GB2080447A

GB2080447A - Diaphragm spring clutch

Info

Publication number: GB2080447A
Application number: GB8118811A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Fichtel and Sachs AG
Current assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
Priority date: 1980-07-17
Filing date: 1981-06-18
Publication date: 1982-02-03
Also published as: DE3026997A1; GB2080447B; FR2487025A1; FR2487025B1; BR8104568A

Abstract

The rotating release bearing race ring (5) has a flange (8) on which the ends of the diaphragm spring tongues (7) bear from the one side and retaining elements (9) defined by or connected with the spring tongues (7) bear on the flange (8) from the other side. By this means a space-saving, captive connection of the release bearing with the diaphragm spring is produced, in which a self-centring effect can be provided <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Diaphragm spring clutch The invention relates to a diaphragm spring clutch in which the releaser is connected in shapeengaging manner with the spring tongues through a rotating bearing race ring.

A diaphragm spring clutch of this kind of construction is already known from German Patent 1,555,408. In this known embodiment the rotating bearing race ring has a groove in which the spring tongues of the diaphragm spring engage in shape-engaging manner. Assembly in this case takes place with the diaphragm spring relieved of load.

An object of the present invention is to provide a diaphragm spring clutch in which the releaser is accommodated in the most space-saving possible manner and is simple to fit and self-centring is achieved.

According to the invention there is provided a diaphragm spring clutch in which a releaser is connected through its rotating bearing race ring with spring tongues, wherein the rotating bearing race ring has a radially outwardly pointing flange on which the ends of the spring tongues bear from the one side and retaining elements connected with the spring tongues bear on the flange from the other side.

By means of this arrangement a space-saving, non-losable connection of the releaser with the diaphragm spring is produced, in which a selfcentring effect can be provided between the releaser and the spring tongues, while the flange can be clamped in between the spring tongues and the retaining elements, in the axial direction.

An appropriate clearance is provided for the maintenance of a defined radial play between the releaser and the spring tongues and retaining elements.

The retaining elements can be formed in an especially advantageous manner from individual, appropriately angled-off spring tongues of the diaphragm spring. Such an embodiment can be realised with especially low expense for individual parts.

In the case of a pulled clutch, the non-rotating bearing race ring is connected with a tubular piece for the transmission of the release movement. The tubular piece can receive extra guidance in a bore of the clutch housing and the bearing race ring can have a radial play in relation to the tubular piece.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 shows the upper half of a longitudinal section through a pressure plate; FIGURE 2 shows a partial section in enlarged representation according to Figure 1; FIGURE 3 shows a partial section through an embodiment with separate retaining elements; FIGURE 4 shows a partial section through a pulled embodiment; FIGURE 5 shows a partial section through an embodiment with tubular piece mounted in the housing; FIGURE 6 shows a partial section through an embodiment with separate support elements.

Figure 1 shows the partial section through a pressure plate. This consists of the clutch housing 2, the presser plate 3, the diaphragm spring 1 and a support ring 19. The support ring 19 is mounted in a manner not further illustrated in the clutch housing 2 and serves for the force supporting of the diaphragm spring 1 during the release operation. The diaphragm spring 1 is equipped radially inwards with individual spring tongues 7 in known manner. From the gearing side the releaser 4 reaches with the radially outwardly pointing flange 8 of the rotating bearing race ring 5 as far as the spring tongues 7. The releaser 4 further consists of the balls 1 3 and the nonrotating bearing race ring 6. For the actuation of the releaser 4 a release fork 10 with a release ring 12 is provided.The releaser 4 is non-losably connected with the diaphragm spring 1, in that some of the spring tongues, preferably three uniformly distributed on the circumference, are bent in the form of retaining elements 9 out of the plane of the spring tongues 7 and rest on the side of the flange 8 remote from the spring tongues 7.

As may be seen especially from Figure 2, a radial clearance X is provided here between the radially inner ends of the retaining elements 9 and the rotating bearing race ring 5, in order to render possible the self-centring of the releaser 4 in relation to the diaphragm spring 1. It can be advantageous in this case if the flange 8 is clamped in with a defined friction force between the spring tongues 7 and the retaining elements 9.

Thus the releaser 4, after the first centring has taken place, can hold itself in this position. It is however readily possible to insert the flange 8 of the bearing race ring 5 without initial stress or even with axial play between the parts 7 and 9.

In Figure 3 there is reproduced a variant of Figure 2. Apart from the fact that the stationary bearing race ring of the releaser 4 has a larger diameter than the rotating bearing race ring 5, the flange 8 of the rotating race ring 5 is inserted between the spring tongues 7 of the diaphragm spring 1 and separate retaining elements.9. These retaining elements 9, several in each case distributed uniformiy on the circumference, are connected with the corresponding spring tongues 7 through rivets 17.

Figure 4 shows the partial longitudinal section through a diaphragm spring clutch of what is called pulled construction. In contrast to the clutches according to Figures 1 to 3, this clutch is disengaged due to the fact that the spring tongue 7 of the diaphragm spring 1 are moved away from the presser plate 3 by means of releaser elements.

In the present case the diaphragm spring 1 bears on its external circumference through a support ring 18 on the clutch housing 2 and is applied by its initial stress on the presser plate 3 on a smaller diameter. Some of the radially inwardly pointing spring tongues 7 are bent out of the plane in the direction towards the presser plate 3 and form retaining elements 9 for the flange 8 of the rotating bearing race ring 5 of the releaser 4. The non-rotating bearing race ring 6 is fitted on to a tubular piece 11 which engages with a collar 20 behind this race ring 6; the tubular piece 11 extends out from the race ring 6, pointing away from the presser plate 3, through the internal diameter of the diaphragm spring 1 as far as the side facing the gears, and there has the releaser ring 12. The releaser ring 12 serves as engagement for the releaser fork 10.For the disengagement of the diaphragm spring clutch as illustrated the spring tongues 7 of the diaphragm spring 1 are moved by the flange 8 away from the presser plate 3, by means of the releaser fork 10, the releaser ring 12, the tubular piece 1 the bearing race ring 6, the balls 13 and the rotating bearing race ring 5, so that the presser plate 3 - effects the liberation of the clutch disc (not shown). The releaser 4 is here held non-losably together with the tubular piece 11 between the spring tongues 7 and the retaining elements 9.

Similarly to the case of Figures 1 to 3, here again a radial shift clearance X for self-centring is provided between the radially inner end of the retaining elements 9 and the bearing race ring 5.

Figure 5 likewise shows a pulled diaphragm spring clutch. In this case however, in contrast to Figure 4, the tubular piece 11, on which the releaser ring 12 and the non-rotating bearing race ring 6 are arranged, is mounted separately in a bore 14 of the clutch housing 2. This mounting serves for the exact guidance of the tubular piece 11 and means that for the possible self-centring of the releaser 4 the bearing race ring 6 must have a radial movement play Y in relation to the tubular piece 11. Apart from these differences, the other components are identical with those of Figure 4.

In Figure 6 there is reproduced a variant of Figure 4. In the case of this embodiment firstly the retaining elements 9 are secured as separate parts through rivets 17 to the corresponding spring j! tongues 7, and also on the side of the retaining elements 9 remote from the spring tongues 7 a support element 15, for example in the form of a securing ring, is situated on the rotating bearing race ring 5, and between this element 15 and the retaining elements there is a spring element 1 6 acting in the axial direction. This spring element 16 serves for a deliberate making fast of the entire roliing bearing 4 in relation to the retaining elements 9, especially in those cases where the entire releaser system is not constantly subject to an initial stress for example from a spring acting from outside.

Claims

1. A diaphragm spring clutch in which a releaser is connected through its rotating bearing race ring with spring tongues, wherein the rotating bearing race ring (5) has a radially outwardly pointing flange (8) on which the ends of the spring tongues (7) bear from the one side and retaining elements (9) connected with the spring tongues (7) bear on the flange (8) from the other side.

2. A diaphragm spring clutch as claimed in claim 1, wherein between the internal diameter of the retaining elements (9) and/or the spring tongues (7) and the externai diameter of the rotating bearing race ring (5) in this region a defined radial clearance (X) is provided for the self-centring of the releaser (4).

3. A diaphragm spring clutch as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the retaining elements (9) are formed by individual spring tongues of the diaphragm spring (1).

4. A diaphragm spring clutch as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, which is formed as pulled clutch, wherein a tubular piece (11) is provided for the transmission of the actuation force from the nonrotating bearing race ring (6) to the actuating element, as for example the releaser fork (10).

5. A diaphragm spring clutch as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tubular piece (11) acts through a radially outwardly pointing collar(20) on the non-rotating bearing race ring (6).

6. A diaphragm spring clutch as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the tubular piece (11) is guided in a bore (14) of the clutch housing (2).

7. A diaphragm spring clutch as claimed in claim 6 wherein the non-rotating bearing race ring (6) has a radial clearance (Y) from the tubular piece (11 ).

8. A diaphragm spring clutch as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein on the side of the retaining elements (9) remote from the spring tongues (7) supporting and axially acting spring elements (1 5, 16) are provided on the rotating bearing race ring (5) for the axial clamping of the retaining elements (9) in between these and the flange (8).

9. A diaphragm spring clutch as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the flange (8) is arranged approximately in the middle of the axial extent of the rotating rolling bearing race ring (5).

10. A diaphragm spring clutch substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.