GB2216612A

GB2216612A - Device for the fitment and removal of disc clutches of motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2216612A
Application number: GB8903601A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Horst Klann
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-03-14
Filing date: 1989-02-16
Publication date: 1989-10-11
Also published as: DE8803418U1; GB8903601D0

Abstract

A device for use in fitting and removing clutches of motor vehicles employs a thrust plate (7) which has steps on one side for fitting inside a clutch plate (1) subjected to a spring disc (4), in a clutch housing (3). A clamping strip (13) on the opposite side of the thrust plate (7) permits the latter to be held, e.g. in a vice. A screw-threaded journal (8) on the thrust plate (7) projects through the clutch plate and the disc (4) and a screw-threaded boss (9) engages the journal (8). The boss (9) is turned with a handle (10) to cause a thrust piece (14) with a thrust bearing to compress the plate (1) and the spring disc (4) and hold the latter temporarily in the housing (3). Spring clips (20) can be fitted over the edge of the housing (3) and onto radial fingers (2) of the plate (1) to hold the clamped clutch. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR THE FITMENT AND REMOVAL OF DISC CLUTCHES OF MOTOR VEHICLES The invention relates to a device for the fitment and removal of disc clutches of motor vehicles, in which an annular disc is disposed in a pot-shaped clutch housing for movement against the action of an axially operative disc plate spring.

In the case of many motor vehicles, the space available around the built-in disc clutch is so confined that fitment and removal of the disc clutch during the course of a repair is possible only if the clutch plate and the disc plate spring which protrudes axially from the clutch housing in the relaxed condition are maintained completely contained within the pot-shaped clutch housing so that the clutch is at the least possible axial extension. However, since during fitment and removal of the disc clutch, the mechanical components which normally act on the clutch plate in an axial direction, i.e. the central part of the disc plate spring, protrudes axially from the clutch housing in frustoconical manner when in the relaxed condition.

The invention is based on the problem of providing a device of the type mentioned at the outset, which makes is possible for the clutch plate and the disc plate spring to be moved into or held in a position in which they do not project from the pot-shaped clutch housing, so that the complete disc clutch can be fitted and removed without any extensive dismantling work on the surrounding parts of the vehicle, despite the aforesaid confined space available in the vehicle.

According to the invention there is provided a device for the fitment and removal of disc clutches of motor vehicles, in which an annular plate or disc is disposed in a pot-shaped clutch housing for movement against the action of an axially operative disc plate spring; said device comprising a clamping means for pressing the clutch plate and the disc plate spring into the clutch housing,said clamping means taking the form of a substantially circular thrust plate which is adapted to be applied to the centre of the clutch plate and which has a screw-threaded journal which then projects through the clutch plate and the disc plate spring, an operating means with a screw-threaded member which is adapted to be screwed onto the screw-threaded journal to act on the other side of the plate disc spring and a plurality of U-shaped clips for holding the clutch plate and the disc plate spring in the husing, the clips being adapted to fit over the edge of the housing and onto radial fingers of the clutch plate.

Since the complete insertion of the clutch plate and of the disc plate spring into the clutch housing is possible by means of the clutch pedal so long as the disc clutch is built into the vehicle, the clips for holding the clutch plate in the clutch housing can be fitted over the edge of the housing and the radial fingers of the clutch plate while the disc clutch is still installed in the vehicle. Once the corresponding fixing means have been released, the disc clu-tch, together with the clips already fitted, can be removed from its normal position in the vehicle.

When the disc clutch has been removed from the vehicle in this way the clamping means is used in order to allow removal of the clips again and to effect a controlled relaxing of the disc plate spring accompanied by emergence from the pot-shaped clutch housing. Once the repair has been carried out, for example after the clutch plate or the clutch spring has/have been replaced, then in order to be able to install the clutch plate completely into the clutch housing and to be able to fit the clips again, the clamping means is used again.

Preferably the thrust plate is provided with a clamping strip with at least two parallel clamping faces on the face which is opposite the screw-threaded journal.

It is then possible to clamp the thrust plate for example in a vice, so ensuring safe and danger-free handling both of the clamping means and also of the clips. The clamping strip can be of round, oval, rectangular or any other cross-section; it only has to be capable of being clamped between the jaws of a vice.

To enable the device to be used with different diameters of clutch plates it is desirable for the thrust plate to have a plurality of concentric centring steps or strips on the side of the threaded journal to fit different inside diameters of clutch plates. The same thrust plate can then be used for clutch discs or clutches of different outside and/or inside diameters.

The screw-threaded member can be a simple nut or boss with a radial lever or handle. This enables the screw-threaded nut to be easily and quickly turned on the threaded journal in one direction or the other even where considerable clamping forces are present.

The operating member with the screw-threaded member can also be provided with a relatively rotatable thrust piece which houses a thrust bearing for engaging the disc plate spring.

By way of example, an embodiment of the invention is explained in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partially sectional side view of a device constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows the device and a disc clutch in an exploded perspective view; Figure 3 is a partial view on the line III-III in Figure 2; and Figure 4 shows a section on the line IV-IV in Figure 3.

The device shown in the drawings is used for fitting and removing disc clutches of the type, in which an annular clutch disc 1 with three radial fingers 2 is accommodated in such a way that it can move axially within a pot-shaped clutch housing 3. The disc 1 is subject to the axially operative spring force of a disc plate spring 4. The disc plate spring 4 has radial strips 5 which, in the relieved condition, project frustoconically from a circular central aperture in the end of the clutch housing and end at the edge of a circular central aperture 6. The device itself consists essentially of clamping means composed of a circular thrust plate 7 with a central screw-threaded journal 8, an operating member 9,10,14 and spring clips 20. The operating member has a screw-threaded member such a boss or nut 9 adapted to be screwed onto the threaded journal 8, and a radial hand lever 10.On the side which is towards the screw-threaded journal 8, the thrust plate 7 has two concentric centring step-like faces 11 and 12, the diameters of which match different inside diameters of different clutch plates 1 so that they can be accommodated in the centre of these latter. A plurality of similar centring strips could be provided. On the outside face, opposite the screw-threaded journal 8, the thrust plate 7 has, a rectangularly profiled bar providing a clamping strip 13 by means of which the thrust plate 7 can be conveniently fitted in a vice or the like so that the screw-threaded member 9, together with a disc clutch clamped in it or to be clamped in it, can be screwed onto or unscrewed from the screw-threaded journal 8.

The screw-threaded member 9 has a sleeve-like axially elongate form and is attached to a pot-like thrust piece 14 which houses an axial thrust bearing 15. A snap ring or circlip 16, which is separably accommodated in an inner annular groove 17 in the annular wall 18 of the thrust piece 14 engages positively behind a recessed annular shoulder 19 on the screw-threaded member 9. The thrust piece 14 is thus rotatably connected to this screw-threaded member 9 so that the thrust piece 14 can remain stationary when it is seated with a certain clamping pressure on the radial strips 5 of the disc plate spring 4 and the screw-threaded member 9 is turned.The axial thrust bearing 15 ensures that only negligible bearing friction can occur between the thrust piece 14 which comes into direct contact with the disc plate spring 4 or the strips 5 thereof, and the screw-threaded member 9, so that the latter can be easily turned in relation to the thrust piece 14 even when it is under tension.

The thrust plate 7 with the screw-threaded journal 8 and the screw-threaded member 9 with the thrust piece 14 permits the dismantled disc clutch to be so clamped that both the clutch disc 1 and also the complete disc plate spring 4 are disposed inside the clutch housing 3.

The disc clutch is then at its minimum axial length, so providing the best opportunity for removing it from or installing it into the vehicle.

To maintain the clutch plate 1 and the disc plate spring 4 inside the clutch housing 3, three U-shaped clips 20 are fitted over the edge of the clutch housing and the radial fingers 2 of the clutch plate 1 when the clutch plate 1 and the disc plate spring 4 are completely inside the clutch housing 3. This complete insertion of the disc plate spring 4 and the clutch plate 1 into the clutch housing 3 can be brought about by means of the clutch pedal, so long as the disc clutch is installed in the vehicle, so that the clips 20 can be fitted in the manner which is best shown in Figure 1. Once the disc clutch which has been thus clamped has been removed from the vehicle, in order to be able to remove the clips 20 again, without danger, the dise -plate spring 4 is tightened up a little more by using the aforedescribed clamping means so that the clips are free. Once the clips 20 have been removed, the disc plate spring can be relaxed by turning the screw-threaded boss 9 in the opposite direction. These two operations are most easily performed if the thrust plate 7 is clamped in a vice by means of its clamping strip 13. This clamping means is also used when, prior to fitment of the disc clutch into the vehicle, the disc plate spring 4 and the clutch plate 1 are again completely inserted in the clutch housing 3 and are secured in this position by fitment of the clips 20.

Claims

i. A device for the fitment and removal of disc clutches of motor vehicle, in which an annular plate or disc is disposed in a pot-shaped clutch housing for movement against the action of an axially operative disc plate spring; said device comprising a clamping means for pressing the clutch plate and the disc plate spring into the clutch housing,said clamping means taking the form of a substantially circular thrust plate which is adapted to be applied to the centre of the clutch plate and which has a screw-threaded journal which then projects through the clutch plate and the disc plate spring, an operating means with a screw-threaded member which is adapted to be screwed onto the screw-threaded journal to act on the other side of the plate disc spring and a plurality of U-shaped clips for holding the clutch plate and the disc plate spring in the husing, the clips being adapted to fit over the edge of the housing and onto radial fingers of the clutch plate.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the thrust plate is provided with a clamping strip with at least two parallel clamping faces on the face which is opposite the screw-threaded journal.
3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thrust plate is provided with a plurality of concentric centring steps or strips on the side of the threaded journal to fit different inside diameters of clutch plates.
4. A device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the screw-threaded nut member is a nut or boss connected to a pot-shaped rotatable thrust piece which houses an axial thrust bearing.
5. A device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the screw-threaded member is provided with a hand lever.
6. A device substantially as described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.