WO2005054701A1

WO2005054701A1 - Housing for a release bearing

Info

Publication number: WO2005054701A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/012640
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ludwig Winkelmann; Steffen Dittmer; Bernhard KLÖPFER
Original assignee: Schaeffler Kg
Priority date: 2003-12-02
Filing date: 2004-11-09
Publication date: 2005-06-16
Also published as: BRPI0417234A; DE10356236A1; JP2007513302A; KR101140968B1; JP4555829B2; KR20060105765A; CN1890481A; CN100460700C

Abstract

The invention relates to a release mechanism (1) for a gear shift clutch comprising a plastic housing (5) to which a flanged sleeve (11) is assigned that is made of steel. The flange (10) of said flanged sleeve (11) is positively connected to the annular flange (9) of the housing (5) in a manner allowing play therebetween.

Description

Housing for a release bearing

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a housing for a release bearing, which is intended for a shift clutch used in vehicles. When installed, the housing, which is designed as a hollow cylinder and made of plastic, encloses a drive shaft which connects an internal combustion engine to a manual transmission. The housing is axially displaceable by means of a release lever and has on the outside a ring flange which is integrally connected to the housing. A release lever is assigned to the ring flange on a first end face and the release bearing is assigned to the second end face.

Background of the Invention

The housing for a release bearing forms a transmission element for the actuating device of the shift separating clutch, which enables a gear change of the manual transmission. To simplify assembly, concepts are known in which the release bearing can be pre-completed captively with the housing. This measure shortens the assembly times on the assembly line, for example of car production, and ensures that the release bearing and housing components are important for the function, or enables automated assembly. The loss-proof arrangement of the release bearing on the housing also prevents incorrect assembly or a risk of confusion.

The published patent application DE 28 30 249 shows a housing to which a release bearing is assigned. For the loss-proof arrangement of the release bearing the housing serves a holding plate and a spring washer, which are connected via several external fastening means. For this purpose, the spring washer has a tab, in the recess of which a hook of the washer engages. Disadvantageously, at least the holding element directly surrounds the ring flange of the housing, so that a tension is created between the directly interacting components when the coefficients of thermal expansion differ.

From FR 2 304 826 A1 an axially displaceable housing for actuating a shift clutch is known, which is connected to a release bearing. For the captive arrangement of the release bearing, the ring flange of the housing is enclosed by a sleeve which extends axially on one side over the release bearing and positions the release bearing by means of a radially inwardly directed rim.

Summary of the invention

The invention is based on the problem of realizing a permanent, effective fastening of the housing in connection with the release bearing and the flange intended for the release lever, these components being made from different materials.

This task is solved by the features of claim 1. According to the invention, a housing made of plastic is combined with a flange made of steel, on which the release lever is supported in the installed state. According to the invention, the flange is provided with a flange sleeve which is guided with play on the cylindrical section of the lateral surface of the housing. To achieve an anti-twist fastening, the flange of the flange sleeve is positively connected in the circumferential direction and free of play and in the radial direction with play with the ring flange of the housing. A captive fastening of the flange sleeve to the housing is achieved by means of a holding plate which holds the ring flange and the flange of the Grips around the outside sleeve. The holding plate is each radially free of play and fixed in position in the circumferential direction on the ring flange. The release bearing is still non-positively supported on a radial support surface of the holding plate and is simultaneously positioned.

The structure according to the invention allows for a release device, the combination of a plastic housing with a steel flange and a holding plate made of sheet metal. These components are fastened without clamping or an inadmissibly large guide play. The assignment, which is free of play in the circumferential direction and has play in the radial direction, can advantageously be combined to form a structural unit made of different materials and different thermal expansion coefficients. At the same time, the fastening of all individual parts according to the invention reduces the effort required for tool coordination, in particular with regard to the production of the plastic housing.

With the invention, a captive unit can be realized, which includes the housing, the flange sleeve, the holding plate and the release bearing. The construction according to the invention of all the components connected to the housing, that is to say the flange sleeve, release bearing and holding plate, are advantageously so captively connected to one another that even different thermal expansion coefficients of materials of individual components are compensated for. The type of fastening between the components made of steel, the flange sleeve and the holding plate and the plastic housing advantageously has no negative influence on the guide play between the bore of the housing and the stationary guide sleeve, which is preferably made of steel. Furthermore, the construction of the housing according to the invention, including all the associated components, ensures that no unacceptable guiding play occurs between the housing and the guide sleeve in the operating state due to the different operating conditions or stresses and the temperature fluctuations over the entire service life of the switch disconnector. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of dependent claims 2 to 16.

An effective anti-rotation device between the flange sleeve and the ring flange of the housing made of plastic is advantageously achieved by means of an axially aligned projection on the ring flange, which engages in a corresponding recess in the flange sleeve flange.

As an alternative to this, the invention includes a rotationally secured installation position of the flange sleeve relative to the housing, in that the flange of the flange sleeve has at least one passage or notch designed as a fixing cam, which has a positive fit, i.e. locked in the circumferential direction without play and radially with play in an associated recess of the ring flange of the housing.

The design of the anti-rotation device preferably comprises axial projections or passages arranged several times around the circumference between the flange sleeve and the flange of the housing. The respective axial projections or passages interacting with the associated recesses or recesses ensure a centered installation position of the flange sleeve relative to the housing. ""

Regardless of the design of the measures to achieve a fixed, rotation-proof connection of the components, flange sleeve and housing, the walls of the recesses, passages or recesses in the flange of the flange sleeve or the ring flange of the housing run parallel to a center-oriented center line. This ensures that due to different expansions caused by different coefficients of thermal expansion between the plastic housing and the steel sleeve, these components can expand unhindered without any negative influence on the clearance between the housing bore and the guide sleeve. The projection of the ring flange or alternative penetrations on the flange of the flange sleeve are each provided with a play “Si, s ₂ ” radially inside and radially outside, so that the flange sleeve and the ring flange of the housing can shift independently of one another due to different thermal expansions.

As a measure with which, on the one hand, an unimpeded expansion is ensured and, on the other hand, no disadvantageously large installation clearance occurs, combined with an undesirable noise development, the invention includes so-called tuning ribs. These are local, for example point-like elevations running in the radial direction or local radial ribs which are elastically deformable. Such tuning ribs are preferably also arranged locally on the lateral surface of the housing in a radial zone in which the cylindrical section of the flange sleeve is supported in the installed position.

Another embodiment of the invention relates to the fixing of the holding plate with respect to the ring flange of the housing. For this purpose, it is advisable to provide the holding plate with a passage formed, for example, as a fixing lug, which engages in a corresponding recess of the ring flange designed in the manner of a blind hole. Preferably is provided on the side facing the release bearing side ^"the holding plate having a plurality of symmetrically arranged Fixiemaseή. In the installation position of the fixing projections are inserted respectively with a radially inwardly and radially outwardly provided play into the recesses so that an unimpeded, divergent, Ensure material-related expansion between the retaining plate and the ring flange of the housing. The retaining plate is preferably manufactured without cutting by a deep-drawing process and largely encompasses the ring flange of the housing. In the installed position, the retaining plate forms a radially inward-facing rim that is offset parallel to the support surface for the release bearing , which positions the flange of the flange sleeve which is axially supported on the ring flange. In addition, the holding plate is provided in one piece with a U-shaped receptacle in front of the support surface for the release bearing, in which a leg of the torsionally rigid bearing ring of the release bearing engages. The U-shaped receptacle exceeds the width of the leg and enables the installation of a plate spring, which is supported between a ring flange of the receptacle and the leg of the torsionally rigid bearing ring of the release bearing, in order to achieve a non-positive contact of the bearing ring leg.

As an alternative measure with which a torsion-proof fastening of the flange sleeve relative to the housing can be achieved, the invention includes two opposite radial projections emerging from the cylindrical outer surface of the housing, which form mutually parallel surfaces on the outside. A flange sleeve manufactured by a deep-drawing process correspondingly encloses the radial projections of the housing and thus achieves an effective non-rotating installation position of the flange sleeve.

The lugs are advantageously provided in the radial direction in the contact area of the flange sleeve with elastic tuning ribs which ensure tolerance compensation between the housing and the flange sleeve and furthermore allow an unobstructed, temperature-dependent expansion between the flange sleeve and the housing.

The housing, the flange sleeve and / or the holding plate are preferably provided with molded-on wrench flats which provide effective protection against rotation with respect to the attachments and the occurrence of an impermissible one

Prevent play over the period of use. In addition or as an alternative, there are also beads or penetrations with which the flange of the flange sleeve or the ring flange of the housing engage and enable further securing, or which relieve alternative measures to prevent rotation during operation.

Due to the structure according to the invention, the housing made of plastic and components made of steel, the flange sleeve and the Includes retaining plate, are combined into one structural unit by means of the measures according to the invention. This assembly can also be combined with a release bearing, which is also secured against loss with the other components and forms a pre-assemblable release unit in order to reduce the assembly effort required, in particular for automated assembly.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings. Show it:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a release device in connection with a housing according to the invention;

Figure 1a shows the detail "x" from Figure 1 on an enlarged scale;

Figure 2 shows the disengaging device according to Figure 1 with an alternatively designed sleeve;

FIG. 2a shows the detail “y” from FIG. 2 in an enlarged illustration;

FIG. 3 shows a housing according to the invention, which has two mutually opposite surfaces arranged parallel to one another, in connection with a flange sleeve;

Figure 4 - in a perspective, the housing in connection with the flange sleeve and the holding plate according to Figure 3; 4a shows the detail "z" according to FIG. 4 on an enlarged scale. Detailed description of the drawings

The sectional view according to FIG. 1 shows a release device 1 for actuating a shift clutch, of which a plate spring 2 is partially shown in FIG. 1, which is non-positively supported on a release bearing 3. The release device 1 is displaceable in the arrow direction by means of a release lever 4, the force of the plate spring 2 automatically displacing the release device 1 into the starting position as soon as the actuating force of the release lever 4 is extinguished. The disengaging device 1 comprises a hollow cylindrical housing 5 made of plastic, which is guided with a guide play 6 on a guide sleeve 7. The guide sleeve 7 encloses a radially spaced drive shaft 8, which connects an internal combustion engine to a manual transmission, the guide sleeve 7 being fixed in place, preferably to a housing of the manual transmission.

The housing 5 is provided in one piece with a radially outwardly directed ring flange 9, on which a flange 10 of a flange sleeve 11 is supported, toward the release lever 4. The ring flange 9 and the flange 10 are enclosed on the outside by a holding plate 12 which fixes the flange 10 in position with a radially inwardly directed flange 13 and forms a U-shaped receptacle 14 on the opposite side of the ring flange 9. On a large-area radial support surface 15, the release bearing 3 is supported in a rotationally rigid manner via a radial leg 16 of an outer bearing ring 17. In the U-shaped receptacle 14, which is delimited on the end face by an annular rim 19, a plate spring 18 is also inserted, which ensures non-positive support of the leg 16 on the radial support surface 15 of the holding plate 14. On the inner circumferential bearing ring 20 of the release bearing 3, the plate spring 2 of the shift clutch is supported directly.

The holding plate 12 produced without cutting by a deep-drawing process has on the radial support surface 15 at least two radially spaced fixing lugs 21 which engage with play in the associated recesses 22 of the ring flange 9 in a form-fitting manner. The holding plate 12 is also advantageous provided a plurality of circumferentially distributed fixing lugs 21 which engage in corresponding recesses 22. To fix the flange sleeve 11 in relation to the ring flange 9, the flange 10 of the flange sleeve 11 has at least one recess 23, into which an axial projection 24 of the ring flange 9 is fitted with play. The housing 5 made of plastic is assigned the components sleeve 11 and holding plate 12, which are made from steel or sheet steel, that is to say these components have different thermal expansion coefficients. In order to compensate for this different thermal expansion, the fixing lugs 21 engage in the associated recesses 22 of the ring flange 9 with radial play on both sides.

FIG. 1 a shows an enlarged view of the recess 23, which has center-directed walls 25 a, 25 b that run parallel to one another and into which the projection 24 engages with a radial play “S 1, s ₂ ” on both sides. The projection 24 is circumferential on both sides with tuning ribs 26a, 26b, so that a connection is always established between the projection 24 and the flange 10, the tuning ribs 26a, 26b making it possible to position the projection 24 relative to the recess 23 without play by plasticizing them when they are joined together. Alternatively, it is advisable to assign tuning ribs to the flange 10 within the recess 23 which point radially in the direction of the projection 24 and which allow a play-free pairing by means of plastifi ed digging in the flange 10.

The housing 5 on the lateral surface 27 of which the cylindrical portion of the flange sleeve 11 is guided with play has radially outwardly directed tuning ribs 28. The functionally required installation clearance 29 between the flange sleeve 11 and the housing 5 is compensated for by the tuning ribs 28. This results in a defined installation position of the flange sleeve 11 relative to the housing 5, which avoids rattling noises and thus a disadvantageous development of noise. In addition, the elastically designed tuning ribs 28 allow unhindered thermal expansion of the housing. ses 5, without influencing the guide play 6 between the housing 5 and the guide sleeve 7.

FIG. 2 shows the release device 1, in which the flange sleeve 11 is fastened to the housing 5 as an alternative to FIG. 1. The remaining structure of the release device 1 is identical to the release device shown in FIG. 1. The flange 10 of the flange sleeve 11 has an extension 30. The axially protruding fixing lug engages in a corresponding recess 31 of the ring flange 9 of the housing 5 in a form-fitting manner, however, with play.

FIG. 2a illustrates the interaction of the extension 30 in connection with the recess 31 in an enlarged illustration. In the installed position, the through-hole 30 is provided with a radial play “s-, s ₂ ” on both sides. For continuously bridging over the installation play, tuning ribs 32a, 32b are provided, which alternatively extend circumferentially on the through-hole 30 or the wall of the recess 31 from the round flange 9 are provided.

FIG. 3 shows the housing 33 to which the guide sleeve 34 is assigned. As a measure to achieve an effective anti-rotation device, the housing 33 is provided with two opposite lugs 35a, 35b emerging from the lateral surface 27 of the housing 33. The guide sleeve 34, produced without cutting by a deep-drawing process, encloses the lugs 35a, 35b and is supported on the side surfaces 36a, 36b of the lugs 35a, 35b. Between the surfaces 43a, 43b of the lugs 35a, 35b and the guide sleeve 34 there is an expansion gap 39, in which locally arranged plasticizable tuning ribs 38 are provided which are integrally connected to the housing 33 or the guide sleeve 34.

FIG. 4 shows, in addition to FIG. 3, the holding element 40 with which the flange sleeve 34 is secured against displacement relative to the housing 33. For this purpose, the housing 33 is provided with molded-in key surfaces 41 intended for the holding element 40. This ensures a permanent arrangement of the approximately sleeve 34 relative to the housing 33 over the service life of the disconnect clutch or the disengaging device 1 ensured. A holding element 40 is a component formed from sheet metal, which, in accordance with the detail “z” shown in FIG. 4a, has passages 41 which engage in corresponding recesses 42 in the housing 33. The guide sleeve 34 also forms two surfaces 43a aligned parallel to one another , 43b, which delimit an engagement 44a, 44b radially on the inside, which are delimited on the outside by tabs 45a, 45b of the guide sleeve 34. The engagement 44a, 44b is intended for a preferably fork-shaped release lever 4, according to FIG. 1 of the release device 1.

reference numerals

From rear device 30 through plate spring 31 recess release bearing 32a tuning rib release lever 32b tuning rib housing 33 housing guide play 34 guide sleeve guide sleeve 35a extension drive shaft 35b extension ring flange 36a side surface flange 36b side surface flange sleeve 37 housing center retaining plate 38 tuning rib flange 39 expansion gap receptacle 40 holding element support surface 41 through-ring leg 42 recess (outside) 43a area of disc spring 43b area of ring flange 44a engagement of bearing ring (inside) 44b engagement of fixing lug recess recess projection a wall b wall a tuning rib b tuning rib lateral surface tuning rib installation clearance

Claims

claims

1. Housing for a release bearing (3), intended for a release device (1) of a shift disconnect clutch used in vehicles, the hollow cylindrical housing (5) being installed axially on a stationary guide sleeve (7) by means of a release lever (4) is displaceable and the outside of the housing (5) is integrally connected to an annular flange (9), on the first end face of which a flange (10) cooperating with the release lever (4) and on the second end side of which the release bearing (3) is supported, characterized in that

- The flange (10) is integrally connected to a flange sleeve (11) which is guided with play on a lateral surface on a lateral surface (27) of the housing (5) made of plastic; - The flange (10) of the flange sleeve (11) is connected to the ring flange (9) of the housing (5) without play in the circumferential direction in a form-fitting manner and with radial play; - A holding plate (12) assigned to the housing (5) engages around the outside of the ring flange (9) and the flange (10) and is radially free of play and secured against rotation in the circumferential direction on the ring flange (9) without play; - The release bearing (3) is non-positively on a radial support surface (15) of the holding plate (12) and is positioned on this.

2. Housing according to claim 1, wherein the flange (10) of the flange sleeve (11) has at least one recess (23) into which an axially aligned projection (24) of the ring flange (9) engages in a form-fitting manner and with play

3. Housing according to claim 1, wherein to achieve a positive connection of the flange (10) of the flange sleeve (11) has at least one formed as a fixing cam passage (30) or notch, which has a positive fit in a corresponding recess (31) of the ring flange (9 ) locked.

4. Housing according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the flange sleeve (11) is centered with respect to the ring flange (9) and for this purpose these components have multiple circumferentially distributed axial projections (24) or passages (30) which correspond to Engage recesses (23, 31).

5. Housing according to claim 2 or according to claim 3, wherein walls (25a, 25b) of the recesses (23, 31) in the flange (10) of the ferrule (11) or the annular flange (9) of the housing (5) parallel to a centered center of the housing (5) are aligned.

6. Housing according to claim 2, wherein the projection (24) of the ring flange (9) with a radial play "Si, s ₂ " in the recess (23) of the flange (10) of the flange sleeve (11) is fitted.

7. Housing according to claim 3, wherein the passage (30) of the flange (10) which is integrally connected to the flange sleeve (11) with a radial play "Si, s ₂ " in the corresponding recess (31) of the ring flange ( 9) intervenes.

8. Housing according to claim 1, wherein to achieve a play-free, tolerance-compensating installation position between the flange (10) of the flange sleeve (11) and the ring flange (9) of the housing (5) tuning ribs (26a, 26b; 28; 32a, 32b; 38 ) are provided.

9. Housing according to claim 1, wherein the holding plate (12) has at least one passage designed as a fixing lug (21), which in an associated, recess (22) of the ring flange (11) designed in the manner of a blind hole engages positively and with play.

10. The housing according to claim 8, wherein the radial support surface (15) of the holding plate (12) forming a contact surface for the release bearing (3) includes a plurality of fixing lugs (21) on the circumference, which locating recesses (22) in the ring flange ( 9) click into place.

11. The housing as claimed in claim 1, comprising a holding plate (12) formed by a deep-drawing process, which, with a flange (10) offset parallel to the radial support surface (15), positions the flange (10) of the flange sleeve (11).

12. Housing according to claim 9, the retaining plate (12) of which forms a radial support surface (15) axially upstream U-shaped receptacle (14) for a leg (16) of the outer bearing ring (17) from the release bearing (3), wherein a plate spring (18) is also inserted into the receptacle (14) and is supported between the leg (16) and an annular rim (19) of the receptacle (14).

13. Housing according to claim 1, the cylindrical lateral surface (27) of which has two opposite radial lugs (35a, 35b) which, in connection with the guide sleeve (34), two mutually parallel and simultaneously to a longitudinal axis of the housing (33) or one Form the housing center (37) extending surface (43a, 43b), the guide sleeve (34) at least largely enclosing the lateral surface (27) and the lugs (35a, 35b).

14. Housing according to claim 13, wherein at least one extension (35a, 35b) associated tuning ribs (38) ensure a play-free tolerance-compensating installation position between the flange sleeve (34) and the housing (33).

15. Housing according to claim 1, wherein at least one holding element (40) causes a displacement lock of the flange sleeve (34) relative to the housing (33).

16. Housing according to claim 1, which is made of plastic with the components made of sheet steel without cutting, the flange sleeve (11) and the holding plate (12) is combined and together with the release bearing (3) form a structural unit.