GB2236561A - Friction clutch assembly - Google Patents

Friction clutch assembly Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2236561A
GB2236561A GB9021282A GB9021282A GB2236561A GB 2236561 A GB2236561 A GB 2236561A GB 9021282 A GB9021282 A GB 9021282A GB 9021282 A GB9021282 A GB 9021282A GB 2236561 A GB2236561 A GB 2236561A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
cover
flywheel
clutch
annular
cover assembly
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9021282A
Other versions
GB9021282D0 (en
GB2236561B (en
Inventor
Graham John Shirley
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Automotive Products PLC
Original Assignee
Automotive Products PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Automotive Products PLC filed Critical Automotive Products PLC
Publication of GB9021282D0 publication Critical patent/GB9021282D0/en
Publication of GB2236561A publication Critical patent/GB2236561A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2236561B publication Critical patent/GB2236561B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
    • F16F15/00—Suppression of vibrations in systems; Means or arrangements for avoiding or reducing out-of-balance forces, e.g. due to motion
    • F16F15/10—Suppression of vibrations in rotating systems by making use of members moving with the system
    • F16F15/12—Suppression of vibrations in rotating systems by making use of members moving with the system using elastic members or friction-damping members, e.g. between a rotating shaft and a gyratory mass mounted thereon
    • F16F15/1207—Suppression of vibrations in rotating systems by making use of members moving with the system using elastic members or friction-damping members, e.g. between a rotating shaft and a gyratory mass mounted thereon characterised by the supporting arrangement of the damper unit
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16D—COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
    • F16D13/00—Friction clutches
    • F16D13/22—Friction clutches with axially-movable clutching members
    • F16D13/38—Friction clutches with axially-movable clutching members with flat clutching surfaces, e.g. discs
    • F16D13/46—Friction clutches with axially-movable clutching members with flat clutching surfaces, e.g. discs in which two axially-movable members, of which one is attached to the driving side and the other to the driven side, are pressed from one side towards an axially-located member
    • F16D13/48—Friction clutches with axially-movable clutching members with flat clutching surfaces, e.g. discs in which two axially-movable members, of which one is attached to the driving side and the other to the driven side, are pressed from one side towards an axially-located member with means for increasing the effective force between the actuating sleeve or equivalent member and the pressure member
    • F16D13/50—Friction clutches with axially-movable clutching members with flat clutching surfaces, e.g. discs in which two axially-movable members, of which one is attached to the driving side and the other to the driven side, are pressed from one side towards an axially-located member with means for increasing the effective force between the actuating sleeve or equivalent member and the pressure member in which the clutching pressure is produced by springs only
    • F16D13/505—Devices located between the flywheel and the driven disc, and biassing the driven disc away from the flywheel towards the disengaged position
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16D—COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
    • F16D25/00—Fluid-actuated clutches
    • F16D25/08—Fluid-actuated clutches with fluid-actuated member not rotating with a clutching member
    • F16D25/082—Fluid-actuated clutches with fluid-actuated member not rotating with a clutching member the line of action of the fluid-actuated members co-inciding with the axis of rotation
    • F16D25/087—Fluid-actuated clutches with fluid-actuated member not rotating with a clutching member the line of action of the fluid-actuated members co-inciding with the axis of rotation the clutch being actuated by the fluid-actuated member via a diaphragm spring or an equivalent array of levers

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Operated Clutches (AREA)

Abstract

A friction clutch assembly for an internal combustion engine and which includes a flywheel (12); a driven plate (13) adjacent the flywheel; a coaxial annular clutch cover assembly (14) mounted on the flywheel to clamp the driven plate to the flywheel. The flywheel (12) has means (42) for making it rotationally fast with the crankshaft (35) of said engine, including a coaxial center bolt (37) located in an aperture (40) at the axis of rotation of the flywheel. The bolt (37) being accessible by a tool insertable through both the clutch cover assembly (14) and driven plate (13) for attachment and removal of the flywheel (12) to and from the crankshaft (35) and the bolt head (38) incorporates a bearing race (39) to support the end portion of a gearbox input shaft (31).

Description

FRICTION CLUTCH COVER ASSEMBLIES This invention relates to friction clutch assemblies, for motor vehicles.
In a typical motor vehicle friction clutch, a driven plate, rotationally fast with the input shaft of a gearbox, is sandwiched between a flywheel on the engine crankshaft and a pressure plate. The pressure plate is usually mounted in a clutch cover assembly, and the cover assembly is in turn mounted on the flywheel. The pressure plate is rotationally fast with a cover and the flywheel, and is biased away from the cover by spring means to trap the driven plate between itself and the flywheel. Drive straps hold the pressure plate rotationally fast with the cover and allow the pressure plate to move axially so as to enable the driven plate to be released or clamped between the flywheel and pressure plate as required.
In a typical motor vehicle , a clutch release bearing acts against the ends of the levers associated with the spring means in order to release the driven plate.
Conventionally the release bearing is mounted on a clutch release mechanism arranged concentrically of the gear box input shaft within the cluch bell housing but independantly of the clutch cover.
The invention provides a cover, and clutch release mechanism as a single assembly.
According to the invention there is provided a clutch cover assembly comprising a clutch cover having a central opening therein, a bearing mounted to the cover in the central opening, and an annular clutch release means mounted within the bearing for rotation relative to the cover.
Preferably the bearing is a ball or roller race , and the clutch release means comprises an outer cylindrical annular housing mounted to the bearing race, and an inner cylindrical sleeve telescopically mounted within the outer cylindrical housing.
Preferably the outer housing is part of an annular hydraulic slave cylinder, and the inner cylindrical sleeve is an annular piston operably located in the slave cylinder The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section of a typical friction clutch assembly showing the assembly mounted on a vehicle crankshaft.
Figure 1 illustrates a bell housing 10 on a vehicle gearbox, and which houses a motor vehicle friction clutch assembly 11 comprising a flywheel 12, a driven plate 13, and an annular cover cover assembly 14. The cover assembly 14 comprises an annular cover 15 which is secured to one side of the flywheel 12, a pressure plate 22 located coaxially within the cover 15, and a coaxial diaphragm spring 16 located between the cover and the pressure plate to bias the pressure plate 22 towards the flywheel to clamp the driven plate 13 therebetween. The cover 15 comprises a cylindrical sidewall having a radially outwardly projecting flange 17 at its open end and a radially inwardly projecting flange 18 at the other axial end. The outwardly projecting flange 17 has a plurality of holes 26 therein whereby the cover is attached by bolts (not shown) to the flywheel 12.The inwardly projecting flange 18 has a plurality of tabs 23 on its radially inner periphery whereby the diaphragm spring 16 is attahced to the cover.
The spring 16 is a frustoconical plate spring coned away from the pressure plate 22 and having a radially outer continuous annular portion 27 with a plurality of spaced radially inwardly extending fingers 28 projecting from.
the radially inner periphery of the annular portion 27.
The spring 16 is attached to the cover 15 by the tabs 23 on the cOver1 extending through respective apertures at the base of the fingers 28 and being bent around the continuous portion 27 of the spring to clinch the spring to the cover. A pair of coaxial fulcrum rings 24 and 25 are located one on each side of the diaphragm spring and are located against the radially outer surface of the tabs 23 prior to the tabs being bent around the spring 16. The outer margin 27 of the spring 16 acts against the pressure plate 22.
When the cover assembly is mounted on the flywheel 12 the pressure plate 22 is biased by the spring 16 to clamp the driven plate 13 between itself and the flywheel.
The hub 19 of the driven plate 13 is fitted onto a gearbox input shaft 31 by means of splines so that the driven plate is rotationallv fast with the shaft. To release the clutch, a release load is applied to the radially inner ends of the spring fingers 28, via a clutch release bearing 32 to move the inner ends of the fingers towards the flywheel 12, causing the outer annular portion 27 of the spring to pivot about the fulcrum rings 23, 24, and move away from the flywheel 12.
When the clutch is re-engaged the reverse operation takes place.
The pressure plate 22 has an annular cast iron body with the friction surface on one axial side for engagement with the driven plate 13 and is made rotationally fast with the cover 15 by three circumferentially spaced sets of drive straps 34 which extend between the cover and lugs on the outer periphery of the pressure plate 22.
The drive straps 34 allow for axial movement of the pressure plate 22 relatative to the cover 15 whilst holding the two rotationally fast.
The flywheel 12 is mounted on the end plate 35 of a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. The crankshaft end plate 35 has a coaxial threaded hole 36 therein to receive a center bolt 37 which passes through a center hole 40 in the flywheel whereby the flywheel is attached to the crankshaft.The hole 40 is located at the axis of rotation of the flywheel and clutch. The center bolt 37 has a circular head 38 which is recessed into the flywheel. The bolt 37 includes a bearing race 39 adapted to recieve and rotationally support the end portion of the gearbox input shaft 31, and a hollow center 41 having a coaxial bore adapted to receive a tool, for example 'an allen key' so that the bolt 37 can be screwed into the threaded hole 36 in the crankshaft end plate 35.A plurality of equiangularly spaced pins 42, preferably four pins, are located in holes in the flywheel on a pitch circle around the bolt hole 40 and locate in aligned holes in the crankshaft end plate 35 to prevent rotation of the. flywheel relative to the crankshaft.
Other means of preventing rotation could be used for example, meshing face splinesr preferably radially aligned splines having radial faced teeth or curvic teeth.
The cover 15 on its radially inwardly projecting flange 18 has a tubular housing 45, preferably formed integrally with the cover 15, and which supports in its open mouth via a bearing race 46, an annular clutch release mechanism arranged in use concentrically with the gear box input shaft 31. The annular clutch release mechanism 47 can be operated by cable means or preferably by hydraulic means, in which case the release mechanism comprises an annular hydraulic slave cylinder 47. The slave cylinder 47 has an inner sleeve surrounding the gear box input shaft 31 on the clutch release bearing 32 is mounted against the piston 48 so that activation of the slave cylinder 47 operates the spring fingers 28 to release or clamp the driven plate 13.
The slave cylinder 47 is held stationary relative to the bell housing 10 by a hydraulic connection 49 and the clutch assembly 11 rotates relative thereto through the bearing races 32 and 46.
During the assembly process, the bolt 37 is placed into the hole 40 in the flywheel 12, the driven plate 13, is then located in position against the flywheel 12 and is accurately aligned to be coaxial with the flywheel, and the cover assembly 14 is then bolted to the flywheel 12 with the driven plate held in alignment. The complete assembly including the flywheel can then be rotationally balanced as an assembly.
When the assembly is fitted to a crankshaft, a tool is inserted through the centre of the cover 15 and driven plate hub 19 to screw the bolt 37 into the threaded hole on the end of the crankshaft. A proprietory cement can be used on the screw portion of the bolt to prevent un-screwing of the bolt 37. If the slave cylinder 47 is fitted then the tool must pass through the center of the slave cylinder.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS:
1. A clutch cover assembly comprising a clutch cover having a central opening therein, a bearing mounted on the cover in the central opening, and an annular clutch release means mounted within the bearing for rotation relative to the cover.
2. A clutch cover assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the annular clutch release means comprises an outer cylindrical annular housing mounted on the bearing, and an inner cylindrical sleeve telescopically mounted within the outer cylindrical housing.
3. A clutch cover assembly as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the outer annular housing is part of an annular hydraulic slave cylinder, and the inner cylindrical sleeve is an annular piston operable located in the slave cylinder.
4. A clutch cover assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the central opening in the cover is surrounded by a tubular housing fixed to the cover and extending in use away from a flywheel to which the cover is attached, and the bearing and clutch release mechanism are supported within the tubular housing.
5. A clutch cover assembly as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the tubular housing is formed integrally with the clutch cover.
6. A clutch cover assembly as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the cover has a sidewall, a radially outwardly projecting flange at one end of the sidewall for attachment to a flywheel, and an inwardly projecting annular flange at the outer end of the sidewall which has said central opening therein.
7. A clutch cover assembly as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the cover has tabs formed integrally with said inwardly projecting flange for securing a diaphragm spring to the cover.
8. A cluch cover assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the bearing has an inner and outer parts which rotate relative to each other on rollers or balls.
9. A clutch cover assembly substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB9021282A 1989-10-05 1990-10-01 Friction clutch cover assemblies Expired - Fee Related GB2236561B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8922436A GB2237077B (en) 1989-10-05 1989-10-05 Friction clutch assemblies

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9021282D0 GB9021282D0 (en) 1990-11-14
GB2236561A true GB2236561A (en) 1991-04-10
GB2236561B GB2236561B (en) 1994-01-19

Family

ID=10664091

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB8922436A Expired - Fee Related GB2237077B (en) 1989-10-05 1989-10-05 Friction clutch assemblies
GB9021282A Expired - Fee Related GB2236561B (en) 1989-10-05 1990-10-01 Friction clutch cover assemblies

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB8922436A Expired - Fee Related GB2237077B (en) 1989-10-05 1989-10-05 Friction clutch assemblies

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (2) GB2237077B (en)
WO (1) WO1991005175A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2277363A (en) * 1993-03-26 1994-10-26 Fichtel & Sachs Ag Means for attaching a clutch assembly to a crankshaft
GB2296959A (en) * 1993-03-26 1996-07-17 Fichtel & Sachs Ag Clutch assembly and crankshaft attachment means having torque transmitting dowels

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2119642B1 (en) * 1994-07-12 1999-04-01 Fichtel & Sachs Ag FRICTION CLUTCH

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1322315A (en) * 1971-03-08 1973-07-04 Automotive Prod Co Ltd Friction clutch installations for vehicles
GB1399386A (en) * 1971-09-10 1975-07-02 Towmotor Corp Fluid clutch housing
GB1491548A (en) * 1974-02-13 1977-11-09 Skf Ind Trading & Dev Friction clutch for a motor vehicle
US4102446A (en) * 1974-01-22 1978-07-25 Societe Anonyme Francaise Du Ferodo Hydraulically operated clutch
GB1544814A (en) * 1975-11-21 1979-04-25 Automotive Prod Co Ltd Release bearing assemblies for vehicle clutches
GB2010422A (en) * 1977-12-14 1979-06-27 Borg Warner Self-Contained Belleville Spring-Type Wet Clutch
GB2181192A (en) * 1985-10-04 1987-04-15 Fichtel & Sachs Ag Drive arrangement, especially for a motor vehicle

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB319571A (en) * 1929-02-04 1929-09-26 Alfred Abrahams Improvements in and connected with power transmission clutches for use with motor road vehicles
GB483938A (en) * 1936-02-15 1938-04-28 Ewald Hering Improvements relating to double clutches especially for power vehicles
GB730118A (en) * 1952-05-01 1955-05-18 Singer Mfg Co Air cooled electric clutch-brake driving device
GB1060165A (en) * 1964-08-25 1967-03-01 Automotive Prod Co Ltd Improvements in and relating to plate type friction clutches
IT956976B (en) * 1972-06-28 1973-10-10 Vernasca C DEVICE TO ACTIVATE THE CLUTCH CLUTCHES OF MOTOR VEHICLES
FR2517394B1 (en) * 1981-12-02 1987-03-20 Peugeot FRICTION DISC CLUTCH
FR2526102B1 (en) * 1982-04-29 1985-08-09 Valeo CLUTCH WITH TWO-PART REACTION PLATE, ESPECIALLY FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE
FR2526104A1 (en) * 1982-04-29 1983-11-04 Valeo Friction clutch for motor vehicle - has single axial fixing screw for assembly to drive shaft
FR2526105A1 (en) * 1982-04-29 1983-11-04 Valeo CLUTCH, PARTICULARLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES, WITH IMPROVED ASSEMBLY OF THE COVER ON THE REACTION TRAY
DE3414648C2 (en) * 1984-04-18 1986-09-18 Adam Opel AG, 6090 Rüsselsheim Hydraulically controlled friction clutch, especially single-disk dry clutch, primarily for motor vehicles
GB8513234D0 (en) * 1985-05-24 1985-06-26 Automotive Prod Plc Release bearing assembly for clutch

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1322315A (en) * 1971-03-08 1973-07-04 Automotive Prod Co Ltd Friction clutch installations for vehicles
GB1399386A (en) * 1971-09-10 1975-07-02 Towmotor Corp Fluid clutch housing
US4102446A (en) * 1974-01-22 1978-07-25 Societe Anonyme Francaise Du Ferodo Hydraulically operated clutch
GB1491548A (en) * 1974-02-13 1977-11-09 Skf Ind Trading & Dev Friction clutch for a motor vehicle
GB1544814A (en) * 1975-11-21 1979-04-25 Automotive Prod Co Ltd Release bearing assemblies for vehicle clutches
GB2010422A (en) * 1977-12-14 1979-06-27 Borg Warner Self-Contained Belleville Spring-Type Wet Clutch
GB2181192A (en) * 1985-10-04 1987-04-15 Fichtel & Sachs Ag Drive arrangement, especially for a motor vehicle

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2277363A (en) * 1993-03-26 1994-10-26 Fichtel & Sachs Ag Means for attaching a clutch assembly to a crankshaft
US5524739A (en) * 1993-03-26 1996-06-11 Fichtel & Sachs Ag Transmission having a clutch with an arrangement for fastening the clutch to the crankshaft and a method of making same
GB2296959A (en) * 1993-03-26 1996-07-17 Fichtel & Sachs Ag Clutch assembly and crankshaft attachment means having torque transmitting dowels
GB2277363B (en) * 1993-03-26 1997-10-08 Fichtel & Sachs Ag Means for attaching a clutch assembly to a crankshaft
GB2296959B (en) * 1993-03-26 1997-10-08 Fichtel & Sachs Ag Means for attaching a clutch assembly to a crankshaft

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9021282D0 (en) 1990-11-14
GB2237077B (en) 1993-09-15
GB8922436D0 (en) 1989-11-22
WO1991005175A1 (en) 1991-04-18
GB2236561B (en) 1994-01-19
GB2237077A (en) 1991-04-24

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20031001