DE102022133562A1 - Clutch arrangement with venting function - Google Patents

Abstract

A clutch arrangement 1 for a drive train of a vehicle is proposed, with a slave cylinder 6 for actuating a clutch device 2, wherein the slave cylinder 6 has a cylinder housing 8 and at least one piston 7, wherein the piston 7 is arranged in the cylinder housing 8 so as to be movable in the axial direction with respect to a main axis 100 in order to transmit an actuating force to the clutch device 2, and at least one pressure chamber 17 which can be filled with an operating medium is formed between the piston 7 and the cylinder housing 8, wherein the cylinder housing 8 has a first vent opening 22 on an axial end face for venting the pressure chamber 17, with a housing section 13, wherein the cylinder housing 8 is fastened to the housing section 13 and the housing section 13 delimits at least one housing space 11, 12 designed as a wet space, wherein the clutch arrangement 1 has a sealing disk 20 arranged axially between the cylinder housing 8 and the housing section 13, which has a the first vent opening 22 has a second vent opening 23 fluidically connected, wherein an air flow path 105 runs from the pressure chamber 17 at least via the first and the second vent opening 22, 23 into the wet space.

Description

The invention relates to a clutch arrangement for a drive train of a vehicle with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Clutches for engaging and disengaging an electric machine in a drive train of a motor vehicle are known. To open and close the clutch, a clutch slave cylinder is required, which has a cylinder housing with a pressure chamber in which an axially displaceable piston is guided. The cylinder housing is in turn fastened in a housing of the clutch arrangement. In order to vent the pressure chamber, it is known to integrate a vent screw or a vent valve into the cylinder housing.

The publication DE 195 16 389 A1 discloses a venting element for a bore of a housing of a pressure medium drive having a pressure chamber, preferably a hydraulic master or slave cylinder on motor vehicles, with at least one seal which acts with at least one radial force component on a sealing seat provided on the housing of the pressure medium drive, wherein the seal is formed by a preferably annular sealing element which projects radially relative to a shaft.

It is an object of the present invention to propose a clutch arrangement with a slave cylinder, which is characterized by a particularly simple and cost-effective venting of the pressure chamber.

This object is achieved by a coupling arrangement with the features of claim 1. Preferred or advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the subclaims, the following description and the attached figures.

The subject of the invention is a clutch arrangement which is designed and/or suitable for a drive train of a vehicle, preferably an electric axle. In particular, the clutch arrangement serves to interrupt and/or redirect a torque path of the drive train. The clutch arrangement is preferably used to engage and disengage an electric machine. The clutch arrangement particularly preferably has at least or exactly one clutch device for this purpose, which is designed and/or suitable for the rotationally fixed coupling of two coupling partners. The clutch device can be a separating clutch (K0) or a double clutch (K1/K2) of the drive train. For example, the clutch device is designed as a positive or frictional clutch.

The clutch arrangement has a slave cylinder which is designed and/or suitable for actuating the clutch device. The slave cylinder can preferably be actuated hydraulically. The slave cylinder is particularly preferably designed as a concentric slave cylinder, also known as a "concentric slave cylinder" (CSC). In particular, the concentric slave cylinder is designed as a central releaser.

The slave cylinder has a cylinder housing. In particular, the cylinder housing is to be understood as a hollow cylindrical and/or ring-shaped housing which is arranged coaxially to the main axis. The cylinder housing is particularly preferably designed as a ring housing which extends concentrically around the main axis. The ring housing preferably has a central through-opening, in particular a bore, through which a shaft, for example a transmission shaft of a transmission device, can be guided when the slave cylinder is installed.

The slave cylinder also has at least or exactly one piston, the piston being arranged in the cylinder housing so as to be axially movable with respect to a main axis in order to transmit an actuating force to the clutch device. In particular, the piston is operatively connected to the clutch device, preferably an actuating member. In particular, when the slave cylinder is actuated, the piston is axially displaced from a basic position to an actuating position. The actuating force generated in this way is preferably to be understood as a pressure force directed axially with respect to the main axis. The piston is particularly preferably designed as an annular piston.

Furthermore, the slave cylinder has a pressure chamber that can be filled with an operating medium and is formed between the piston and the cylinder housing. In particular, the pressure chamber is limited in relation to the main axis in the axial direction by the piston and in the radial direction by at least or exactly one cylinder surface of the cylinder housing. Preferably, the pressure chamber is formed by a cylinder chamber, preferably an annular chamber, which is open on one side in the axial direction limited by the piston. When the slave cylinder is actuated, the pressure on the operating medium is increased, wherein the actuating force is generated due to the pressure increasing in the pressure chamber and is transmitted to the piston so that it moves axially, in particular from the basic position into the actuating position. position. In particular, the operating medium is a hydraulic fluid, specifically a hydraulic oil.

The cylinder housing has a first vent opening on an axial end face, which is designed and/or suitable for venting the pressure chamber. In particular, air in the pressure chamber can escape from the cylinder housing via the first vent opening. The first vent opening is preferably made in the end wall of the cylinder housing that delimits the pressure chamber. In other words, the first vent opening passes through the end wall in the axial direction in relation to the main axis. For example, the first vent opening is designed as an opening, bore or the like made in the end wall.

The clutch arrangement has a housing section to which the cylinder housing is attached, the housing section delimiting a wet space. The wet space is preferably delimited by the housing section in the axial direction with respect to the main axis. For example, the housing section forms a housing wall, in particular a partition wall, which delimits the wet space from another wet space or a dry space. For example, the wet space is a clutch space for accommodating the slave cylinder and the clutch device or as a transmission space for accommodating the transmission device or as an engine space for accommodating the electric machine.

Within the scope of the invention, it is proposed that the clutch arrangement has a sealing disk arranged axially between the cylinder housing and the housing section. The sealing disk has a second vent opening fluidically connected to the first vent opening, the two vent openings together defining an air flow path for venting the pressure chamber. The sealing disk has the particular function of sealing one or more pressure connections of the slave cylinder, in particular of the cylinder housing, against the housing section in a fluid-tight manner. In particular, the sealing disk forms a contact seal between the cylinder housing and the housing section. In other words, the sealing disk lies against the cylinder housing in the axial direction and against the housing section in an axially opposite direction. In particular, the sealing disk is arranged coaxially to the main axis between the cylinder housing and the housing section. The first and second vent openings are particularly preferably arranged opposite one another in the axial direction and/or aligned and/or congruent and/or overlapping one another. In particular, an air flow path is defined which runs essentially in the axial direction with respect to the main axis. In particular, the first and/or the second vent opening is dimensioned such that exclusively or mostly air can escape via the vent openings and an operating medium located in the pressure chamber is largely retained.

The invention is based on the knowledge that hydraulic systems, in particular hydraulically actuated slave cylinders, must be vented, whereby according to the prior art, venting is usually carried out via a vent screw or via a vent valve, for example a check valve. Such venting systems are relatively expensive and must be integrated into the slave cylinder with a high level of technical effort. By integrating vent openings into the components of the slave cylinder, which define the air flow path in an installation situation, a venting of at least one pressure chamber is proposed, which is characterized by a particularly robust and cost-effective design. By venting the pressure chamber into the wet chamber, a venting is also proposed in which a permissible partial amount of operating medium escaping via the vent opening can be carried along during venting, which significantly reduces the requirements for venting and thus achieves particularly simple venting.

In a specific embodiment, it is provided that the housing section has a third vent opening that is fluidically connected to the second vent opening, wherein the air flow path runs via the third vent opening into the wet space. Preferably, the air flow path thus runs from the pressure chamber via the first, second and third vent openings into the wet space. In particular, the wet space is arranged on the side of the housing section facing away from the slave cylinder. Particularly preferably, the second and third vent openings are arranged opposite one another in the axial direction and/or in alignment and/or congruent and/or overlapping one another. In particular, the air flow path thus runs essentially in the axial direction with respect to the main axis. A particularly simple and compact air flow path is thus realized from one side of the housing section to the other side of the housing section.

In a further development, it is provided that the coupling arrangement has a venting nozzle arranged in the third venting opening on wherein the vent nozzle has an aperture opening, so that ventilation takes place along the air flow path via the aperture opening of the vent nozzle. Preferably, the aperture opening is dimensioned such that air can escape unhindered via the sealing disk into the wet space and the operating medium is largely retained. In particular, the aperture opening has a significantly smaller opening diameter than the first, second and third vent openings. For example, the aperture opening is formed by a bore with a diameter of less than 0.5 mm, preferably less than 0.4 mm, in particular less than 0.3 mm. Put simply, a type of viscosity seal is formed by the aperture opening, wherein the operating medium is largely or completely retained due to the higher viscosity. In particular, the vent nozzle is mounted in the third vent opening in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner, preferably via a press fit. In particular, the vent nozzle is designed as a press-in nozzle. By arranging the vent nozzle in the third vent opening, a particularly simple integration of the vent nozzle is achieved, which is also easy to implement in terms of quality.

In a specific embodiment, it is provided that the sealing disc has an annular disc, wherein the second vent opening is arranged in the annular disc. The sealing disc also has at least one elastic sealing ring with a sealing lip that runs around the first vent opening and the second vent opening and that seals against the cylinder housing in an axial direction. Furthermore, the sealing ring has a further sealing lip that runs around at least the second vent opening and possibly the third vent opening and that seals against the housing section in an axially opposite direction. In particular, the sealing ring serves to seal the air flow path between the cylinder housing and the housing section in a fluid-tight manner. The annular disc is preferably mounted or supported in a floating manner in the axial direction with respect to the main axis between the cylinder housing and the housing section via the at least one sealing ring. In principle, the second vent opening can be designed as a vent opening that accommodates the sealing ring. The sealing ring can be arranged in the opening in a material-locking manner, for example by spraying, or in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner. Alternatively, it is provided that the sealing ring, in particular the at least one sealing lip, is arranged directly in a material-locking manner, for example by spraying, on the ring disk, with the second vent opening being arranged within the sealing ring in the ring disk. For example, the sealing ring is made of an elastomer, preferably rubber. A particularly simple sealing of the vent openings or the air flow path is thus proposed, which is achieved by the already existing sealing disk.

In a further specification, it is provided that the further sealing lip has at least or exactly one interruption region, so that the air flow path runs via the interruption region into the wet space. In particular, the wet space is arranged on the side of the housing section facing the slave cylinder. Preferably, the air flow path is diverted at least once, e.g. by approximately 90 degrees, through the interruption region. In other words, the air flow path runs from the pressure chamber via the first and second vent openings essentially in the axial direction and then via the interruption region in a transverse direction. Particularly preferably, the housing section does not have an additional vent opening for this purpose, so that the air flow path is diverted in front of the housing section. In particular, the interruption region defines an outlet opening through which the air can specifically escape into the wet space. The interruption region can be formed, for example, by a recess or cutout, in particular a slot, made in the further sealing lip. For example, the further sealing lip can have more than two of the interruption regions. This proposes an air flow path in which the air flow path can be diverted via the interruption area into the wet space between the cylinder housing and the housing section. This allows any partial amount of operating medium that may be carried along to be released in a targeted direction and also eliminates the need for an additional vent opening in the housing section.

In a further alternative embodiment, it is provided that the second vent opening is formed by a diaphragm opening formed in the sealing disc, as has already been described above, so that ventilation takes place along the air flow path via the diaphragm opening of the sealing disc. In principle, the air flow path after the diaphragm opening of the sealing disc can run into the wet room via the interruption area in front of the housing section. Alternatively, the air flow path after the diaphragm opening can also run into the wet room via the third vent opening after the housing section. The diaphragm opening preferably has a significantly smaller opening diameter than the first and possibly the third vent opening. For example, the aperture is formed by a hole in the ring disk with a diameter of less than 0.5 mm, preferably less than 0.4 mm, especially less than 0.3 mm. For example, the ring disk is made from a metal sheet, preferably steel sheet. The ring disk particularly preferably has a sheet thickness of at least 0.5 mm. The aperture can preferably be produced by means of laser cutting. A particularly cost-effective and compact ventilation is thus achieved by integrating the aperture into the ring disk.

In a specific implementation, it is provided that a permissible partial amount of the operating medium can be carried along the air flow path, wherein the air flow path runs in the direction of at least one movable component arranged in the wet space in order to lubricate and/or cool the movable component. Preferably, the carried operating medium can be directed in a targeted manner in the direction of the movable component via the aperture opening. In particular, the movable component is arranged within the wet space. The movable component can be, for example, a coupling component, for example the first and/or second coupling partner. Alternatively, the movable component can be a transmission component, for example the transmission shaft, a gear wheel, a bearing, etc. Alternatively, the movable component can be a motor component, for example a motor shaft, a rotor, a stator, etc. A slave cylinder is thus proposed which is automatically vented when actuated, with the adjacent components, in particular the at least one movable component, being lubricated at the same time. A particularly simple venting system is therefore proposed, which at the same time tolerates the escape of operating medium from the pressure chamber.

In a specific implementation, it is provided that the housing section separates a housing space from another housing space, with the slave cylinder being arranged in the housing space. In particular, one housing space is designed as the clutch space and the other housing space as the transmission space and/or as the engine space. It is provided that at least one of the two housing spaces is designed as the wet space, with the air flow path ending in the housing space designed as the wet space. In particular, the air flow path runs via the interruption area in front of the housing section into the housing space, preferably the clutch space if this is designed as the wet space. Alternatively, the air flow path runs via the third ventilation opening into the other housing space, preferably the transmission and/or engine space if this is designed as the wet space. Depending on the design and/or installation space conditions, ventilation into a wet space can thus be ensured in a simple manner.

In a further embodiment, the cylinder housing is made of plastic and the housing section is made of metal or a metal alloy. By integrating the aperture opening into the sealing disc or by arranging the vent nozzle in the housing section, the plastic housing can be made much simpler.

In a further specification, it is provided that the cylinder housing has at least one pressure connection opening on the axial front side, which is designed and/or suitable for connecting the pressure chamber to a hydraulic system. The housing section has at least or exactly one pressure connection complementary to the pressure connection opening, wherein the slave cylinder is supported in an axial direction in relation to the main axis via the sealing disk on the housing section for all-round sealing of the pressure connection opening with respect to the pressure connection. For this purpose, the annular disk has at least or exactly one pressure connection opening covering the pressure connection opening, in which a further sealing mold ring is arranged for all-round sealing of the pressure connection opening and the pressure connection. In particular, the operating medium can be fed into the pressure chamber via the pressure connection and the pressure connection opening.

Optionally, the slave cylinder has a further piston and a further pressure chamber that can be filled with the operating medium, the cylinder housing having a further pressure connection opening for separately connecting the pressure chamber to the hydraulic system. The piston and the further piston are preferably designed as two ring pistons arranged concentrically to one another with respect to the main axis. It is particularly preferred that the two pistons can be actuated independently of one another. For this purpose, the two pressure chambers are fluidically separated from one another, the pressure chamber being connected to a first hydraulic circuit via the pressure connection opening and the further pressure chamber being connected to a second hydraulic circuit of the hydraulic system via the further pressure connection opening.

• 1 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung einer Kupplungsanordnung als ein Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;
• 2 eine weitere Schnittdarstellung der Kupplungsanordnung in einer Detailansicht;
• 3 eine perspektivische Ansicht der Schnittdarstellung aus 2;
• 4 eine alternative Ausführung der Kupplungsanordnung in gleicher Darstellung wie in 2 gezeigt;
• 5 eine perspektivische Ansicht der Schnittdarstellung aus 4;
• 6 eine weitere alternative Ausführung der Kupplungsanordnung in gleicher Darstellung wie in 2 und 4 gezeigt;
• 7 eine perspektivische Ansicht der Schnittdarstellung aus 6.

Further features, advantages and effects of the invention emerge from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention. In the following:

• 1 a schematic sectional view of a clutch arrangement as an embodiment of the invention;
• 2 another sectional view of the coupling arrangement in a detailed view;
• 3 a perspective view of the sectional view from 2 ;
• 4 an alternative design of the coupling arrangement in the same representation as in 2 shown;
• 5 a perspective view of the sectional view from 4 ;
• 6 another alternative design of the coupling arrangement in the same representation as in 2 and 4 shown;
• 7 a perspective view of the sectional view from 6 .

1 shows a schematic sectional view of a detailed view of a clutch arrangement 1 for an electric drive train as an embodiment of the invention. For example, the electric drive train is designed as an electric axle, which serves to provide a traction torque for a vehicle. The vehicle, not shown, can be designed, for example, as a single- or multi-axle and/or as a single- or multi-track electric or hybrid vehicle.

The clutch arrangement 1 has a clutch device 2, which serves for the rotationally fixed coupling of a first and a second clutch partner 3, 4. For example, the first clutch partner 3 is designed as a motor shaft of an electrical machine, not shown, which serves to generate the drive torque, in particular the traction torque. For example, the second clutch partner 4 is designed as a gear wheel of a gear device, not shown, which serves to translate the drive torque. The first and the second clutch partners 3, 4 define a common main axis 100 with their axes of rotation or are arranged coaxially to one another with respect to the main axis 100.

The coupling device 2 has an actuating member 5 which can be moved in the axial direction in relation to the main axis 100 between a basic position 101 and an actuating position 102. The two coupling partners 3, 4 are coupled together in a rotationally fixed manner in the basic position 101 and are uncoupled from each other in the actuating position 102. For example, the coupling device 2 is designed as a claw coupling, the actuating member 5 being designed as a sliding sleeve via which the two coupling partners 3, 4 engage with each other or can be brought into engagement with each other.

To actuate the clutch device 2, the clutch arrangement 1 has a hydraulically actuated slave cylinder 6. For example, the slave cylinder 6 is designed as a concentric slave cylinder (CSC), which is arranged coaxially and/or concentrically to the main axis 100. For this purpose, the slave cylinder 6 has at least one piston 7 designed as an annular piston and a cylinder housing 8 designed as an annular housing, wherein the piston 7 is accommodated in the cylinder housing 8 so as to be displaceable in the axial direction with respect to the main axis 100.

The clutch arrangement 1 comprises a housing 9, which serves to accommodate the clutch device 2 and the slave cylinder 6. The clutch arrangement 1 also comprises a further housing 10, which serves, for example, to accommodate the electrical machine - not shown. The housing 9 has a housing space 11 and the further housing 10 has a further housing space 12, wherein the two housing spaces 11, 12 are delimited in the axial direction with respect to the main axis 100 by a housing section 13 designed as a partition wall. The clutch device 2 and the slave cylinder 6 are arranged in the housing space 11. The electrical machine can be arranged in the further housing space 12. For example, the housing section 13 forms an integral part of the housing 9 or the further housing 10. Alternatively, the housing section 13 can also be designed as a separate partition wall, which is connected to the housing 9 and/or the further housing 10. The housing space 11 and/or the further housing space 12 can be designed as a wet room.

The housing section 13 has a central through-opening 14, wherein the first coupling partner 3, designed as a motor shaft, is guided via the through-opening 14 from one housing space 12 into the other housing space 11. In addition, the housing section 13 has a cylinder receptacle 15, in which the cylinder housing 8, designed as an annular housing, is received and is fixed to the housing section 13 via at least one fastening means 16.

The piston 7 and the cylinder housing 8 define a pressure chamber 17 which surrounds the main axis 100 and is fluidically connected to a hydraulic system. The cylinder housing 8 has a pressure connection opening 18 on an axial end face, which is opposite to a pressure connection 19 formed in the housing section 13.

The clutch arrangement 1 has a sealing disk 20 arranged coaxially to the main axis 100, which is designed to seal the pressure connection 19 against the pressure connection opening 18 all the way around. The sealing disk 20 is arranged axially between the cylinder housing 8 and the housing section 13, wherein the sealing disk 20 rests sealingly against the cylinder housing 8 in an axial direction 103 and rests sealingly against the housing section 13 in an axial opposite direction 104. To actuate the slave cylinder 6, an operating medium, e.g. a hydraulic fluid, can thus flow from the pressure connection 19 via the sealing disk 20 and the pressure connection opening 18 into the pressure chamber 17 in order to transmit a hydraulic actuating force to the piston 7. To transmit the actuating force, the piston 7 is motion-coupled to the actuating member 5 via a transmission element 21, e.g. a switching crown.

2 shows a detailed view of a further sectional view of the clutch arrangement 1. The cylinder housing 8 has a first vent opening 22 on the axial end face, which serves to vent the pressure chamber 17. For this purpose, the sealing disk 20 has a second vent opening 23, which is fluidically connected to the first vent opening 22. Furthermore, the housing section 13 has a third vent opening 24, which is fluidically connected to the second vent opening 23.

The sealing disk 20 has an annular disk 25 which runs around the main axis 100, the second vent opening 23 being formed by a vent opening 26 made in the annular disk 25. The sealing disk 20 also has an elastic sealing mold ring 27 which is arranged in the vent opening 26 and has a sealing lip 28 and a further sealing lip 29. The sealing mold ring 27 lies in the axial direction 103 via the sealing lip 28, surrounding the first and second vent openings 22, 23 on the cylinder housing 8, and in the opposite axial direction 104 via the further sealing lip 29, surrounding the second and third vent openings 23, 24 on the housing section 13. The first vent opening 22 thus opens within the sealing lip 28 and the third vent opening 24 within the further sealing lip 29. For example, the sealing molding ring 27 is designed as a rubber molding ring which is sprayed onto the ring disk 25 or is inserted into the vent opening 26 in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner.

The coupling arrangement 1 has a venting nozzle 30 arranged in the third venting opening 24, which is held in the third venting opening 24 in a force-locking manner, for example via a press fit, so that it cannot be lost. For example, the venting nozzle 30 is designed as a press-in nozzle pressed into the third venting opening 24. The cylinder housing 8 is preferably made of a plastic and the housing section 13 is made of a metal or a metal alloy, whereby pressing the venting nozzle 30 into the housing section 13 is qualitatively easier to implement than pressing it directly into the plastic housing.

The vent nozzle 30 has an orifice bore 31 which is fluidically connected to the third vent opening 24. The vent nozzle 30 is designed as a cylinder sleeve closed on one side by a cylinder base 32, with the orifice opening 31 being introduced centrally or centrally into the cylinder base 32. The orifice opening 31 is dimensioned such that during a venting process, the operating medium in the pressure chamber 17 is largely retained at the vent nozzle 30, with any air in the pressure chamber 17 being able to be vented unhindered via the orifice opening 31 of the vent nozzle 30. The orifice opening 31 has, for example, a diameter of 0.3 mm to 0.4 mm.

As in 3 As shown, the first, second and third vent openings 22, 23, 24 define an air flow path 105 which runs from the pressure chamber 17 via the vent openings 22, 23, 24 and via the aperture opening 31 into the further housing chamber 12. The air flow path 105 thus runs essentially in the axial direction with respect to the main axis 100 from the pressure chamber 17 to the side of the housing section 13 facing away from the slave cylinder 6. In this exemplary embodiment, the further housing chamber 12 is designed as a wet chamber, wherein a permissible partial quantity of operating medium carried along the air flow path 105 can be discharged into the wet chamber during venting.

This enables particularly simple and cost-effective venting of the pressure chamber 17 into the additional housing chamber 12 designed as a wet chamber, whereby the entrainment of operating medium from the pressure chamber 17 into the wet chamber is tolerated during venting. For example, the entrained partial amount of operating medium can be used to lubricate and/or cool at least one component that can move in the additional housing chamber 12, such as the first coupling partner 3 guided via the through-opening 14.

4 shows in the same representation as 2 an alternative venting variant of the clutch arrangement 1. For this purpose, instead of the venting opening 26, as in the 2 and 3 shown, the aperture opening 31 is made directly in the annular disk 25 of the sealing disk 20. The second vent opening 23 is thus formed by the aperture opening 31, so that the pressure chamber is vented via the aperture opening 31 arranged in the sealing disk 20. The aperture opening 31 is dimensioned such that during a venting process, the operating medium in the pressure chamber 17 is largely retained at the sealing disk 20, whereby any air in the pressure chamber 17 can be vented unhindered via the aperture opening 31 of the sealing disk 20. The aperture opening 31 has, for example, a diameter of 0.3 mm to 0.4 mm. For example, the aperture holes 31 are made in the sealing disk 20 by means of laser cutting, whereby the annular disk 25 is made from a 0.5 mm thick sheet steel. As a result, in this embodiment, the venting nozzle 30 can be completely omitted, whereby the venting of the pressure chamber 17 can be realized even more cost-effectively.

The sealing mold ring 27 is formed by two sealing lips 28, 29 which are molded directly onto the annular disk 25, wherein the sealing lip 27 is molded around the first and second vent openings 22, 23 on one end face of the annular disk 25 and the further sealing lip 29 is molded around the second and third vent openings 23, 24 on the other end face of the annular disk 25.

As in 5 As shown, the first, second and third vent openings 22, 23, 24 define an air flow path 105 which runs from the pressure chamber 17 via the first vent opening 22, the aperture opening 31 and via the third vent opening 24 into the further housing chamber 12. The venting thus takes place via the sealing disk 20 into the further housing chamber 12, wherein the further housing chamber 12 is designed as the wet chamber. A permissible partial quantity of operating medium carried along the air flow path 105 can thus be discharged into the wet chamber during venting.

6 shows in the same representation as the 2 and 4 another alternative venting variant of the clutch assembly 1. For this purpose, the sealing disc 20, as previously described in the 4 and 5 described, provided with the aperture 31, whereby an air discharge after the aperture 31 instead of via the third vent opening 24, as in the 3 to 5 shown, via several interruption areas 33 of the further sealing lip 29. The interruption areas 33 each define an outlet opening, which is limited in the axial direction 103 by the annular disk 25 and in the axial opposite direction 104 by the housing section 13. For example, the interruption areas 33 are each formed by a slot passing through the further sealing lip 29.

As in 7 As shown, the first and second vent openings 22, 23 thus define the air flow path 105, which runs from the pressure chamber 17 via the first vent opening 22, the aperture opening 31 and via the interruption regions 33 into the housing chamber 12. The air flow path 105 is thus diverted into the housing chamber 11 in front of the housing section 13. In this exemplary embodiment, the housing chamber 11 is designed as the wet chamber, wherein a permissible partial quantity of operating medium carried along the air flow path 105 can be discharged into the wet chamber during venting. For example, the partial quantity of operating medium carried along can be used via the interruption regions 33 for the targeted lubrication and/or cooling of at least one component that can be moved in the housing chamber 12, such as the first coupling partner 3 guided via the through-opening 14, wherein the interruption regions 33 are aligned in the direction of the movable component for this purpose.

As in 1 As shown, the annular disk 25 has a pressure connection opening 34 which overlaps the pressure connection opening 18 and an elastic further sealing ring 35 which is arranged in the pressure connection opening 34 and which is in sealing contact with the cylinder housing 2 and the housing section 13 in order to seal the pressure connection opening 18 with respect to the pressure connection 19 all around.

List of reference symbols

1

Clutch arrangement

2

Coupling device

3

first coupling partner

4

second coupling partner

5

Actuator

6

Slave cylinder

7

Pistons

8th

Cylinder housing

9

Housing

10

additional housing

11

Housing space

12

additional housing space

13

Housing section

14

Passage opening

15

Cylinder mount

16

Fasteners

17

Printing room

18

Pressure connection opening

19

Pressure connection

20

Sealing disc

21

Transmission organ

22

first vent opening

23

second vent opening

24

third vent opening

25

Ring disc

26

Ventilation breakthrough

27

Sealing ring

28

Sealing lip

29

additional sealing lip

30

Vent nozzle

31

Aperture opening

32

Cylinder base

33

Interruption area

34

Pressure connection breakthrough

35

additional sealing ring

100

Main axis

101

initial position

102

Operating position

103

axial direction

104

axial opposite direction

105

Air flow path

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was 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 accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 19516389 A1 [0003]

Claims (10)

Clutch arrangement (1) for a drive train of a vehicle, - with a slave cylinder (6) for actuating a clutch device (2), wherein the slave cylinder (6) has a cylinder housing (8) and at least one piston (7), wherein the piston (7) is arranged in the cylinder housing (8) so as to be movable in the axial direction with respect to a main axis (100) for transmitting an actuating force to the clutch device (2), and at least one pressure chamber (17) which can be filled with an operating medium is formed between the piston (7) and the cylinder housing (8), wherein the cylinder housing (8) has a first vent opening (22) on an axial end face for venting the pressure chamber (17), - with a housing section (13), wherein the cylinder housing (8) is fastened to the housing section (13) and the housing section (13) delimits at least one housing space (11, 12) designed as a wet space, characterized by an axially between the cylinder housing (8) and the housing section (13) arranged sealing disc (20), which has a second vent opening (23) fluidically connected to the first vent opening (22), wherein an air flow path (105) runs from the pressure chamber (17) at least via the first and the second vent opening (22, 23) into the wet space. Coupling arrangement (1) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the housing section (13) has a third vent opening (24) fluidically connected to the second vent opening (23), wherein the air flow path (105) runs via the third vent opening (24) after the housing section (13) into the wet space. Coupling arrangement (1) according to Claim 2 , characterized by a vent nozzle (30) arranged in the third vent opening (24), wherein the vent nozzle (30) has an aperture (31) so that ventilation takes place along the air flow path (105) via the aperture (31) of the vent nozzle (30). Coupling arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing disk (20) has an annular disk (25) and at least one elastic sealing mold ring (27), wherein the annular disk (25) has the second vent opening (23) and wherein the sealing mold ring (27) has a sealing lip (28) which runs around the first and the second vent opening (22, 23) and which bears sealingly against the cylinder housing (8) in an axial direction (103), and a further sealing lip (29) which runs around at least the second vent opening (23) and which bears sealingly against the housing section (13) in an axial opposite direction (104). Coupling arrangement (1) according to Claim 4 , characterized in that the further sealing lip (29) has at least one interruption region (33), so that the air flow path (105) runs via the interruption region (105) in front of the housing section (13) into the wet space. Coupling arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second vent opening (23) is formed by an aperture opening (31) formed in the sealing disc (20), so that ventilation takes place along the air flow path (104) via the aperture opening (31) of the sealing disc (20). Coupling arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a permissible partial quantity of the operating medium can be carried along the air flow path (105), wherein the air flow path (105) runs in the direction of a movable component arranged in the wet space in order to lubricate and/or cool the movable component. Clutch arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing section (13) separates a housing space (11) from a further housing space (12), wherein the slave cylinder (6) is arranged in the housing space (11) and at least one of the two housing spaces (11, 12) is designed as the wet space, wherein the air flow path (105) ends in the housing space (11, 12) designed as a wet space. Coupling arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cylinder housing (8) is made of plastic and the housing section (13) is made of metal or a metal alloy. Clutch arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cylinder housing (8) has at least one pressure connection opening (18) on the axial end face for connecting the pressure chamber (17) to a hydraulic system and that the housing section (13) has at least one pressure connection (19) complementary to the pressure connection opening (18), wherein the slave cylinder (6) is connected in the axial direction with respect to the main axis (100) via the sealing disk (20) to the housing section (13) for circumferential sealing of the Pressure connection opening (17) is sealingly supported against the pressure connection (19).

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