GB2290362A

GB2290362A - Clutch release bearing apparatus having at least two coupling members allowing radial movement

Info

Publication number: GB2290362A
Application number: GB9511454A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shuhei Aoki
Original assignee: NSK Ltd
Current assignee: NSK Ltd
Priority date: 1994-06-14
Filing date: 1995-06-06
Publication date: 1995-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 2015-06-06
Also published as: DE19521736A1; GB2290362B; DE19521736C2; GB9511454D0

Description

1 - CLUTCH RELEASE APPARATUS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

2290362 The present invention relates to a clutch release bearing apparatus. Related Background Art

When a clutch which serves as a power interrupter mounted on a chassis, etc., and using a friction plate is operated, a shift fork which serves as an input member is driven to urge a diaphragm spring of a clutch cover in the axial direction. Thus, the biasing force of the spring is released from the friction plate and the power transmission is interrupted.

Though the shift fork fixed side of the chassis, arranged to be mounted on the engine and is rotated or the like. Accordingly, directly urged against the clutch cover, there arises is normally disposed on the etc., the clutch cover is a fly wheel or the like of integrally with the fly wheel if the shift fork is diaphragm spring of friction on a contact portion therebetween. Thus, there is provided between the diaphragm spring and the shift fork a clutch release bearing apparatus which comprising a clutch release bearing consisting of a rotary ring abutting against the diaphragm spring to integrally rotate therewith and a bearing holding member which is not rotating and is arranged to hold said bearing in a predetermined state and to receive an output from the shift fork, as disclosed in the Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Application No. 56-7124, for example.

In this clutch release bearing apparatus disclosed in the Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Application No. 56-7124, the tip end of an outer ring of the bearing is disposed opposite to the diaphragm spring while a flange portion is disposed at the read end of an inner ring of the bearing, opposite to a flange portion of a guide sleeve. The bearing is mounted on the guide sleeve in such a manner that the both flange portions are pinched and inserted in the axial direction by a leaf spring. The whole bearing apparatus becomes movable in the axial direction in such a manner that when the flange portion of the guide sleeve ls pushed from the back by the tip end of the shift fork, the tip end of the outer ring is abutted against the diaphragm spring.

Here, the flange portion of the inner ring is biased by the leaf spring so as to be movable in the radial direction with respect to the flange portion of the guide sleeve. Thus, when the flange portion of the guide sleeve is pushed by the shift fork from the back so that the outer ring of the bearing is abutted against the diaphragm spring of the clutch, even if there is eccentricity therebetween, the center of the bearing is automatically adjusted.

Incidentally, in order to make the clutch release apparatus lightweight, such arrangement has been developed as to fix the outer ring of the bearing in the flange portion of the guide sleeve to be movable in the radial direction by use of a bent spring leaf. However, if the bearing is fixed by use of such bent spring leaf, such inconvenience is expected that it becomes difficult to mount a coupling pin which fixed the shift fork and the flange portion to move them integrally.

Furthermore, if the rear end of the spring leaf thus bent is extended in the axial direction, it can be used also as a guide portion of the shift fork.

However, according to such arrangement, since suppression in the radial direction is carried out by use of an elastic force of the springleaf only when the spring leaf is mounted on the flange of the shift sleeve, and due to a variance in the bending accuracy of the spring leaf, it is feared that the shift fork is moved in the radial direction of the bearing when it is used. Thus, a fall of a release fork or other problems are expected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a clutch release bearing apparatus which achieves an -25 improved assembling performance without increasing the number of parts, and can be made more light in weight.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a clutch release bearing apparatus which can prevent a fall, or the like, of a release fork in a simple structure.

According to the present invention, there is provided a clutch release bearing apparatus which is equipped with a clutch release bearing containing an inner ring and an outer ring concentrically arranged and relatively rotating with each other, one of the rings fixed and the other rotating in contact with a rotary member of a clutch apparatus, a bearing holding member comprising a cylindrical portion slidably f itted on a guide shaft and a flange portion for receiving a force from an input member, and a coupling member mounted on said bearing holding member for holding said one ring of said clutch release bearing to be movable in the radial direction, and which is characterized in that there is further provided mounting means for coupling said coupling member to said input member, and said mounting means comprises a mounting portion mounted on said coupling member, an engaging portion to be engaged with an opening portion disposed in said input member, a first elastic portion for generating an elastic f orce in a direction f or preventing said coupling member and said input member from being separated away between said mounting portion and said engaging portion, and a second elastic portion for generating the elastic force so as to prevent said engaging portion from slipping out of the opening portion of said input member.

Since said mounting means has the second elastic portion, said engaging portion can be easily inserted into the opening portion of said input member. On the other hand, since said mounting means has the first elastic means, said coupling member and said input member are movable integrally.

According to the present invention, there is provided a clutch release bearing apparatus which is equipped with a clutch release bearing containing an inner ring and an outer ring concentrically arranged and relatively rotating with each other, one of the rings fixed and the other rotating in contact with a rotary member of a clutch apparatus, a bearing holding member comprising a cylindrical portion slidably fitted on a guide shaft and a flange portion for receiving a force from an input member, and a coupling member mounted on said bearing holding member for holding said one ring of said clutch release bearing to be movable in the radial direction, and which is characterized in that there are further provided guide means formed integrally with said bearing holding member for guiding said input member and mounting means for coupling said bearing holding member to said input member to be moved integrally with each other, and said guide means has an opening into which said mounting means and said coupling member are inserted.

Since said guide means is formed integrally with said bearing holding member, the movement in the radial direction with respect to a bearing of said input member is prevented. Further, since the opening into which the mounting means and said coupling member are inserted is provided, the coupling function of said mounting means can be secured even if such guide means is provided. Thus, said input member and said bearing holding member can be moved integrally.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION-OF THE DRAWIN9S

Fig. 1 is a view of a clutch release bearing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, seen from the shift fork side; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the clutch release bearing apparatus of Fig. 1 in the axial direction, cut away along a line 2 to 2 in Fig. 1 and seen in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3 is a view of the clutch release bearing apparatus of Fig. 1, seen in the direction of the arrow 3; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a spring member 30; 7 - Fig. 5 is a view of the clutch release bearing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, seen from the shift fork side; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the clutch release bearing apparatus of Fig. 5 in the axial direction, cut away along a line 6 to 6 in Fig. 5 and seen in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 7 is a view of the clutch release bearing apparatus of Fig. 5, seen in the direction of the arrow 7; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a spring member 130; Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a guide portion 128 in Fig. 6; Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a guide portion 229 according to a different embodiment from the embodiment of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a spring member 230 according to still another embodiment of the present invention, in the same manner as in Fig. 8; and Fig. 12 is a view showing a clutch release bearing apparatus which incorporates the spring member 230 of Fig. 11, in the same manner as in Fig. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be fully described below with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a view of a clutch release bearing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present inventionf seen from the shift fork side. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of said apparatus in the axial direction, cut away along the line 2 to 2 in Fig. 1 and seen in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a view of the clutch release bearing apparatus of Fig. 1, seen in the direction of the arrow 3. Note that in Fig. 1 a portion of a clutch fork is deleted for easy understanding.

Referring to Fig. 2, the clutch release apparatus is comprised of a clutch release bearing 10, a guide sleeve 20 serving as a bearing holding member, a spring member 30 serving as a coupling member, and a clip 40 serving as mounting means. The clutch release bearing 10 is comprised of an inner ring 11 in substantial tube form having a contact portion lla at the left end thereof, an outer ring 12 in short tube form concentrically containing the inner ring 11, a plurality of balls 15 rotatably arranged between the inner ring 11 and the outer ring 12, a holder 16 for holding the balls 15 at predetermined gaps, and seals 17 and 18 for tightly sealing a space partitioned by the inner ring 11 and the outer ring 12 on the both sides of the balls 15 in the axial direction against dusts and oil. The inner ring 11 is supported rotatably with respect to the outer ring 12. The 9 contact portion lla of the outer ring 11 is in a form turned up outwardly in the radial direction and is to be abutted against an unrepresented diaphragm spring of a clutch cover.

On the other hand, the guide sleeve 20 is made of resin, and is comprised of a main body 21 in tube form, a flange portion 22 extending in the radial direction from the outer periphery near the center of the main body 21, and an outer wall portion 23 protruding to the left in the axial direction above and below the flange portion 22. Inside the main body 21, unrepresented guide shaft is extending, and the main body 21 is freely slidable on the guide shaft. Inside the main body 21, there is also provided an enlarged diameter portion 24. This enlarged diameter portion 24 functions to prevent the main body 21 from biting in a foreign substance when it slides on the guide shaft. The flange portion 22 is comparatively thick and has sufficient rigidity to endure a force received from an unrepresented shift fork.

The outer wall portion 23 is disposed outside the clutch release bearing 10, and serves as a portion for restricting a movement thereof in the radial direction. In order to make the clutch release bearing 10 movable in the radial direction, a gap 27 is formed between the outer periphery of the outer ring 12 and the inner periphery of the outer wall 23. In addition, since a portion of the tube-shaped main body 21 is made thick, as shown as a thick portion-25, the strength of the guide sleeve 20 with respect to an output from the shift fork can be improved.

As clearly seen from Fig. 1, two spring members 30 disposed in the identical form have the function of mounting the clutch release bearing 10 on the guide sleeve 20.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the spring members 30. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the spring member 30 is formed by blanking one steel plate by a press and bending it thereafter. The spring members 30 are arranged between a central column portion 31 abutting against the flange portion of the guide sleeve 20 and an urging portion 32 abutting against the outer ring 12 of the bearing, and between the central column portion 31 and the urging portion 32. The spring member 30 is comprised of a beam portion 33 for applying an elastic force for biasing the outer ring 12 against the urging portion 32, a mounting portion 39 serving as a step portion upwardly protruding for supporting the clip 40, an anvil portion 34 bent and arranged back to back with the central column portion 31 for receiving the shift fork 50, and a guide portion 35 extending to the right in the axial direction (Fig.

2) from the anvil portion 34. The urging portion 32 has a slant portion 32a which is slanting in the axial direction outwardly so as not to contact the seal 17.

At the center of the guide portion 35, an opening 35a is formed, as shown in Fig. 3.

The spring member 30 further comprises two arm portions 36 in a doglegged shape extending in the horizontal direction from the central column portion 31. The arm portions 36 have rectangular cutaway portions 37, respectively, in the vicinity of the end portions thereof.

As most clearly seen from Fig. 1, the clip 40 is formed by curving one steel wire, and is comprised of a large arc 40a, pin portions 40b separated away from the both ends of the large arc 40a in the axial direction and extending in the radial direction inwardly, and a bridge portion 40c (Fig. 2) extending in the axial direction for coupling the large are 40a with each of the pin portions 40b. When the clip 40 is assembled, the large arc 40a is arranged to extend in the circumferential direction on the outer periphery of the outer wall portion 23 of the guide sleeve 20, the mounting portion which is comprised of a neighboring portion of the bridge portion 40c of the large arc 40a and a neighboring portion of the large arc 40a of the bridge portion 40c is arranged to abut against the mounting portion 39 of the spring member 30, and the pin portion 40b is arranged to be inserted into an opening portion 50a of the shift fork through the opening 35a of the spring member 30. Note that the bridge portion 40c constitutes the first elastic portion, the large arc 40a constitutes the second elastic portion, and the pin portions 40b constitute the engaging portion.

Referring to Fig. 1, a protrusion 22a is formed in the flange portion 22 of the guide sleeve 20. The protrusion 22a is comprised of a slant plane 22b and a stand 22c, and is in the form which is to be engaged' with the cutaway portion 37 when the spring portion 30 is mounted.

Next, an operation of the clutch release bearing apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the shift fork 50 is pivotally rotated and the tip end thereof abuts against the anvil portion 34 of the spring member 30. Since the anvil portion is hard and has high rigidity, friction or deformation hardly arises even in a large number of operations of the shift fork. Also, the guide portion 35 fulfills the function of guiding a direction so as to make the shift fork 50 abut against the anvil portion 34. The clutch release bearing apparatus slides on an unrepresented guide shaft in the axial direction in response to an output from the shift fork 50 so that the contact portion lla of the inner ring 11 is abutted against the unrepresented diaphragm spring of the clutch cover. Since remaining rotatably even if the diaphragm spring is rotated, the inner ring 11 is rotated integrally with the diaphragm spring after the abutment. Further, the diaphragm spring is urged when the bearing apparatus is shifted in the axial direction so that the clutch is operated. On the other hand, when the shift fork 50 is shifted in the direction in which it is separated away from the unrepresented diaphragm spring, a force is transmitted from the pin portions 50a to the mounting portion 39 of the spring member 30, the bearing 10, and the guide sleeve 20 via the bridge portion 40c, whereby the shift fork 50 and the guide sleeve 20 are integrally moved. Since the spring member 30 supports the clutch release bearing 10 against the guide sleeve 20 only with the frictional force acting between the urging portion 32 and the outer ring 12, the bearing 10 is movable in the radial direction with respect to the guide sleeve 20. Therefore, when the contact portion lla of the inner ring 11 abuts against the diaphragm spring, if there is eccentricity therebetween, a wellknown force to position the bearing 10 concentrically is generated, whereby the bearing 10 is moved in the radial direction so as to achieve automatic adjustment of the center. Note that the outer wall portion 23 of the guide sleeve 20 has the function of restricting the movement of the bearing 10 such that it should not be moved outwardly in the radial direction for more than a predetermined amount. Since an outer ring of an ordinary ball bearing is mostly of a type with no flange, if the outer ring is arranged to be pinched by the spring members 30, as shown in the present embodiment, there is no need to remodel the outer ring itself and an existing ring can be used, which contributes to reduction in the cost.

Next, a method of assembling the clutch release bearing apparatus will be described. After the clutch release bearing 10 is disposed on the periphery of the guide sleeve 20, the spring members 30 are inserted along a guide groove 28 of the guide sleeve 20 from the upper and the lower parts in Fig. 1. Since the spring member 30 is arranged to be inserted from one direction of the outer periphery, the assembling is easy. The spring member 30 is elastically deformed to climb over the protrusion 22a of the guide sleeve 20 and is returned to a predetermined shape when the cutaway 37 is engaged with the protrusion 22a, thereby completing the assembly. The insertion of the spring member 30 is carried out by the action of the slant plane 22b comparatively easily. However, once being completed, the engagement is not to be released unexpectedly because of the action of the stand 22c. The central column portion 31 is formed in such a manner that it is not moved in the lateral direction of Fig. 1 by the guide groove 28 with respect to the guide sleeve 20. The central column portion 31 is arranged not to be inserted by the step portion 29 by more than a predetermined amount.

In a freely movable state before the assembly, the diameter of the large arc 40a of the clip 40 is considerably smaller than the total of the outer wall portions 23. On the other hand, the bridge portion 40c has the pin portion 40b mounted slantingly in such a manner that the tip end of the pin portion 40b is slightly inclined toward the large arc 40a.

After the spring member 30 is mounted as described above, the tip end of the shift fork 50 is abutted against the anvil portion 34 of the spring member 30.

In this state, while the large arc 40a of the clip 40 is being extended, the bridge portion 40c is hooked on the mounting portion 39 of the spring member 30, so that the two pin portions 40b are respectively inserted into the opening portion 50a of the shift fork 50 via the opening 35a of the spring member 30. According to the above-mentioned structure, when the clip 40 is assembled, the large arc 40a urges the two pin portions 40b to the direction advancing to the opening portion 50a so that the clip 40 is arranged not to slip out of the shift fork 50. Since the bridge portion 40c generates the biasing force to the direction for accessing the shift fork 50 to the mounting portion 39, - 16 the shift fork 50 and the spring member 30, and the bearing 10 and the guide sleeve 20 can be integrally shifted respectively even when the shift fork 50 is returned because of this biasing force.

In the foregoing, the present invention was described by way of the embodiments. However, the present invention should not be interpreted only within the range of the above-mentioned embodiments and appropriate modifications and improvements thereof are clearly permissible. For example, the cross section of the clip 40 may not be in a circular form, but may be in a rectangular form. It may not be formed of steel wire, but may be formed by bending a steel plate.

As described above, according to the clutch release apparatus of the present invention, since said mounting means has the second elastic portion, the insertion of said engaging portion into the opening portion of said input member becomes easier. On the other hand, since said mounting means has the first elastic portion, said coupling member and said input member are arranged to be integrally movable. As a result, there is provided the clutch release bearing apparatus which can secure the easy assembling performance without an increased number of parts therefor, while contributing to reduction in the weight of the apparatus.

Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The description on the arrangements identical to those in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4 will be omitted.

Fig. 5 is a view of a clutch release bearing apparatus according to said embodiment of the present invention, seen from the shift fork side. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view in the axial direction of the apparatus, cut away along the line 6 to 6 in Fig. 5, seen in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 7 is a view of the clutch release bearing apparatus of Fig. 5, seen in the direction of the arrow 7.

A guide sleeve 120 is made of resin, and is comprised of a tube-shaped main body 121, a flange portion 122 extending in the radial direction from the outer periphery near the center of the main body 121, an outer wall portion 123 protruding to the left in the axial direction above or below the flange portion 122, four rib portions 125 (see Fig. 5) extending to couple the right end of the main body 121 with the outer end of the flange portion 122, and guide portions 128 serving as the guide means extending to the right from the upper and lower ends of the flange portion 122.

Inside the main body 121, unrepresented guide shaft is extending, and the main body 121 is freely slidable on the guide shaft. Inside the main body 121, there is also provided an enlarged diameter portion 124. This enlarged diameter portion 124 functions to prevent the 18 main body 121 from biting in a foreign substance when it slides on the guide shaft. The flange portion 122 is comparatively thick and has sufficient rigidity to endure a force received from a shift fork which is not shown in Fig. 6. The rigidity of the flange portion is further intensified by the rib portions 121a.

The spring members 130 is comprised of a central column portion 131 which abuts against the rear of the flange portion of the guide sleeve 120 after being assembled, an urging portion 132 abutting against the outer ring 112 of the bearing, a beam portion 133 arranged between the central column portion 131 and the urging portion 132 for applying an elastic force for biasing the outer ring 112 against the urging portion 132, and a mounting portion 134 made as a step portion upwardly protruding for supporting the clip 140. The urging portion 132 has a slant portion 132a which is slanting outwardly in the axial direction so as not to contact a seal 117. In addition, rectangular cutaway portions 135 are respectively formed near the lower ends on the both sides of the central column 131.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the guide portion 128 in Fig. 6. Since the two guide portions provided in this figure have the identical form and function, only one of them will be described, and description of the other will be omitted. The guide portion 128 is comprised of two column portions 128a extending in the same direction as the flange portion 122, two beam portions 128b extending to the right in the axial direction respectively from the upper ends of the column portions 128a, and a plate portion 128c for coupling the ends of the beam portions 128b so as to guide the shift fork 150 (Fig. 5). At the center of the plate portion 128c, there is formed an opening, that is, a cutaway opening 128d.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view showing another embodiment of the guide portion. A guide portion 228 according to this embodiment is, like that according to the preceding embodiment, comprised of two column portions 228a extending in the same direction as the flange portion 122, two upper beam portions 228b extending to the right in the axial direction respectively from the upper ends of the column portions 228a, and a plate portion 228c for coupling the ends of the upper beam portions 128b so as to guide the shift fork 150 (Fig. 5). The guide portion 228 is further 20 comprised of two vertical portions 228e extending downward respectively from the ends of the upper beam portions 128b, a horizontal portion 228f for coupling the lower ends of the vertical portions 228b, and two lower beam portions 228g for respectively coupling the lower ends of the vertical members to the flange portion 122. The end portion of the shift fork is arranged to be inserted into the guide portion 128 which is in a so-called box structure. Like in the preceding embodiment, at the center of the plate portion 228c, there is formed a cutaway opening 228d.

Next, an operation of the clutch release bearing apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

When an operator uses an unrepresented pedal, the shift fork 150 is pivotally rotated around pivotal points (not shown) provided to the right of Figs. -5 and 7, and the tip end thereof is urged against the central column portion 131 of the spring member 130. Since the urged central column portion 131 is hard and has high rigidity, friction or deformation is hardly generated even during a large number of operations of the shift fork. The guide portion 128 shown in Fig. 9 fulfills the function of guiding a direction so as to make the shift fork 150 abut against the central column portion 131 and of suppressing vibration of the shift fork in the radial direction with respect to the bearing. Since the guide portion 128 is formed by molding with comparatively high precision, play with the shift fork can be considerably reduced. Thus, the fall of the release fork becomes smaller, and there is no loss of the load which is received by the clutch release bearing via the release fork, thereby improving the safety. Since the urging force of the shift fork 150 against the guide portion 128 is comparatively small, there hardly arises a friction or other problem even if the guide portion itself is made of resin.

However, in the embodiment of Fig. 9, the beam portions 128b for receiving the vibration of the shift fork are cantilever-supported, it is somewhat disadvantageous in terms of the rigidity, and the like.

Therefore, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 10, the beam portions 128b are arranged to be supported in the so called box structure, whereby the rigidity is further improved.

The clutch release bearing apparatus slides on the unrepresented guide shaft in the axial direction in response to an input from the shift fork 150 so as to make the unrepresented diaphragm spring of the clutch cover abut against the contact portion 111a of the inner ring 111. Even when the diaphragm spring is rotated, the inner ring 111 is freely rotatable so that it is to be rotated integrally with the diaphragm after the abutment. Furthermore, the bearing apparatus is moved in the axial direction to urge the diaphragm spring, so that the clutch is to be operated. On the other hand, when the shift fork 150 is moved in the direction in which it is separated away from the unrepresented diaphragm spring, a force is transmitted from the pin portion 50a to the mounting portion 134 of the spring member 130, the bearing 110 and the guide sleeve 120 via the bridge portion 140c, whereby the shift fork 150 and the guide sleeve 120 areintegrally moved.

Next, a method of assembling the clutch release bearing apparatus will be described. After the clutch release bearing 110 is arranged on the periphery of the guide sleeve 120, the spring members 130 are inserted from the upper and lower parts of Fig. 5 (through between the lower beam portions 128g in the embodiment in Fig. 10). Since the spring member 130 is arranged to be inserted from one direction of the outer periphery, the assembling becomes easier. The spring members 130 is elastically deformed to climb over the protrusions 122a of the guide sleeve 120 and is returned to a predetermined shape when the cutaway portion 135 is engaged with the protrusion 122a, thereby completing the assembling. The insertion of the spring member 310 is carried out by the action of the slant plane 122b comparatively easily. However, once being completed, the engagement is not to be released unexpectedly because of the action of the stand 122c. The central column portion 131 is arranged not to be inserted by the step portion 129 for more than a predetermined amount.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view, like Fig. 8, showing a spring member 230 according to still another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 12 is a view, like Fig. 5, showing a clutch release bearing apparatus which incorporates the spring member 230.

The spring member 230 in Fig. 11 is different from the spring member 130 in the embodiment of Fig. 8 only in that the spring member 230 has a rectangular opening 235 in the central column portion 131, in stead of the cutaway 135. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 12, in the flange portion 122 of the guide sleeve 120, a protrusion 222a consisting of a slant plane 222b and a stand 222c, as in the same manner as in the embodiment of Fig. 5, is disposed at the center thereof which is a different position from that in the embodiment of Fig.

5.

A method of assembling the spring member 230 in the clutch release bearing apparatus will be described below. After the clutch release bearing 110 is arranged on the periphery of the guide sleeve 120, the spring members 230 are inserted from the upper and lower parts of Fig. 12. Since the spring member 230 is elastically deformed to climb over the protrusion 222a of the guide sleeve 120 and is returned to a predetermined shape when the opening 235 is engaged with the protrusion 222a, thereby completing the assembling. The insertion of the spring member 130 is carried out by the action of the slant plane 222b comparatively easily. However, once being completed, the engagement is not to be released unexpectedly because of the action of the stand 222c.

24 In the foregoing, the present invention was described with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention should not be limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. It is clear that appropriate modifications and improvements are permitted. For example, in the guide portion in Fig. 10, a window is formed between the plate portion 228c and the horizontal portion 228f. However, this portion may be covered with one plate. Further, the cross section of the clip 140 is not necessarily in a circular form, but may be in a rectangular form. This cross section is not necessarily made of steel wire, but may be formed by bending a steel plate.

As described above, according to the clutch release apparatus of the present invention, since said guide means is formed integrally with said bearing holding member, the movement in the radial direction with respect to the bearing of said input means is prevented. Furthermore, since the opening into which the mounting means and said coupling member are inserted is formed, the coupling function of said mounting means can be secured even if such guide means is arranged, whereby said input member and said bearing holding member can be integrally moved.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that in order to provide a clutch release bearing apparatus with improved assembling performance without the increased number of parts therefor, there is provided a clip which gives a biasing force so that a spring member and a clutch fork are integrally moved through a bridge portion and a large arc gives a biasing f orce so that separation between a pin portion and a shift fork is prevented.

- 1 CTiAIMS:

1. A clutch release bearing apparatus, comprising:

a clutch release bearing containing an inner ring and an outer ring concentrically arranged and relatively rotating with each other, one of the rings fixed and the other rotating in contact with a rotary member of a clutch apparatus; a bearing holding member equipped with a cylindrical portion slidably fitted on a guide shaft and a flange portion for receiving a force from an input member; and a coupling member mounted on said bearing holding member for holding said one ring of said clutch release bearing to be movable in the radial direction; wherein there are provided at least a pair of coupling members symmetrically arranged.

2. A clutch release bearing apparatus according

Claims

to Claim 1, wherein said coupling member is equipped with a mounting

member comprising a step portion protruding in the radial direction.

3. A clutch release bearing apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein there is further provided mounting means for coupling said coupling member to said input member, and said mounting means comprises a mounting o - 27 portion mounted on said coupling member, an engaging portion to be engaged with an opening portion disposed in said input member, a first elastic portion for generating an elastic force in a direction for preventing said coupling member and said input member from being separated away between said mounting portion and said engaging portion, and a second elastic portion for generating the elastic force so as to prevent said engaging portion from slipping out of the opening portion of said input member.

4. A clutch release bearing apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein there is provided guide means formed integrally with said bearing holding member for guiding said input member, and said guide member has an opening into which said coupling member is inserted.

5. A clutch release bearing apparatus comprising a sleeve for slidable mounting on a guide shaft, said sleeve having radially outwardly extending projection means for receiving a force from an input member, a bearing comprising an inner ring and an outer ring, one of which is held against said projection means by coupling means and the other of which is rotatable relative to said one ring for - 28 engagement with a rotatable part of a clutch.

6. A clutch release bearing apparatus comprising a sleeve for slidable mounting on a guide shaft, said sleeve having radially outwardly extending flange means, a fork mounted to said sleeve for applying an axial force to said flange means when pivoted, and an arcuate clip having end portions engaged with end portions of the fork and arranged to bias the fork end portions towards the flange means.

7. A clutch release bearing apparatus substantially as hereinbef ore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4, Figures 5 to 9, or Figures 5 to 9 as modified by Figure 10, 11 or 12.

c