FR2629882A1 - Clutch release bearing assembly particularly for a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a clutch release bearing assembly including a buffer component 13, a coupling member 41, a clutch release bearing. According to the invention, the clutch release bearing assembly is characterized in that the elastic holding means 54, 55 are carried by the buffer component 13 and in that the shoulder 65 is formed on a support component 60 which is separate from the buffer component 13 and carried by the clutch release bearing 10, being axially locked at least in one direction on the latter.

Description

 The present invention relates to a clutch release bearing assembly, in particular for a motor vehicle, of the type comprising, for coupling a clutch release bearing to the clutch disengaging device, a docking part provided with a flange support, for action on the declutching device, connecting to a bushing, an elastically deformable coupling member capable of ensuring an axial connection of the docking part to the declutching stop in the axial direction going from the declutching device to the declutching and elastic holding means, which permanently urge the support flange in the direction of the declutching device by bearing on a shoulder of the declutching stop.

Such an arrangement is described in the document
FR-A-2.538.060.

 Usually, the clutch release bearing is permanently subject to a residual load, urging it axially in the direction opposite to the declutching device.

However, it has sometimes been observed that the abutment has been cut out in relation to the docking part. Many
reasons may be invoked, in particular a temporary cancellation of the residual charge and / or a separation due to a nutation movement or
"swiveling" of the docking part relative to the clutch release bearing.

 Thanks to the arrangement, according to this request FR-A-2,538,060, such a phenomenon cannot occur because an axial support is assured with certainty between the coupling member and the clutch release bearing thanks to an action loop -reaction. In addition, the docking piece is in permanent support on the declutching device.

 However, such a solution requires precautions to be taken because, before assembly of the stop with the docking piece, the elastic retaining element can be damaged during handling. In addition, it risks injuring the user and can be ejected during wrong maneuvers. In addition, a decentering of the docking piece and / or of the elastic retaining element can pose mounting problems.

 The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks and dong to create a secure stop assembly, with elastic holding means, allowing easy manipulation of the stop before assembly, while providing other advantages.

 According to the invention, a clutch release bearing assembly of the above-mentioned type is characterized in that the elastic holding means are carried by the docking piece and in that the shoulder is formed on a separate bearing piece. of the docking part and carried by the clutch release bearing while being axially wedged at least in one direction thereon.

 Thanks to the invention, improper handling of the clutch release bearing does not risk damaging the elastic retaining means. The support piece constitutes a screen for the stop so that it protects the rolling elements of the latter as well as the deflectors. The assembly of the assembly is simplified and the installation of the elastic holding means is easier. In addition, the axial size of the assembly can be reduced, the support piece being able to penetrate into the dead zone delimited by the docking piece. In addition, the socket and the coupling member do not have to be modified.

 It will also be appreciated that the elastic holding means can ensure that the docking piece is held without play on the clutch disengaging device before assembly. Advantageously, the docking part has axial lugs passing through the clutch disengaging device, said lugs being provided at their free end with a shoulder for support of the elastic retaining means.

 In addition to the possibility of continuous support of the docking piece on the declutching device, the tabs can provide centered support for the elastic retaining means and the shoulder can consist of notches in the tabs obtained by repelling material. It will be appreciated that the elastic holding means can be housed in the dead zone delimited by the docking piece.

The elastic holding means may comprise at least one Belleville washer with legs
You can mount the washer by clipping, the tabs crossing the notches by deformation.

 It will be noted that it is by its periphery of larger diameter that the washer is suitable for bearing on the support piece and that the shoulder extends radially beyond the sleeve.

 Preferably, in particular for good load precision, two Belleville washers of the above-mentioned type are provided, being mounted back to back.

 This arrangement is particularly advantageous because the stroke which it is necessary to perform for.

assembling the docking part to the stop being not negligible, there is, thanks to this series mounting of the washers, a large arrow and therefore the load which must be overcome during assembly is acceptable and precise . After assembly, the position of the support piece is such that a clearance exists between the notches and the elastic washers.

 According to an advantageous characteristic, the support piece can be slidably mounted on the clutch release bearing.

 It can then be used to maintain, before assembly, the coupling member in the contracted pre-centering position by partially masking the groove in which said member is housed. During assembly it retracts, the coupling member passing from a contracted configuration to a free position.

 Thus, the coupling member is not likely to be in the eccentric position or at an angle during assembly. In addition, the axial length of the docking piece can be reduced due to the pre-centering; the frustoconical engagement range that usually exhibits the docking part can be reduced.

 Preferably, this support piece is relatively thick and is hollowed out to allow penetration of the docking piece and therefore a reduction in the axial size of the abutment assembly.

 It can be made of plastic and carry a metal part to support the elastic washers and consist generally of a simple ring.

 Thanks to the recess, a lip is formed, constituting an elastic support means. Indeed, the plastic ring can open out and slide during assembly, so that it constitutes an elastic holding means for the coupling member.

 This part can also be hollowed out to cooperate with a retaining circlip and to house it.

The description in appendix illustrates the invention, with reference to the appended drawings in which
- Figure 1 is a half view in axial section of the mounting of the stop according to the invention, after assembly of the assembly
- Figures 2 to 7 are views similar to Figure 1 for different stages of assembly
- Figure 8 is a view of the docking part according to arrow 8 in Figure 1;
As illustrated in these figures, it involves coupling a clutch release bearing 10 to the clutch release device 11 of a clutch.

 Here the declutching device 11 is formed by the end of the fingers 12 of a diaphragm.

 For coupling the stop 10 to this declutching device, there is attached to it a docking part 13. This part 13, of annular shape, has a support flange 14 radially and, in one piece with this collar 14, a sleeve 15 of axial orientation penetrating into the central opening of the diaphragm by crossing the latter.

 The flange 14, which extends from the side of the device 11 opposite the stop 10, is here curved for bearing on the fingers 12 planes. Of course, the reverse is possible, the flange 14 being flat and the fingers 12 bulging.

 The sleeve 15 has, on the side of the stop 10, a frustoconical engagement surface 20 which, oblique to the axis of the assembly, moves closer to said axis away from the stop 10.

 It also has a shoulder 21 forming a drive surface.

The stop 10 is analogous to that of the request
FR-A-2.538.060.

 As a reminder, it will be recalled that it is provided with a driving element 23 constituted by a ball bearing, here, the inner ring 25 is sufficiently extended to penetrate inside the bush 15, and an operating element. 26, the flange of which is seen at 27.

This operating element 26 comprises a sleeve by which it is capable of sliding on a guide, here a declutching trumpet 31. As a variant, the operating element can slide on balusters carried by the gearbox casing.

 Anyway, this element 23 is adapted to be actuated by a control member, such as a clutch release fork.

 Here the stop 10 is self-centering maintained and a bush 29 axially splits the element 26 to the outer ring 30 of the bearing 23. This bush 29 is here crimped on the flange 27.

 An elastic element 34, a wavy washer, only shown in FIG. 1, bears on the flange 27 and urges the ring 30 in the direction of the fallen edge of the sleeve 29, by surrounding the ring 30 for self-centering of the stop.

 A radially elastically deformable coupling member 41 is established between the docking piece 13 and the stop 10. This is a ring with a circular transverse outline opened by a slot. This rod, as described in application FR-A-2,544,039, is engaged in an annular retaining groove 43. The bottom of this groove has, in section, a shape complementary to that of the rod. One of the sides of the groove 43 is oblique and flares the groove 43, while the other is vertical. Note that the shoulder 21 follows the shape of the rod 41 and constitutes a drive surface.

 Elastic holding means 50 bear on a shoulder 65 carried by the stop 10 and permanently urge the flange 14 in the direction of the declutching device 11 and more precisely of the fingers 12 thereof.

 According to the invention, the elastic retaining means 50 are carried by the docking piece 13 and the shoulder 65 is formed on a support piece 60 distinct from the docking piece 13 and carried by the clutch release bearing 10 being wedged axially at least in one direction thereon.

 More specifically, the docking piece 13 has at its outer periphery a plurality of axial tabs 51.

These pass through the declutching device 11 in favor of the slots 52 existing between the fingers 12 of the diaphragm.

 Before assembling the stop 10 to the docking piece 13 (FIG. 2), the elastic means 50 bear on a shoulder 53 carried by the end of the lugs 51. Here these are notches and the elastic means 50 consist in two Belleville 54.55 washers mounted back to back and therefore in series. Each of these comprises a continuous internal part 56 and an external part fragmented into legs 57. As visible in FIG. 8, the width of the legs 57 is greater than that of the fingers 12 and it is these which are intended for cooperate with the notches 53.

 I1 is possible to engage these washers 54,55 axially, in the direction of the device 11, and to deform the lugs 57 to cross the notches 53. It will be noted that the lugs 51 are used for centering the washers 54,55.

 The washers 54, 55 therefore ensure before assembly, by cooperation with the notches 53, a coupling without play of the docking part 13 to the diaphragm 11, said part 13 being centered by its legs 51 on the diaphragm.

 The support piece 60, of annular shape, is slidably mounted on the inner ring 25. It is relatively thick and its main part 61 is made of reinforced plastic, for example by glass fibers, for good sliding of the piece 60 and a reduction in the weight thereof. This part 61 is secured, by riveting, overmolding or the like, to a rounded metal piece 62 for support of the washer 55 furthest from the fingers 12 and therefore formation of the shoulder 65. This support piece 60 has a recess 63 of complementary shape at the end of the sleeve 15 for penetration thereof as described below.

 It will be noted that the part 60 generally forms a ring which extends radially below the axial lugs 51 and that after assembly it enters the overall volume delimited by the lugs 51.

 This arrangement promotes a reduction in the axial size of the stop assembly. The external periphery of the part 60 here extends radially at the level of the ring 30, below the external periphery of the latter.

It therefore constitutes a protective screen.

 As can be seen in the figures, the shoulder 65 forms an axial projection with respect to the part 61 and extends to the external periphery of the part 60, radially beyond the sleeve 15, generally vis-à-vis the convex support zone of the collar 14 on the fingers 12.

 The dorsal face of this piece 60 is hollowed out at 64 for cooperation with a shoulder 70 carried by the ring 25. This shoulder axially wedges the support piece in the direction going from the fingers 12 to the stop 10 and consists of a circlip 70 engaged in a groove 71, which has the ring 25 in the vicinity of the deflector 72 of the bearing. This circlip 70 offers the part 60 a good range and is relatively thin. I1 is protected by the recess 64.

 The internal bore of the part 60 has a variation in diameter so that a shoulder 73 is formed, the portion of smallest internal diameter being the furthest from the deflector 72.

The assembly is carried out as follows
In FIG. 2, the washers 54, 55, bearing one on the other at their internal periphery, bear at their external periphery respectively on the fingers 12 and the notches 53. The part 60 is it abutted by its shoulder 73 against the end portion of the vertical wall of the groove 43.

 It is then possible to open the rod 41 by mounting it on the frustoconical engagement surface 40 of the end of the ring 25, then to push it until contact with the part 60 which then masks the bottom of the groove 43. It will be noted that a visual check is possible before assembly and that the rod 41 is kept precentred between the front end of the part 60 and the ramp at the oblique flank of the groove 43. A displacement of the part 60, after introduction of the rush, is therefore impossible.

 During assembly, the bearing surface 20 is allowed to cooperate with the engagement bearing surface 40. The approximation of the docking part relative to the stop 10 being continued (FIG. 3), this corresponding to an approximation of the bearing motor the clutch and therefore the part 13, relative to the gearbox carrying the stopper 10, the bearing surface 20 is allowed to bitter on the rod 41 by closing it, while the washer 55 comes into contact with the part 62 and its shoulder 65. Continuing the movement (FIG. 4), the docking piece 13 pushes the piece 60, which retracts, by means of the rod 41, the shoulder 73 crossing the stop formed by the end, chamfered , of the vertical part of the groove 43. It will be noted that a development of the part 60 is facilitated by the recess 63 and that the load of the washers 54.55 is sufficient to repel the part 60.

 In the following configurations, FIGS. 4 to 6, the docking piece 13 pushes the rod 41 back into the bottom of the groove 43 and moves, thanks to the washers 54, 55, the piece 60. in the direction of the circlips 70.

 In FIG. 7, the part 60 being in abutment on the circlip 70, the washers 54, 55 are flattened by performing an overtravel. During this phase, the free end of the sleeve 15 is allowed to enter the recess 63, while the rod 41 passes behind the drive surface 21.

 By ceasing the action and making a return back, we arrive at the assembly position of FIG. 1. In this position, the rod is in abutment, the ramp of the groove 43 while being held in abutment against the drive range 21 by the washers 54,55, while a clearance exists between the notches 53 and the washer 55, the circlip 70 being positioned axially as a result.

 A reaction action loop is thus formed, the washers 54,55 bearing by their legs 57 on the fingers 12 and the part 62 tending to move the stop 10 away from the docking part 13 for tightening the rod 41 between the groove ramp 43 and the drive surface 21.

 During operation to disengage, the stop 10 is moved by traction in the opposite direction relative to the disengaging device 11 by driving the docking piece 13 by means of the rod 41 and the drive range 21.

 As is evident from the description and the drawings, in particular the passage from FIG. 6 to FIG. 7, the series arrangement of the washers, in addition to good precision of the load exerted, makes it possible to obtain large displacements without excessive effort and therefore a large overtravel to couple the docking piece 13 to the stop 10, while the recess 63 promotes a reduction in the axial length of the stop. It will be appreciated that the circlip 70 is protected by the part 60 thanks to the housing recess 64, said part 60 forming a protective screen for the deflector 72. Similarly, it will be understood that the inclination of the washer 54 in the direction of the stop 10 clears space for good tilting of the fingers 12. It will be noted that the washers 54, 55 extend radially beyond the sleeve 15 and that the recess 63, matching the shape of the bearing surface 20, delimits with l 'internal bore of the part 60 an elastically deformable lip. This lip, delimited by the shoulder 73, constitutes an elastic support means for the rod 41, now before assembly the latter in the contracted position of pre-centering.

 Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described.

 In particular, the part 60 can follow the shape of the rod 40 to trap it and be metallic or cast iron.

 The rod 41 can be replaced by a washer with legs as described in application FR-A-2,538,060. In this case, the washer being pre-centered, the part 60 can be axially fixed. The docking part can carry the rod as described in Figure 6 of document FR-A-2,544,039. In this case, the retaining groove is carried by the docking piece and the drive bearing by the attack element. The sleeve 15 can be tilted while extending generally axially.

 The elastic retaining member may consist of a corrugated washer provided with axial tabs passing through the diaphragm and engaging by hooking with the rear face of the flange 14. In this case, notches can be provided at the external periphery of the flange 14, these notches having a circumferential width equal to that of the legs. Before assembly, the hooks would be in contact with the docking piece, while after assembly a clearance would exist between said hooks and the docking piece. In this case, the elastic holding means advantageously extend radially beyond the bush 15.

 A single Belleville 54.55 washer can be dimensioned accordingly. The part 60, interposed axially between the fingers 12 and the deflector 72, can carry blades and form a fan.

 The circlip 70, axially integral with the rotating ring 25 thanks to the groove 71, can be replaced by a shoulder formed directly on the ring 25.

 In certain cases, the support piece 60 can carry tongues penetrating into the groove 71 for axial immobilization of said piece.

 The docking piece 13, instead of being made of sheet metal as shown in the embodiment, can be made of cast iron.

 Finally, the part 62 is not necessarily curved, it can be flat and the washer 55 can be curved.

Claims (11)

 1) Assembly of a clutch release bearing, in particular for a motor vehicle, of the type comprising for coupling a clutch release bearing (lao) to the clutch release device (11), a docking part (13) provided with '' a support flange (14), for action on the declutching device (11), connecting to a socket (15), an elastically deformable coupling member (41), suitable for ensuring an axial connection of the workpiece docking (13) to the clutch release bearing (10) in the axial direction from the clutch release device (11) to the clutch release bearing (10), and elastic retaining means (54,55), which permanently stress the flange bearing (14) in the direction of the declutching device (11) by bearing on a shoulder (65) carried by the clutch release bearing (10), characterized in that the elastic retaining means (54, 55) are carried by the docking piece (13) and in that the shoulder (65) is formed on a support piece (60) separate from the docking piece (13) and por ted by the clutch release bearing (10) being axially wedged at least in one direction thereon.  2) mounting stop according to claim 1, characterized in that the support piece (.60) is slidably mounted on the inner ring (25) that has the declutching stop (10), and in that said piece d 'support (60) is adapted to cooperate with a shoulder (70) carried by the inner ring (25).  3) abutment mounting according to claim 2, characterized in that the support piece (60) has a current part of plastic (61) integral with a metal piece (62) carrying the shoulder (65).  4) abutment assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support piece (60) is hollowed out for penetration of the free end of the sleeve (15).  5) abutment mounting according to claim 4, characterized in that the support part is hollowed out (64) for housing a circlip (70) axially integral with the clutch release bearing (10).  6) abutment assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shoulder (65) extends radially beyond the sleeve (15), generally vis-à-vis the area of support of the collar (14) on the declutching device (11).  7) abutment assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic holding means (54,55) extend radially beyond the sleeve (15).  8) abutment assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the elastic holding means (54,55) comprise at least one Belleville washer with legs (57) for support on the declutching device (11).  9) Mounting the stop according to claim 8, characterized in that the elastic holding means comprise two Belleville washers (54,55) with legs (57) arranged back to back.  10) abutment mounting according to claim 9, characterized in that the docking part (13) has axial tabs (51) shouldered for centering and support of the Belleville washers (54,55).  11) Stop assembly according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the washer Belleville (55) is allowed to cooperate by its external periphery with the shoulder (65) of the support piece (60).