GB2162275A - A clutch release bearing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

A sleeve (4) is provided with a radially extending flange (5). A ball bearing (2,3,18) consisting of a non-rotating outer race ring (3), balls (18) and a rotatable inner race ring (2) is mounted to the flange by a cage (21) engaging with both the flange (5) and the outer race ring (3). The cage (21) comprises a ring element (8), a cylindrical wall section (10) stabilising the ring element and several extensions (9) engaging the flange by means of radially inwardly bent continuations (11) which have axially directed end portions (12) engaging recesses (13) is the rear face of the flange (5). There are preferably a corrugated spring (7) and an annular seal (15) between the ring element (8) and the outer race (3). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A clutch release unit This invention relates to a self-centring clutch release unit for clutches, consisting interalia of a grooved ball bearing with a rotating inner race ring for the actuation of the release members of the clutch, a non-rotating outer race ring which abuts perpendicularly of the release movement on a bearing support face of a flange of a sliding sleeve and is held in abutment by a spring device, while a ring element is provided which is arranged on the side of the outer race ring towards the clutch and a plurality of extensions distributed on the circumference is secured integrally to the ring element, which extensions extend in the axial direction with spacing from the outer race ring towards the flange and are disengageably anchored to the latter.

A clutch release unit of the above described type is known from German 'Offenlegungsschrift' 2,659,578. In this known clutch release unit the extensions are provided with openings. These openings engage approxi mately radially proceedings anchoring ele ments which are arranged in the flange of the sliding sleeve member.

An object of the invention is to provide a more robust construction of the clutch release unit, to reduce the space requirements of the retention means for the ball bearing and to allow combination of the various elements of the clutch release unit with other elements of varying size.

In view of the above objects the clutch release unit comprises a sleeve member having an axis and a radially outwardly directed flange. The flange has a bearing support face substantially perpendicular with respect to the axis and a rear face remote from the bearing support face. A ball bearing includes an outer race ring and an inner race ring, said outer race ring having a first end face substantially perpendicular to the axis adjacent the bearing support face and supported thereby. A second end face of the outer race ring is substantially perpendicular to the axis. The inner race ring has an abutment face for engagement with release members of a respective clutch. A cage member includes a ring element acting in substantially axial direction onto the second end face of the outer race ring.Furthermore, the cage member includes a plurality of substanially axially extending extensions of the ring element securing the cage member with respect to the flange. These extensions are distributed along a radially outer circumference of the ring element and are circumferentially spaced from each other. A radially outer circumferential face of the outer race ring is radially spaced from the extensions. A circumferentially closed and axially extending, substantially cylindrical wall section adjacent the ring element interconnects the ring element and the extensions and has a stabilising effect. The extensions have radially inwardly bent continuations following the rear face of the flange. These continuations have substantially axially directed end portions engaging into a respective recess of the rear face.

In addition to the great rigidity of the ring element a simple anchorage of the extensions is achieved, while the external diameter remains small. The cage member can be produced simply and can be easily assembled with the remaining elements. The axial extensions, which in operation are loaded to a certain extent in the radial direction, are not weakened by interruptions of any kind.

By clamping the outer race ring between the ring element and the flange the ball bearing can be frictionally maintained in a position obtained by self-centring.

It is further proposed to arrange a corrugated spring between the ring element and the end face of the outer race ring facing the clutch. By the arrangement of a separate spring to achieve the friction clamping it is easily possible for example to compensate for tolerances of the ring element and the sliding sleeve which occur in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, it is possible to use one cage for various clutch release units by providing different corrugated springs.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

The invention will be next explained in greater detail by reference to an example of embodiment. The illustration shows the longitudinal section through the upper half of a self-centring clutch release unit for a motor vehicle friction clutch. The sliding sleeve member 4 is axially displaceably guided on a tube (not shown) which is fixed in the usual way on the gearing. The sliding sleeve member 4 has a flange 5 extending in the circumferential direction. This flange 5, or another region of the sliding sleeve member 4 can be loaded from the right side by a release fork in order to carry out a release movement directed to the left towards the friction clutch (not shown).The flange 5 has a bearing support face 6 upon which there abuts-if desired with interposition of a metal washer 1 6-a first end face 23 of the non-rotating outer race ring 3 of a grooved ball bearing 2, 3, 1 8. The rotating inner race ring 2 protrudes in the release direction out of the entire system and is adapted to act upon the release members of the friction clutch by an abutment face 20. Balls 18 are arranged as rolling bodies between the two race rings 2 and 3.

The entire release bearing is held in relation to the sliding sleeve member 4 by a cage member 21 including a ring element 8.

This cage member 21 is made in somewhat pot form on the side facing the clutch, that is to say it has a cylindrical wall section 10 which stiffens the ring element 8 in this forward region. Adjoining this cylindrical wall section 10, which extends over a first axial region, the cage member 21 has in a second axial region only several extensions 9 distributed on the circumference, which extend concentrically and are anchored on the rear face 22 of the flange 5 lying opposite to the bearing support face 6. This anchorage is achieved in that each extension 9 is equiped with a radially inwardly pointing continuation 11, and each continuation 11 terminates in a shorter end portion 12, which is again angled off and points in the direction towards the clutch.This end portion 1 2 in each case engages in a corresponding recess 1 3 in the flange 5 of the sliding sleeve member 4. Thus the anchoring of the cage member 21 in the radial direction is achieved, at least in the region of the flange 5, and also the initial stress force of the corrugated spring 7 is taken up by the continuations 11, the corrugated spring 7 being situated between the ring element 8 and the second end face 14 of the non-rotating outer race ring 3. By way of example a seal element 1 5 can be provided between the corrugated spring 7 and the second end face 1 4.

The ring element 8 is made rigid in this first axial region by the cylindrical wall section 10 and its somewhat pot-shaped configuration, and the extensions 9 adjoining it in a second axial region render possible easy radial adjustability of the grooved ball bearing. In this case the non-rotating outer race ring 3, possibly with interposition of a metal washer 16, slides on the bearing support face 6 of the flange 5. Due to the arrangement of a corrugated spring 7 between the second end face 14 and the ring element 8, the ball bearing can remain in the centred position as a result of frictional clamping, after the first centring.

The radially outer circumferentially face 24 of the race ring 3 is radially spaced from the extensions 9 as to aliow radial play. Due to the arrangement of the separate corrugated spring 7 it is possible to compensate for production tolerances in the axial direction between the ring element 8 for the one part and the outer race ring 3 and the flange 5 for the other.

Likewise it is possible by appropriate use of different corrugated springs 7 to effect a clamping-in appropriate to the loading, in dependence upon the installation conditions.

The extensions 9 are made resilient in the radial direction, so that in assembly they can easily be pushed with their continuation 11 and their end portions 1 2 over the flange 5 and brought to snap into the recesses 1 3.

Due to this simple anchorage it is also made possible at any time to dismantle the release easily. Due to the radially resilient properties of the extensions 9, which are not detrimental to anchorage in the flange 5, it is possible to achieve a satisfactory radial adjustabiiity of the grooved ball bearing in relation to the sliding sleeve member 4, with relatively low initial stress forces of the corrugated spring 7.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principle, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

It is to be noted that the reference numbers in the claims are only provided in view of facilitating the understanding of the claims.

These reference numbers are by no means to be understood as restrictive.

Claims (6)

1. A clutch release unit comprising: a sleeve member (4) having an axis and a radically outwardly directed flange (5), said flange (5) having a bearing support face (6) substantially perpendicularly with respect to said axis and a rear face (22) remote from said bearing support face (6); a ball bearing (2, 3, 18) including an outer race ring (3) and an inner race ring (2), said outer race ring (3) having a first end face (23) substantially perpendicular to said bearing support face (6) and supported thereby, a second end face (14) substantially perpendicu lar to said axis, and a radially outer circumferential face (24), said inner race ring (2) having an abutment face (20) for engagement with release members of a respective clutch;; a cage member (21) including a ring element (8) acting in substantially axial direction onto said second end face (14) of said outer race ring (3) and a plurality of substantially axially extending extensions (9) of said ring element securing said cage member (21) with respect to said flange (5), said extensions (9) being distributed along a radially outer circumference of said ring element (8) and being circumferentially spaced from each other, said radially outer circumferential face (24) of said outer race ring (3) being radially spaced from said extensions (9);; characterized in that a circumferentially closed and axially extending, substantially cylindrical wall section (10) adjacent said ring element (8) interconnects said ring element (8) and said extensions (9) and that said extensions (9) have radially inwardly bent continuations (11) fol- lowing said rear face (22) of said flange (5) and said continuations (11) have substantially axially directed end portions (12) engaging into a respective recess (13) of said rear face (22).

2. A clutch release unit as set forth in claim 1, said outer race ring (3) being axially clamped between said ring element (8) and said flange (5).

3. A clutch release unit as set forth in claim 2, an annular axially compressible corrugated spring (7) being arranged between said ring element (8) and said second end face (14) of said outer race ring (3).

4. A clutch release unit as set forth in claim 3, an annular seal element (15) being clamped in between said corrugated spring (7) and said second end face (14).

5. A clutch release unit as set forth in one of claims 1 to 4, said ring element (8), said cylindrical wall section (10) and said extensions (9) being integral.

6. A clutch release unit as claimed in claimed in Claim 1, substantially as herein described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the example shown in the accompanying drawing.