KR20100044178A - Advanced clutch mechanism, particularly for an automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

The mechanism (10) of the invention includes a lid (12) in which is provided a diaphragm (14), a C-shaped member (24) carried by a member (26) defining a holder attached on the lid, said C-shaped member (24) including a first branch (24A) for fastening to the holder member (26) and a second branch (24B) defining a first bearing and hinging portion (18A) for the diaphragm (14) and a second bearing and hinging portion (18B) for the diaphragm (14) supported by the lid (12). The second branch (24B) is elastically deformable so as to be elastically returned to a position for clamping the diaphragm (14) between the first (18A) and second (18B) bearing and hinging portions. The holder member (26) includes a stop (38) for limiting the deformation of the second branch (24B) against the return force thereof.

Description

Clutch mechanism for automobiles {ADVANCED CLUTCH MECHANISM, PARTICULARLY FOR AN AUTOMOBILE}

The present invention relates to the field of clutch mechanisms for automobiles.

In motor vehicles, it is intended to engage driving and driven members that rotate about an axis of rotation in which the clutch is substantially aligned. The rotary drive member is coupled to the engine, more specifically the crankshaft of the engine, and the rotary driven member is generally coupled to the gearbox shaft.

The clutch generally includes a mechanism that is rotationally driven by the drive member. The mechanism includes a lid portion, a diaphragm, and a pressure plate, all rotatably connected to the drive member.

In order to engage the rotary drive and the driven member, the diaphragm surrounds the friction disk rotatably coupled with the rotary driven element between the recoil plate and the pressure plate which rotate integrally with the lid.

The diaphragm forms a lever that includes a hinge axis partitioned by a first support hinge portion and a second support hinge portion. Thus, in the case of the push type mechanism, the diaphragm forms a first type of lever, i.e., levers on which acting forces and reaction forces are applied to both sides of the hinge shaft.

The diaphragm can be tilted about the hinge axis between the engagement position at which the diaphragm is elastically restored and the disengagement position at which the diaphragm is moved against its restoring force by the controlled release bearing.

In the engaged position, the diaphragm is rotationally driven by the first support hinge portion and supported on the second support hinge portion so that a load is applied on the pressure plate.

In the disengagement position, the diaphragm is rotatably driven by the second support hinge portion and supported on the first support hinge portion to cancel the load applied on the pressure plate.

The bearing and hinge portion form a rigid or elastic hinge.

In the case of an elastic hinge, one of the support hinge portions is elastically returned to the other support hinge portion to elastically tighten the diaphragm between these portions. This prevents play between the diaphragm and the support hinges despite the wear of these components. Elastic hinges are generally more economical than rigid hinges because they allow greater space tolerance between the support hinge portions.

Clutch mechanisms for automobiles are already known in the prior art, in particular in French Patent Publication No. 2 791 406.

This mechanism includes a cover portion in which the diaphragm is incorporated. The diaphragm is hinged between the first and second support hinge portions supported by the lid portion.

The first supporting hinge portion is formed by an elastic hinge member having a general "C" shape. This C-shaped member is supported by a member defining a holder attached on the lid portion. The C-shaped member includes a first branch portion for fixing to the holder member, a hinge portion for the diaphragm, and a second branch portion defining the first bearing.

The first support hinge portion of the diaphragm is formed by an annular rib disposed on the lid portion.

The second branch of the elastic member can be elastically deformed to elastically return to a position for clamping the diaphragm between the first and second support hinge portions.

A mechanism equipped with a hinge member as described in French Patent Laid-Open No. 2 791 406 can enable simple assembly of the diaphragm, in that the shape of the elastic member provides a hinge with optimum elasticity. Particularly advantageous.

During manufacture of the clutch, the mechanism is in a position called a "storage position" before being mounted to the flywheel. This position is the static equilibrium position that the diaphragm has under its elastic influence.

In this configuration, the diaphragm exerts a force on the hinge member that is greater than the force normally applied on the hinge member in the normal use state of the clutch. Therefore, there may be undesirable wear to the hinge when the clutch is in the storage position.

It is an object of the present invention, in particular, to avoid this drawback by providing a mechanism in which the elastic hinge can better withstand the temporary forces exerted on the hinge member in the storage configuration of the instrument.

For this purpose, the object of the present invention is particularly as a clutch mechanism for automobiles,

Cover part with a built-in diaphragm,

A C-shaped member supported by a member defining a holder attached on the lid, the second having a first branch for fixing to the holder and a free end defining a first support hinge of the diaphragm The C-shaped member including a branch,

And a second support hinge portion of the diaphragm supported by the cover portion,

The second branch is elastically deformable to elastically return to a minimum spacing position of the branch, such that the diaphragm can be clamped between the first and second support hinge portions, and the holder member has a restoring force of the second branch portion. To provide a vehicle mechanism comprising a stop for limiting the deformation of the second branch against.

Due to the stop limiting the deformation, the deformation of the elastic C-shaped member cannot exceed the limit at which the elastic member may wear out at an inappropriate time. More specifically, this prevents the elastic member from plastic deformation.

The limitation is that the spacing between the first and second branches of the C-shaped member, when the mechanism is in a storage configuration, is typically between the first and second branches when the clutch is in a normal operating configuration after the clutch is mounted to the vehicle. It is preferably chosen not to exceed a predetermined value slightly larger than the maximum interval of.

The hinge member according to the present invention may also include one or more of the following features.

The holder member includes a generally cylindrical body extending through a first orifice and a second orifice disposed respectively in the first and second branches of the C-shaped member, wherein the first branch is a shoulder portion of the body. Is supported on.

The C-shaped member cannot rotate about the axis of the body by the cooperation of the first branch and the additional shape disposed on the body.

The first branch is clamped between the shoulder portion and the lid portion.

The holder member includes a first end for fixing to the lid and a second end for supporting a heel-piece, and a stop for limiting deformation is disposed on the heel member, The first branch and the second branch extend between the heel member and the first fixed end of the holder member.

The free end of the second branch is curved along a curved portion that projects to the position where it comes into contact with the diaphragm.

When the mechanism is disposed in the clutch, it includes a wear control device configured to compensate for wear of the friction disk of the clutch.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a clutch for an automobile, in particular comprising a mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 7, as an automobile clutch.

1 is an axial cross-sectional view of a clutch according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hinge member of the clutch shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

The invention may be more readily understood by reading the following description, which is provided by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 shows a clutch for an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention comprising a mechanism indicated by reference numeral 10.

The device 10 typically includes a cover 12 in a rotatable form, in which the elastically deformable diaphragm 14, such as a Belleville washer, is incorporated. The lid part 12 and the diaphragm 14 are substantially coaxial.

When the clutch is mounted on the vehicle, the diaphragm 14 can be actuated by a control release bearing (not shown) and can interlock with the pressure plate 16 that is embedded in the lid 12 and integrally rotatable. .

When the diaphragm 14 is at rest, the diaphragm pressurizes the pressure plate 16 to surround the friction disk (not shown) between the pressure plate 16 and the recoil plate (not shown), thereby bringing the friction disk to a close. Engage with instrument 10 (engagement position).

When the diaphragm 14 is actuated by a control release bearing, it pivots on the hinge by releasing the pressure plate 16. Thereafter, the friction disk is released (uncoupling position).

Therefore, the diaphragm 14 forms a first type of lever that is hinged between the second support hinge portion 18B and the first support hinge portion 18A supported by the lid portion 12.

The first supporting hinge portion 18A is formed by the hinge member 22 supported by the lid portion 12 and distributed circumferentially on the lid portion 12. The second support hinge portion 18B is formed by a continuous or otherwise circumferential annular rib 23, which is disposed on the cover portion 12 opposite the first support hinge portion 18A. As a variant, the second support hinge portion 18B may be supported by one or more support hinge members attached to the lid portion 12.

Each hinge member 22 is intended to exert an axial elastic force on the diaphragm 14 to form an elastic hinge. The clutch preferably comprises at least three, for example six hinge members 22.

Each hinge member 22 is shown more specifically in FIG. 2, and includes a C-shaped elastic member 24 and a holder member 26 for supporting the elastic member 24.

The holder member 26 comprises a body of a conventional cylindrical shape, which body 27 extends between the first and second ends 27A, 27B of the body. Cylindrical portions 28 and 29 are included. The second cylindrical portion 29 has a radius larger than that of the first cylindrical portion 28, so that a shoulder portion 30 is formed at the connection portion between the first and second coaxial cylindrical portions 28,29.

The holder member 26 is attached to the lid part 12. For this purpose, the body is provided with means 31 for fastening to the lid on its first end 27A. For example, this means 31 is arranged in the lid 12 and forms a rivet embedded in the orifice 32 which is attached to the lid 12 by crimping.

The fixing means 31 preferably comprises means 22 for restraining the holder member in the rotational direction. This rotational constraining means 22 comprises an additional shape comprising, for example, an additional flat portion disposed on the orifice 32 and the first end 27A of the holder member 26.

The elastic C-shaped member 24 includes a first branch 24A for securing to the holder member 26 and a second branch 24B defining a first support hinge portion 18A of the diaphragm 14. Doing.

The first branch 24A of the elastic member 24 includes an orifice 34 through which the first portion 28 of the body 27 extends without substantially any radial play.

The orifice 34 and the first body portion 28 comprise additional shapes, for example having additional flat portions, which further restrict the elastic member from rotating about the axis of the body 27. Intended to.

In addition, the first portion 28 of the body 27 is fixed to the lid portion, such that the first branch 24A is clamped between the shoulder portion 30 and the lid portion 12, thereby covering the lid portion 12. Is bound to

The second branch 24B also includes an orifice 36 from which the second portion 29 of the body 27 extends. Accordingly, in order to assemble the elastic member 24 and the holder member 26, the body 27 passes through the orifice 34 until the first portion 24A comes into contact with the shoulder portion 30 and stops. To extend, it is sufficient to guide the first portion 28 of the holder member 26 into the orifice 36 of the second branch 24B.

The second branch portion 24B has a free end 37 that is curved along a curved portion that protrudes to a position where it comes into contact with the diaphragm 14 to form the first support hinge portion 18A. The second branch 24B is elastically deformable to elastically return to the minimum spacing position of the branch, thereby allowing the diaphragm to be clamped between the first support hinge portion 18A and the second support hinge portion 18B. .

In particular, in order to limit the spacing between the first branch 24A and the second branch 24B of the elastic member at the storage position of the clutch, the body 27 of the holder member 26 has its second end 27B. ) Includes a heel member 38 (which may be, for example, a polyhedron), which extends across the second cylindrical portion 29. The heel member 38 made of the same material as the second portion 29 includes a stop 40 for limiting the deformation of the second branch 24B in response to its restoring force.

It will be noted that the first branch 24A and the second branch 24B of the elastic member 24 extend between the first end 27A of the body 27 and the heel member 38.

Finally, it will be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

When the mechanism 10 is in a storage configuration, the stop 40 also limits the movement of the diaphragm 14 in addition to limiting the elastic deformation of the elastic member 24. Therefore, the stopper 40 can prevent the elastic member 24 from being damaged due to plastic deformation. Thus, the present invention is particularly advantageous in the case of a mechanism 10 in which the diaphragm on the hinge generates a significant force in the storage position, such as a mechanism comprising a wear adjustment device intended to compensate for wear of the clutch friction disk.

10 mechanism 12 cover part
16 pressure plate 22 hinge member
18A: 1st support hinge part 18B: 2nd support hinge part
22: hinge member 24: elastic member
24A: first branch 24B: second branch
26 holder member 27 body
30: shoulder part 38: heel member

Claims (8)

In particular, in the clutch mechanism 10 of an automobile,
A cover part 12 in which the diaphragm 14 is built-in,
A C-shaped member 24 supported by a holder member 26 that defines a holder attached to the lid, wherein the first branch 24A and the diaphragm for fixing to the holder member 26 are formed. The C-shaped member 24, comprising a second branch 24B having a free end defining a first support hinge portion 18A of 14;
A second support hinge portion 18B of the diaphragm 14 supported by the cover portion 12,
The second branch 24B is elastically deformable to elastically return to the minimum spacing position of the branch, thereby clamping the diaphragm 14 between the first support hinge portion 18A and the second support hinge portion 18B. And the holder member 26 includes a stop 40 for limiting deformation of the second branch 24B against the restoring force of the second branch.
Clutch mechanism for automobiles. The method of claim 1,
The holder member 26 extends through the first orifice 34 and the second orifice 36 disposed at the first branch 24A and the second branch 24B of the C-shaped member 24, respectively. A generally cylindrical body 27, the first branch 24A being supported on the shoulder portion 30 of the body 27
Clutch mechanism for automobiles. The method of claim 2,
The C-shaped member cannot rotate around the axis of the body 27 by the cooperation of the first branch 24A and the additional shape disposed on the body 27.
Clutch mechanism for automobiles. The method of claim 2 or 3,
The first branch portion 24A is clamped between the shoulder portion 30 and the cover portion 12.
Clutch mechanism for automobiles. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The holder member 26 includes a first end 27A for securing to the lid portion and a second end 27B for supporting a heel-piece 38 to limit deformation on the heel member. Stop 40 is disposed, and the first branch 24A and the second branch 24B of the C-shaped member 24 are the heel member 38 and the first fixed end of the holder member 26. Extended between (27A)
Clutch mechanism for automobiles. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The free end 37 of the second branch 24A is curved along a curved portion projecting to a position where it comes into contact with the diaphragm 14.
Clutch mechanism for automobiles. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
When the clutch mechanism 10 of the motor vehicle is disposed on the clutch, it includes a wear control device configured to compensate for wear of the friction disk of the clutch.
Clutch mechanism for automobiles. Especially as an automobile clutch,
Claims 1 to 7 characterized in that it comprises a clutch mechanism 10 of the motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims.
Automotive clutch.

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