust washer 3 a stop collar 19 intended. As a result, the thrust washer 3 be protected in use. For the perfect functioning of the thrust washer 3 However, this is not absolutely necessary for the present invention.

Alternatively, the stop collar 19 also on the inner diameter of the thrust washer 3 be provided, as in the previously described first embodiment of the thrust washer 3 the case is (see 1 , Inner ring stop 12 ). The decision as to whether the stopgap 19 on the inner or outer diameter of the thrust washer 3 positioned or is provided, inter alia, with the available space together.

Alternatively, in a further possible embodiment of this stop band 19 Also restraint devices (not shown) may be provided, whereby the locking devices 16 at the free ends of the arms in the radial direction 15 can be dispensed with and thus a clear separation of functions can be achieved.

6 shows a perspective view of the release bearing 4 with mounted thrust washer 3 the second embodiment. Particularly well visible in this figure is the design of the arms 15 , which at its free end on the locking device 16 feature. The locking devices 16 engage behind the inner ring 5 the release bearing 4 (see also 5 ).

Furthermore, the positioning of several in the circumferential direction of the thrust washer is easy to recognize 3 evenly spaced centering cams 18 , which exemplifies here as webs 20 are formed and as anti-rotation against the clutch 1 serve.

Alternatively, the centering cams 18 be designed as nubs or the like.

7 shows a partial perspective view of the release bearing 4 including a bearing ring (here: inner ring 5 ). An upper peripheral surface 21 the release bearing 4 is used for contact with the thrust washer 3 or as a contact surface on the thrust washer 3 , In this embodiment of the release bearing 4 are on the bearing ring, here on the inner ring 5 , Grooves 22 provided, which are introduced in the circumferential direction at equal distances from each other. These can be done instead of the chamfer 17 on the inner ring 5 be provided so that the arms 15 with the retention or locking devices 16 in these grooves 22 engage, instead of the inner ring 5 to reach behind.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 clutch

2

 Belleville spring

3

 thrust washer

4

 release bearing

5

 inner ring

6

 outer ring

7

 operating unit

8th

 Belleville spring tongue

9

 double arrow

10

 twist

11

 snap hooks

12

 Inner ring stop

13

 Front or bottom

14

 Back and top

15

 poor

16

 locking device

17

 chamfer

18

 centering

19

 stop collar

20

 web

21

 peripheral surface

22

 groove

23

 coupling side

24

 actuating side

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102006040463 A1 [0002]

Claims (10)

Clutch ( 1 ) for a drive train of a motor vehicle, with a plate spring ( 2 ) which, when actuated in contact with a thrust washer ( 3 ), wherein the thrust washer ( 3 ) on a bearing ring ( 5 ; 6 ) of a release bearing ( 4 ) is applied, characterized in that the thrust washer ( 3 ) relative to an axis of rotation of the release bearing ( 4 ) is held radially displaceable. Clutch ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the thrust washer ( 3 ) axial position determined on a release bearing fixed component or a clutch-fixed component is attached or fixed. Clutch ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the thrust washer ( 3 ) via one or more snap hooks ( 11 ) and / or engaging latching devices ( 16 ) either on one or more plate spring tongues ( 8th ) the diaphragm spring ( 2 ) is mounted in axial position or on a bearing ring ( 5 ; 6 ) of the release bearing ( 4 ) is attached. Clutch ( 1 ) according to claim 3, characterized in that the snap hook ( 11 ) a single plate spring tongue ( 8th ) engages behind or the locking device ( 16 ) about an inner edge of a Ausrücklagerinnenrings ( 5 ) attacks. Clutch ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the thrust washer ( 3 ) is designed as a stop ring. Clutch ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the material of the thrust washer ( 3 ) Plastic and / or the thrust washer ( 3 ) is constructed of plastic. Clutch ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that on the thrust washer ( 3 ) at least one clutch-side and / or disengagement bearing side rotation ( 10 ) is available. Clutch ( 1 ) according to claim 7, characterized in that a coupling-side rotation ( 10 ) in a gap between two plate spring tongues ( 8th ) intervenes. Clutch ( 1 ) according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the latching device ( 16 ) a part of an at least in the radial direction elastic arm ( 15 ) and / or in an axially aligned and radially recessed recess or groove ( 22 ) attacks. Clutch ( 1 ) according to claim 9, characterized in that the arm ( 15 ) against a motor and / or coupling rotational direction of a main body of the thrust washer ( 3 ) protrudes.

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