DE102017102053B4 - Clutch housing and clutch arrangement having such a clutch housing - Google Patents

Abstract

Clutch housing for accommodating a clutch, having a housing wall (12), within which a clutch with an actuating mechanism for actuating the clutch can be at least partially accommodated, the housing wall (12) having an opening (14) for passing through a particularly axially arranged hydraulic section (16 ), characterized in that a first adapter part (18) is provided in the opening (14) adjacent to the housing wall (12) or as part of it, the first adapter part (18) having radially aligned comb-like comb fingers (20) between the comb fingers (20) has spaces (22) and a second adapter part (24) is provided which has radially aligned comb-like comb fingers (26) with spaces (28) formed between the comb fingers (26), the second adapter part ( 24) is arranged radially within the first adapter part (18) in such a way that the comb fingers (20) of the first adapter part (18) engage in the spaces (28) of the second adapter part (24) and that the comb fingers (26) of the second adapter part ( 24) engage in the spaces (22) of the first adapter part (18), the comb fingers (20, 26) being accommodated in the spaces (22, 28) with radial play and the hydraulic section (16) passing through the second adapter part (24 ) is feasible.

Description

The present invention relates to a clutch housing with an improved implementation of a hydraulic system. The present invention further relates to a clutch arrangement having such a clutch housing.

In order to operate a clutch, an actuation system is usually required, which for a hydraulic clutch can consist of an engagement system and an actuator. The engagement system and the actuator are connected to each other via a hydraulic system. Since the actuator is often arranged outside the clutch housing, but the actuation system is in mechanical connection to the clutch inside the clutch housing, the hydraulic route must be guided through the clutch housing.

Known solutions for dry clutches, such as double clutches in particular, are constructed approximately as follows. As a counterpart to the actuator's female connections, a bar is provided that carries two adapters with male interfaces. One adapter has a small amount of play and represents the fixed adapter. The other adapter is mounted with a large amount of play perpendicular to the bore axis in the beam and can compensate for the required tolerances. A separate hydraulic section is required for each partial clutch; in this system, the two hydraulic sections are of the same length.

A known solution for the wet double clutch is structured as follows. A separate hydraulic section is required for each partial clutch. In the adapter for the first hydraulic section, the housing bore, the adapter and the connection are on one axis; this adapter determines the position of the actuator. Consequently, the adapter for the second hydraulic section must compensate for production-related tolerances, which is why it is designed in a Z shape. One end of the second adapter is located in the bore of the housing, the other end represents the connection to the actuator. Since the second adapter is arranged transversely to the actuator, this adapter can compensate for the required tolerances by rotating around the bore axis in the housing. Due to the Z-shaped second adapter, the two hydraulic routes are not the same length.

The WO 2015/149 774 A1 discloses a clutch housing assembly with a clutch housing for receiving a clutch component, the clutch housing having an opening for passing hydraulic fluid to supply the clutch component with the hydraulic fluid. The clutch housing arrangement has a positioning element adjacent to the opening for positioning a hydraulic fluid guide that carries the hydraulic fluid, the positioning element being arranged on the clutch housing.

From the DE 10 2014 207 996 A1 an adapter for attaching a pressure line of an actuation system for actuating a clutch of a motor vehicle and a method for mounting a pressure line that can be connected to an actuation system for actuating a clutch of a motor vehicle are known.

The DE 10 2008 053 400 A1 shows an arrangement of a first hydraulic line of a hydraulic release in a housing, the hydraulic line being provided with a connecting element for producing a plug-in connection with a second hydraulic line and the connecting element protruding through a housing opening. A fastening element is arranged on the connecting element, which limits an axial displacement of the connecting element in the direction of the interior of the housing.

The patent application DE 197 46 537 A1 relates to a slave cylinder for a hydraulically operated friction clutch of vehicles, which is attached to a transmission housing. To apply pressure medium, the slave cylinder is provided with an adapter which bridges a radial distance between the slave cylinder and a clutch bell and which has a line connection outside the clutch bell, to which a pressure line leading to the master cylinder is connected. An adapter made of plastic is provided, which is sealed and secured in position directly in the slave cylinder via a plug-in connection in conjunction with a securing means.

From the DE 195 22 477 A1 an adapter for a pressure line connection on a slave cylinder is known, which is connected via a pressure line to a master cylinder that can be actuated from the clutch pedal. To bridge a radial distance between the slave cylinder and a pressure line connection outside the clutch bell, an adapter is provided, the connecting piece of which is inserted into a pressure connection connected to the pressure housing of the slave cylinder.

However, such solutions known from the prior art can still offer further potential for improvement, especially with regard to the implementation with radial play a hydraulic line through a clutch housing.

It is the object of the present invention to at least partially overcome the disadvantages known from the prior art. It is in particular the object of the present invention to provide a solution through which a hydraulic route can be carried out through a clutch housing with radial play in a simple manner.

The object is achieved according to the invention by a clutch housing with the features of claim 1 and by a clutch arrangement with the features of claim 6. Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the subclaims, in the description or in the figures, with others in the subclaims or in Features described or shown in the description or the figures, individually or in any combination, may constitute an object of the invention unless the context clearly indicates the opposite.

What is proposed is a clutch housing for accommodating a clutch, having a housing wall within which a clutch with an actuating mechanism for actuating the clutch can be at least partially accommodated, the housing wall having an opening for passing through a particularly axially arranged hydraulic route, being adjacent in the opening a first adapter part is provided to the housing wall or as part of it, the first adapter part having radially aligned comb-like comb fingers with spaces formed between the comb fingers and a second adapter part being provided which has radially aligned comb-like comb fingers with spaces formed between the comb fingers , wherein the second adapter part is arranged radially within the first adapter part in such a way that the comb fingers of the first adapter part engage in the spaces of the second adapter part and that the comb fingers of the second adapter part engage in the spaces of the first adapter part, the comb fingers having radial play in the spaces are recorded and the hydraulic route can be guided through the second adapter part.

A previously described clutch housing allows a hydraulic line to be passed through a housing wall in a simple manner with no play and safely sealed.

The present invention therefore relates to a clutch housing. The clutch housing can be designed, for example, for a vehicle clutch, such as a motor vehicle clutch, and can serve to accommodate the clutch. Such a clutch housing can also be referred to as a clutch bell.

The clutch housing comprises, in a manner known per se, a housing wall within which the clutch can be at least partially accommodated together with an actuating mechanism, such as an engagement mechanism or a release mechanism, of the clutch. In order to control the clutch or the actuating mechanism, which in turn can act on the clutch in particular mechanically, it is provided that the housing wall has an opening for receiving or passing through an axially arranged hydraulic path. The hydraulic section is therefore arranged axially, particularly in the area of the bushing or the housing wall. Through the hydraulic route, hydraulic fluid can be conveyed from an actuator or clutch actuator arranged outside the clutch housing into the clutch housing, and vice versa, in order to be able to control the actuation mechanism and thereby the clutch.

In this regard, it can often be advantageous to allow a hydraulic route to be carried out through the housing wall with radial play in order to be able to compensate for component tolerances.

In order to realize this, it is provided in a clutch housing described here that a first adapter part is provided in the opening adjacent to the housing wall or as part of it. The first adapter part can thus be designed as part of the housing wall and, for example, be made in one piece with it. Alternatively, the first adapter part can be arranged adjacent to the housing wall and lie approximately against it. The housing wall is then expediently sealed against the first adapter part, for example using an O-ring. This configuration can offer manufacturing advantages. The first adapter part has, or can consist of, radially aligned comb fingers arranged in a comb-like manner with gaps formed between the comb fingers. The comb fingers are expediently designed to protrude into the opening. For example, the comb fingers can be rectangular in shape and all radial, i.e. parallel to one another.

A second adapter part is also provided, which also has radially aligned comb-like comb fingers with gaps formed between the comb fingers. The comb fingers of the second adapter part are aligned approximately in the direction of the housing wall or the edge of the opening. For example, the comb fingers can be rectangular in shape and all radial, i.e. parallel to one another. It is envisaged that the second adapter part is arranged radially within the first adapter part in such a way that the comb fingers of the first adapter part engage in the spaces of the second adapter part and that the comb fingers of the second adapter part engage in the spaces of the first adapter part. Such a design is known from a labyrinth seal. Accordingly, the first and second adapter parts form a labyrinth seal through their comb fingers or the arrangement of the comb fingers.

In order to enable the above-described relative radial displaceability of the comb fingers of the different adapter parts and thus from the second adapter part to the first adapter part, it is further provided that the comb fingers are received in the gaps with radial play. In other words, the second adapter part does not sit firmly in the first, but can be arranged in a radially displaceable manner and can move in the first adapter part, which preferably sits firmly in the housing wall or is part of it and is therefore fixed. In particular, if the hydraulic section can be arranged or guided by the second adapter part, there is therefore a radial play in the hydraulic section. In other words, the second adapter part is mounted floating in the first adapter part.

The axial distance between the comb fingers, i.e. in particular the distance from comb fingers of the first adapter part to comb fingers of the second adapter part, can be essentially free of play, although radial mobility of the comb fingers to one another, and thus in particular of the first adapter part to the second adapter part, can be ensured. However, the distance should be sufficiently small to achieve the desired sealing effect through the labyrinth seal formed.

The coupling housing described above thus proposes a solution in which an adapter made of two adapter parts that can be moved radially relative to one another forms a labyrinth seal, which provides sufficient play in the radial direction, i.e. in the plane that is normal or perpendicular to the bore axis in the housing. The adapter can accommodate the connection to the actuator and the hydraulic system in the movable part, i.e. the second adapter part.

By providing the first adapter part and the second adapter part, it can be made possible for the toothing or the comb fingers to equally enable mobility and thus allow the desired play, but also to exert a sealing effect. As a result, by appropriately designing the toothing structure, a securely sealing and radially playable passage of a hydraulic route through the clutch housing can be made possible in a particularly simple manner and with few components.

The design of a clutch housing described above is a particularly compact and space-saving solution for providing a floating storage of the second adapter part in the first adapter part, whereby the tolerances of the housing and the actuator can be compensated.

Preferably, it can be provided that the second adapter part has two axially oppositely arranged connections for connecting, such as for receiving, each hydraulic line, the connections being connected by a channel for guiding hydraulic fluid. In this embodiment, connecting hydraulic lines and thus forming the hydraulic route can be particularly easy, which can make it particularly easy to produce. For example, the connections can be designed as receptacles, which serve as female connections and can accommodate a plug adapter or the male plug thereof. In principle, however, other configurations of the connections are also possible.

It may further be preferred that the first adapter part lies sealingly against the housing wall. In this embodiment, the first adapter part is therefore a component that is separate from the housing wall. This configuration can bring manufacturing advantages, since it is possible to arrange the first and second adapter parts before inserting the adapter into the housing wall. The seal from the first adapter part to the housing wall can in principle be freely selectable. In principle, the first adapter part can, for example, have a groove in which a sealing means, such as an O-ring, is arranged, which lies sealingly against the housing wall when the housing is in its fully formed state.

It may further be preferred that the first adapter part is at least partially fixed to the housing wall in a form-fitting manner. It can be provided that the first adapter part on the housing wall in the direction of the outside and/or is fixed towards the inside by positive locking on the housing wall. The first adapter part can therefore have an element on the inside and/or on the outside, which can cause a positive connection. For example, a flange, a nut or a combination of flange and nut are used as such elements.

In this embodiment, it can be particularly easy to produce or the adapter can be exchanged particularly easily. For example, the adapter only needs to be easily pushed from the inside of the housing wall into the opening and fixed from the outside, or vice versa. To the extent that, as described below with reference to the clutch arrangement, the clutch actuator is fixed to the housing wall, the adapter can also be fixed, for example by connecting the clutch actuator and the adapter and fixing the clutch actuator. For example, the adapter can have a circumferential flange resting inside the coupling wall, which can enable a positive connection.

Furthermore, it may be preferred that the first adapter part has at least two comb fingers, each of which is arranged in an intermediate space of the second adapter part, or that the second adapter part has at least two comb fingers, each of which is arranged in an intermediate space of the first adapter part. In particular in this embodiment, a toothing of the respective comb fingers is provided, which, as a labyrinth seal, allows an effective sealing of the interior of the clutch housing against the external atmosphere, which can be particularly advantageous in wet clutches.

With regard to further advantages and technical features of the clutch housing, reference is made to the description of the clutch arrangement, to the figures and the description of the figures.

The present invention further relates to a clutch arrangement, comprising a clutch housing in which a hydraulic clutch with an actuation mechanism for actuating the clutch is arranged and having a clutch actuator which is arranged outside the clutch housing, the clutch actuator being hydraulically connected to the actuation mechanism, wherein the Clutch housing is designed as described in detail above.

A protruding clutch arrangement has, in particular, the advantages described above due to the clutch housing described above. In summary, a securely sealing passage of a hydraulic line through a clutch housing can be realized in a particularly simple and compact manner, which has radial play in order in particular to connect the actuator with the actuating mechanism.

For example, a wet clutch can be provided in the clutch housing, such as is suitable for motor vehicles. For example, the clutch can be a double clutch. It may further be preferred that the actuation mechanism is an engagement mechanism or a disengagement mechanism.

It can be provided that the clutch is a double clutch, wherein in addition to the hydraulic path guided through the second adapter part, a further hydraulic path is provided, which is guided through an opening separate from the opening and serves to actuate the double clutch. In this embodiment, the double clutch is thus controlled by the hydraulic route, which is guided through the first opening and thereby through the second adapter part, and by the hydraulic route, which is guided through the separate opening. As a result, the tolerance described above can act between the two hydraulic routes, which can offer significant advantages in terms of manufacturing technology and long-term stability with regard to the hydraulic connection of a double clutch.

It may further be preferred that the clutch actuator is fixed to the housing wall. Ideally, the actuator is screwed directly to the housing to keep the hydraulic distance as short as possible. This means that the actuator connection is directly above the housing. Particularly in such a configuration, the small distance between the connection and the housing leaves little scope for an adapter according to the prior art to compensate for tolerances, so that the positions of the connections must be maintained very precisely. With a clutch housing as described above, however, it is precisely possible to still manufacture the actuator and the housing with sufficient tolerances by having an adapter part fixed and the second adapter part being floatingly mounted in the first adapter part.

• 1 eine Ansicht auf einen Teil eines Kupplungsgehäuses mit einem zweiten Adapterteil in einer Mittelposition; und
• 2 eine Ansicht auf den Teil eines Kupplungsgehäuses aus 1 mit einem zweiten Adapterteil in einer zu dem ersten Adapterteil radial verschobenen Position.

A particularly preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings, whereby it is explicitly pointed out that the subject matter according to the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described. Show it:

• 1 a view of a part of a clutch housing with a second adapter part in a central position; and
• 2 a view of part of a clutch housing 1 with a second adapter part in a position that is radially displaced relative to the first adapter part.

In the 1 a part of a clutch housing 10 is shown. The clutch housing 10 serves to accommodate a clutch, not shown here. It comprises a housing wall 12, within which the clutch can be at least partially received with an actuating mechanism, also not shown, for actuating the clutch. The housing wall 12 has an opening 14 for passing through an axially arranged hydraulic route 16, which is intended in particular to connect an actuator arranged outside the housing wall 12 to the actuating mechanism.

It is provided that a first adapter part 18 is provided in the opening 14 adjacent to the housing wall 12, the first adapter part 18 having radially aligned comb-like comb fingers 20 with gaps 22 formed between the comb fingers 20 and a second adapter part 24 being provided , which has radially aligned comb-like comb fingers 26 with gaps 28 formed between the comb fingers 26. The second adapter part 24 is arranged radially within the first adapter part 18 in such a way that the comb fingers 20 of the first adapter part 18 engage in the spaces 28 of the second adapter part 24 and that the comb fingers 26 of the second adapter part 24 engage in the spaces 22 of the first adapter part 18 intervention. In order to enable radial play, it is provided that the comb fingers 20, 26 are accommodated in the gaps 22, 28 with radial play. This allows the second adapter part 24 to be displaced radially relative to the stationary first adapter part 18 in order to enable radial play. This is in the 2 shown where the second adapter part 24 is displaced radially. This can be seen, for example, from the radial displacement of the axes 46, 48, the axis 46 corresponding to an axis in a middle state of the hydraulic section 16 or a channel 37 of the second adapter part 24, and the axis 48 corresponding to an axis in a radially displaced position the hydraulic route 16 or the channel 37 of the second adapter part 24 corresponds. The compensating movement due to the tolerances of the components and the installation space is made possible by a labyrinth seal, designed by the comb fingers 20, 26 and the spaces 22, 28. The labyrinth seal also ensures that the wet space, for example, in the clutch housing 10 is sealed from the environment.

It is therefore further shown that the hydraulic route 16 can be guided or is guided by the second adapter part 24. In detail, it is provided that the second adapter part 24 has two axially oppositely arranged connections 30, 32 for receiving a hydraulic line 34, 36, with the channel 37 for guiding hydraulic fluid being provided between the connections 30, 32. The hydraulic lines 34, 36 have male connections 38, 40, which are sealed by an O-ring 42, 44 in the connections 30, 32 designed as a receptacle.

The first adapter part 18 lies sealingly against the housing wall 12 and sits in the opening 14. For this purpose, an O-ring 50 is provided, which seals the first adapter part 18 against the housing wall 12. Furthermore, the first adapter part 18 is in the direction of the outside of the housing wall 12, which is in the 1 and 2 is present below the housing wall 12, fixed to it in a form-fitting manner. For this purpose, the first adapter part 18 has a flange 52 which is arranged circumferentially at the opening 14.

Reference symbol list

10

clutch housing

12

housing wall

14

opening

16

hydraulic route

18

first adapter part

20

Comb fingers

22

space

24

second adapter part

26

Comb fingers

28

space

30

Connection

32

Connection

34

hydraulic line

36

hydraulic line

37

channel

38

Connection

40

Connection

42

O-ring

44

O-ring

46

axis

48

axis

50

O-ring

52

flange

Claims (10)

Clutch housing for accommodating a clutch, having a housing wall (12), within which a clutch with an actuating mechanism for actuating the clutch can be at least partially accommodated, the housing wall (12) having an opening (14) for passing through a particularly axially arranged hydraulic section (16 ), characterized in that a first adapter part (18) is provided in the opening (14) adjacent to the housing wall (12) or as part of it, the first adapter part (18) having radially aligned comb-like comb fingers (20) between the comb fingers (20) has spaces (22) and a second adapter part (24) is provided which has radially aligned comb-like comb fingers (26) with spaces (28) formed between the comb fingers (26), the second adapter part ( 24) is arranged radially within the first adapter part (18) in such a way that the comb fingers (20) of the first adapter part (18) engage in the spaces (28) of the second adapter part (24) and that the comb fingers (26) of the second adapter part ( 24) engage in the spaces (22) of the first adapter part (18), the comb fingers (20, 26) being accommodated in the spaces (22, 28) with radial play and the hydraulic section (16) passing through the second adapter part (24 ) is feasible. clutch housing Claim 1 , characterized in that the second adapter part (24) has two axially oppositely arranged connections (30, 32) for connecting a hydraulic line (34, 36), the connections (30, 32) being guided through a channel (37). of hydraulic fluid are connected. clutch housing Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the first adapter part (18) lies sealingly against the housing wall (12). Clutch housing according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the first adapter part (18) is at least partially positively fixed to the housing wall (12). Clutch housing according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the first adapter part (18) has at least two comb fingers (20), each of which is arranged in an intermediate space (28) of the second adapter part (24), or that the second adapter part (24) has at least two comb fingers (26) which are each arranged in a space (20) of the first adapter part (18). Clutch arrangement, comprising a clutch housing (10) in which a hydraulic clutch with an actuation mechanism for actuating the clutch is arranged and having a clutch actuator which is arranged outside the clutch housing (10), the clutch actuator being hydraulically connected to the actuation mechanism, characterized that the clutch housing (10) is designed according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 . Clutch arrangement according to Claim 6 , characterized in that the clutch actuator is fixed to the housing wall (12). Coupling arrangement according to one of the Claims 6 or 7 , characterized in that the clutch is a double clutch, wherein in addition to the hydraulic section (16) guided through the second adapter part (24), a further hydraulic section is provided, which is guided through an opening separate from the opening (14) and for Actuating the double clutch is used. Coupling arrangement according to one of the Claims 6 until 8th , characterized in that the actuation mechanism is an engagement mechanism or a disengagement mechanism. Coupling arrangement according to one of the Claims 6 until 9 , characterized in that the clutch is a wet clutch.

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