GB2250069A

GB2250069A - Clutch unit for a balanced friction clutch and a process for the production thereof

Info

Publication number: GB2250069A
Application number: GB9124447A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norbert Ament; Harald Raab
Original assignee: Fichtel and Sachs AG
Current assignee: ZF Sachs AG
Priority date: 1990-11-20
Filing date: 1991-11-18
Publication date: 1992-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 2011-11-18
Also published as: ES2049622R; BR9105027A; FR2669387B1; ES2049622A2; DE4036928A1; ES2049622B1; FR2669387A1; GB9124447D0; GB2250069B

Abstract

A clutch unit is provided with a plurality of peripherally distributed openings 18 and a grooved stud 11, 12 is inserted into at least one opening to balance the unit. The stud has a shank with axially extending grooves and a head at one end of the shank and a conical taper at the other. The holes 18 may be in the cover, or may be parallel to the unit axis in a covering plate (Fig 3). If necessary a balancing weight 27 may be fastened by such a stud. <IMAGE>

Description

2250069 CLUTCH UNIT FOR A BALANCED FRICTION CLUTCH _AND A PROCESS FOR THE

PRODUCTION THEREOF it for a The invention relates to a clutch unt balanced friction clutch and a process for the production thereof.

It is already known from the state of the art to provide clutch disks of friction clutches with balancing weights at the points at which they can easily be arranged by means of already existing components. It is also known, for example from German Offenlegungsshrift 30 46 302, to arrange balancing disks on rivet heads of spacer bolts -for the mounting of the diaphragm spring olf a pressure plate unit.

Regardless of the fact that the spacer 0olts are subjected to additional ioading by the arrangement of the balancing weights, they are arranged over a relatively small diameter and relatively great weights have to be provided for effective balancing.

An object of the present -invention is to enable friction clutches to be balanceo w-ith the simplest means, the number of possible balancing points being as large as possible and the effect being part-icularly desirable ow-(ng to the disposi.G-lon at great diameters.

According to the invention there provided a 2 - clutch unit for a friction clutch, in particular in the form of a pressure plate unit, with a clutch housing, a clutch main spring guided on the clutch housing and a pressing plate or in the form of a clutch disk with a hub, a hub disk connected to the hub, lateral disks which are arranged on both sides of the hub disk, are rigidly connected to one another but are rotatable relative to the hub, are coupled torsionally elastically to the hub disk and of which one is provided with clutch friction linings, characterised in that at least one component of the clutch unit is provided with a plurality of peripherally distributed openings and a grooved stud is inserted into at least one of the openings for balancing the clutch unit.

BY means of grooved studs and corresponding openings to in the clutch components, -It is possible L. produce a permanent connection between grooved stud and clutch component, optionally with balancing masses of different sizes, by mere insertion at the desired point in the already existing oDenings. The respective grooved stud is introduced by the conical end of Is shank and IS held by plastic deformation o -F the grooves provided in the shank or the edges thereof projecting in the manner of a 3 - bead. The head of which the diameter is kept greater serves as a stop in each case.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is advantageous to make the openings on the clutch modules accessible from the exterior. Balancing of the finished unit can therefore be carried out very easily and a riveting operation from the rear, for example, is dispensed with owing to the use of the grooved pins or studs.

The openings are preferably designed as throughopenings. In particular applications - for example with greater thicknesses of material or castings - it may also be advantageous to provide blind holes for the arrangement of the grooved studs. The openings preferably extend parallel to the axis of rotation of the clutch in order to be able to absorb centrifugal forces better.

It is also possible to fasten additional balancing weights with the grooved studs. This is particularly advantageous if the weight of a grooved stud is not sufficient for balancing.

It is particularly advantageous for the balancing of clutch disks to provide the openings for the balancing weights in the radially outer diametral regions of covering plate or lining carrier. The effect of the balancing weights is particularly desirable in these diametral regions and many possibilities are available, as viewed from the periphery.

The openings in a lateral disk (covering plate) of a clutch disk are advantageously provided peripherally between the spacer rivets. With the arrangement of openings for grooved studs in the lateral disk acting as a lining carrier, these openings are advantageously provided peripherally between the spacer rivets and the fastening regions of the - 4 spring segments of the friction linings.

Regions in which corresponding openings can be arranged are also found over smaller diameters in the covering plates or in the lining carriers of clutch disks. However, these are less effective owing to the smaller distance from the axis of rotation.

During the balancing of a complete clutch pressure plate unit, it is proposed in an advantageous manner that the openings be arranged in the radially outer regions of the clutch housing. This allows simple balancing to be carried out from the exterior on the finished component while allowing for all tolerances.

The invention is described in more detail hereinafter with reference to several embodiments.

Figure 1 shows the upper half of a longitudinal section through a complete friction clutch.

Figures 2 and 3 show a partial view and longitudinal section through a clutch disk.

Figures 4 and 5 show views and a section through grooved studs on an enlarged scale.

Figures 4 and 5 show two different grooved studs 11 and 12 which differ in the present illustration by the design of the corresponding head 16 and 17. Each head is provided with a shank 13 which is cylindrical in its basic form and passes into a cone 15 at its end region remote from the head. A plurality of longitudinally extending grooves 14 which are distributed round the periphery and also extend partially into the cone 15 are provided in the shank region. The grooves 14 are impressed into the shank 13 by plastic - deformation of material so that they are limited by edges 14a projecting in the manner of beads beyond the cylinder contour of the shank 13. The various head shapes 16 and 17 are dependent on the one hand on the space available at this point and they can be equipped with a different volume to enable different weights to be used.

Figure 1 shows the upper half of a longitudinal section through a friction clutch, wherein a flywheel 2 which, in turn, is again screwed to a clutch housing 3 is fastened on a crankshaft 1. A pressing plate 4 which is axially loaded by a diaphragm spring 6 is disposed between the clutch housing 3 and the flywheel 2, the diaphragm spring 6 being pivotally mounted on the clutch housing 3 by a plurality of spacer bolts 7 distributed round the periphery. The pressing plate 4 is guided in a non-rotatable but axially movable manner, more specifically by a plurality of radial leaf springs 5 distributed round the periphery. The friction linings of a friction clutch 10 are fixed between the pressing plate 4 and the flywheel 2. The clutch housing 3 has several openings 18 which are provided peripherally at many points and can also be arranged differently in the radial direction. These openings are through-openings which are provided during the production of the clutch housing 3. Balancing weights in the form of grooved studs 11 and 12, if required, can be inserted in these openings 18 after production of the pressure plate unit consisting of the clutch housing 3, the pressing plate 4, the diaphragm spring 6 and the radial leaf springs 5 with their fastening rivets 8 and 9. The provision of grooved studs - optionally having different weights - from the exterior into the already assembled pressure plate unit produces economical and very effective balancing.

If several grooved studs were required for balancing purposes, a balancing weight 27 can also be fastened by a grooved stud 11, 12.

Figures 2 and 3 show a partial view and a longitudinal section of a clutch disk 10 composed of a hub 19 with radially outwardly projecting hub disk 20, of lateral disks in the form of a covering plate 21 and a lining carrier 22 arranged on both sides of the hub disk 20, of spacer rivets 24 which non-rotatably connect covering plate and lining carrier and keep them apart, and of friction linings 26 which are connected to the outer region of the lining carrier 22 via spring segments 25. In the covering plate 21 as well as optionally in the lining carrier 22 there are preferably disposed, radially outside the springs 23 coupling the lateral disks torsionally elastically to the hub disk 20 peripherally between the spacer rivets 24 which connect the lateral disks 21, 22 to one another and/or between the spacer rivets 24 and fastening rivets 24a which hold the spring segments 25 on the lining carrier 22, a plurality of openings 18 into which grooved studs 11 and 12 can be inserted if necessary for the purpose of balancing. The possibility of balancing the finished unit also arises here due to the insertion from the exterior. The possibility of arranging openings 18 on the lining carrier 22 is somewhat restricted relative to the covering plate 21.

7 -

Claims

CLAIMS:

Clutch unit for a friction clutch, in particular in the form of a pressure plate unit, with a clutch housing (3), a clutch main spring (6) guided on the clutch housing (3) and a pressing plate (4) or in the form of a clutch disk (10) with a hub (19), a hub disk (20) connected to the hub (19), lateral disks (21, 22) which are arranged on both sides of the hub disk (20), are rigidly connected to one another but are rotatable relative to the hub (19), are coupled torsionally elastically to the hub disk (20) and of which one (22) is provided with clutch friction linings (26), characterised in that at least one component (3; 21, 22) of the clutch unit is provided with a plurality of peripherally distributed openings (18) and a grooved stud (11; 12) is inserted into at least one of the openings (18) for balancing the clutch unit.
2. Clutch unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the grooved stud (11; 12) has a shank (13) provided with substantially axially extending grooves (14) and a head (16; 17) at one end of the shank (13).
3. Clutch unit according to claim 2, characterised in that the shank (13) has, at its end remote from the head (16; 17), a conical taper (15) into which the grooves (13) extend.
4. Clutch unit according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the openings (18) are accessible from the exterior of the clutch unit.
5. Clutch unit according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the component (3; 21, 22) containing the openings (18) is a sheet metal part through which the openings (18) extend.
6. Clutch unit according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the openings (18) extend substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the clutch.
7. Clutch unit according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the openings (18) are arranged in the radially outer region of the component (3; 21, 22), in particular in the radially outer region of the clutch housing (3) or in the radially outer region at least of one of the lateral disks (21, 22).
8. Clutch unit according to claim 7, characterised in that the openings (18) are provided peripherally between spacer rivets (24) which connect the lateral disks (21, 22) to one another and/or between fastening rivets (24a) which hold the spring segments (25) of the friction linings (26) in the lining carrier disk (22).
9. Clutch unit according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that at least one grooved stud (11; 12) fastens an additional balancing weight body (27) on the clutch housing (3)-
10. Process for producing a balanced clutch unit of a friction clutch, in particular a pressure plate unit or a clutch disk in which the clutch unit is assembled from its components and balancing weight bodies (11; 12; 27) are arranged at least on one of the components (3; 21, 22) at prepared points, characterised in that at least one of the components (3; 21, 22) is provided, prior to assembly, with a plurality of peripherally distributed openings (18) at. points which are accessible from the exterior after assembly and in that a grooved stud (11; 13) acting as a balancing weight body is inserted into at least one of the openings (18) after assembly.

i
11. A clutch unit as claimed in claim 1 substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
12. A process as claimed in claim 10 substantially as described herein by way of example.