FR2667370A1 - CLUTCH UNIT ASSEMBLY, PARTICULARLY FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE AND SUPPORT FLANGE FOR FIXING SUCH A UNIT ASSEMBLY. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to clutch assemblies of the kind comprising a reaction plate (20), a friction disc (21), a pressure plate (22) and a retainer (24), characterized in that the retaining member (24) consists of a hollow-shaped cover comprising a fixing rim (30), for its fixing by means of fixing means to the reaction plate (20), a skirt (31) at least partially surrounding the pressure plate (22) and connecting, on the one hand, to the fixing rim (30) and, on the other hand, to a base (32) providing support (34) to the resilient axially acting means (23 ), as well as a zone (35, 135) for fixing the cover by welding or gluing to the support flange (11). Automotive vehicle application.

Description

The present invention relates generally to clutches for

  motor vehicle, of the type comprising a unitary assembly suitable for being mounted on a support flange fixed at the end of a shaft and also relates to the support flange. Such a module is described in the documents

GB-A-1 416 552 and FR-A-2 556 798.

  In these documents, the support flange is fixed at the end of the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and the unitary assembly comprises, from its transverse face furthest from the support flange, a reaction plate, a friction disc, a pressure plate, mounted axially movable relative to the plate

  reaction while being integral in rotation with it

  ci, elastic means with axial action capable of urging the pressure plate in the direction of the reaction plate, for clamping the friction disc, and, to provide axial support to said elastic means, a

  retainer coupled to the reaction plate.

  Thanks to the presence of the retaining member it is possible to create a unitary assembly which is just assembled in the end on the support flange and the plate

pressure has a simple form.

  In document FR-A-2 556 798 the retaining member is a relatively simple part, however special machining must be provided in the skirt of the plate

of reaction.

  In document GB-A-1 416 522 the reaction plate has a relatively simple shape, but on the other hand

  the retaining member has a more complicated shape.

  The object of the present invention is to reconcile these contradictory requirements and therefore to create, for fixing to a support flange, a unitary assembly with reaction plate and economic retaining member,

  without complicating the shape of the pressure plate.

  According to the invention, the retaining member consists of a hollow-shaped cover comprising a fixing flange, for its fixing by means of fixing to the reaction plate, a skirt at least partially surrounding the pressure plate and connecting, on the one hand, to the fixing flange and, on the other hand, to a bottom providing support for the elastic means, as well as a fixing zone for fixing the cover

  by welding or bonding to the support flange.

  Thanks to the invention it is possible to use a conventional clutch cover produced in large series, or by having a reaction plate and pressure of

simple form.

  Indeed, the pressure plate can be a standard component produced in large series and the

  reaction plate can be reduced to a simple ring.

  As in the above-mentioned documents, the unitary assembly can be handled and transported and

  can be finally mounted on the support flange.

  According to one characteristic, the support flange has three transversely offset parts axially with respect to each other, namely a first part, for fixing the support flange to the motor shaft, a second part, for connection of the first part to the third. part, and finally the third part for fixing the cover to said

third part.

  Said flange therefore also has a simple shape.

  The description in the appendix illustrates the invention,

  by way of example, with reference to FIG. 1 which is an axial section view of a clutch according to the invention, shown in place on the support flange with which it is associated and to FIG. 2 which is a partial view in

  section of the centering means carried by the flange.

  As illustrated, the unitary clutch assembly 10 is intended to be attached, in a unitary manner, to a support flange 11, itself attached, for example by screws 12 with interposition of a washer 13, at the end a shaft 14, here the output shaft of the engine (or crankshaft) of the motor vehicle with internal combustion engine. The unitary clutch assembly 10 here forms a clutch mechanism and generally comprises, from its transverse face furthest from the support flange 11, a first plate 20, or reaction plate, a friction disc 21, a second plate 22, or pressure plate, mounted axially movable relative to the reaction plate 20 while being integral in rotation with the latter, elastic means with axial action 23, capable of urging the pressure plate 22 towards the reaction plate 20, for clamping the friction disc 21, and, to provide axial support to said elastic means, a retaining member 24 coupled

at reaction plate 20.

  It is by its organ 24, that the assembly 10 is

reported on said flange 11.

  According to the invention, the retaining member 24 consists of a hollow-shaped cover comprising a fixing flange 30, for its fixing by means of fixing to the reaction plate 20, a skirt 31 at least partially surrounding the pressure plate 22 and connecting, on the one hand, to the fixing flange 30 and, on the other hand, to a bottom 32 offering a support 34 to the elastic means with axial action 23 as well as a fixing zone 35,135 for fixing of the cover by welding or gluing to the support flange

11.

  Here the cover 24 is annular in shape being stamped sheet metal and constitutes a cover

  standard clutch extended inward.

  Its rim 30 extends radially at the outer periphery in a direction opposite to the axis of the assembly, and comprises fixing areas provided with holes for the passage of centering lugs (not visible) integral with the plate 20 and fasteners 25 for fixing the

cover 24 to tray 20.

  These members 25 belong to the fixing means and here consist of rivets. As a variant, they may be screws. Here the reaction plate 20 consists of a simple ring with passages for the rivets 25 and the skirt 31 completely surrounds the plate. pressure 22 as well as the friction linings 2

described below.

  The bottom 32, directed towards the axis of the assembly, has a stamped 34 forming a segmented and annular bead for constituting a support for said

elastic means 23.

  In variants the support can be a rod carried by

  the bottom 32 by means of a groove made therein

  ci and stamp 34 can be continuous.

  In the upper part of Figure 1, area 35 of

  attachment extends radially below the support 34.

  In the lower part, the fixing area 135 extends over

above support 34.

  The fixing takes place here by spot welding 33 and the zone 35 is inclined radially to facilitate the welding while the zone 135 is formed in favor

  a rounded connection from the bottom 32 to the skirt 31.

  In all cases, a receiving cavity is formed for the weld 33 The zones 35, 135 are extended towards the axis of the assembly each by a zone, called the contact zone, for contact with the flange 11 This contact zone s therefore extends radially and delimits the

inner periphery of the bottom 32.

  As a variant, the fixing can be carried out by gluing and the cover can be made of reinforced plastic. The friction disc 21 comprises, in the usual manner, an annular web 1 which, at its periphery, and on either side, carries friction linings 2, for clamping these between the pressure plate 22, annular shape, and the reaction plate 20 and which, here by means of a torsion damping device, is carried by a hub 5, by which it is adapted to be locked in rotation on a second shaft 7,

  here the gearbox input driven shaft.

  The damping device here comprises two guide washers 3 arranged on either side of a veil 4, said veil 4 being suitable for being secured in rotation, possibly after taking up a clearance, with the hub 5, while the washers 3 are integral with the

veil 1.

  The plate 20 is open centrally for passage of the shock absorber and forms the bottom of an annular housing, the other part of which is constituted by the

cover 24.

  Elastic means 6 (coil springs) are interposed between the washers 3 and the web 4, to

  elastic coupling between said parts.

  Of course, the veil 4 can alternatively be

rigidly connected to the hub 5.

  Here the elastic means 23 consist of a diaphragm having an external peripheral part 61, forming a Belleville washer, and a central part fragmented into radial fingers 62 by slots, for the

  command to release the assembly.

  The diaphragm is equipped, in its central part, with an action part 50 suitable for enabling action, with a control rod 60 mounted axially movable inside the driven shaft 7 and passing through

the hub 5.

  This rod 60 presses centrally on the part, which is hitched by pinching at the internal end of the fingers 62, by means of certain deformed fingers for

  pinching of a coupling ring 63 to part 62.

  By the radially outermost peripheral part of its washer 61, the diaphragm 23 bears on the support 34 of the cover 24, and, by the radially innermost peripheral part of its said Belleville washer 61, it bears on the plate of pressure 22 having annularly projecting for this purpose, from place to place, axial bosses 43 directed

to stamped 34.

  The clutch thus has a "pull-push" clutch structure and to disengage it is enough, using the rod 60, to push on the part 50, the upper part of FIG. 1 illustrating the different positions of the clutch , knowing that normally the clutch is in

engaged position.

  The pressure plate 22 has, radially projecting at its periphery, tabs 40, three in number here, which, each individually extend in favor of a clearance notch provided for this purpose

in skirt 31.

  On these legs 40 are fixed, by fixing rivets 42, elastically deformable tongues 41 which, grouped in three here, extend generally transversely relative to the axis of the assembly, substantially tangentially with respect to 'a circumference thereof, and which, thus fixed at one of their ends to the plate 22 are fixed at their others from their ends, to the rim 30 so

  known per se by rivets or screws.

  Thus the pressure plate 22 is linked in rotation to the reaction plate 20 while being axially movable relative thereto This plate 22 is of standard shape like the tongues 41 which are inclined

  and recall the plate 22 in the direction of the flange 11.

  Here the action piece 50 is in two parts 52, 53 respectively for attachment to the fingers 62 of the diaphragm 23 and support of the rod 60 with the intervention of rolling balls 51 between the two parts 52, 53; the

  rod 60 being in constant abutment against part 53.

  The part 52 is curved at its outer periphery for reception of the ring 63 and interposition with pivoting clamping between the non-deformed fingers 62 and the ring 63. The assembly is carried out from the cover 24, then threading the diaphragm 23 fitted with the part 50, then mounting the plate 22, fitted with the tongues 41 fixed on its legs 40, by riveting the tongues 41 on the flange 30, then mounting centering the disc 21 on the shelf 22 and finally mounting the shelf 22, and fixing thereof, by rivets 25 or screws, to the

cover 24.

  Advantageously, the flange 11 can carry centering means, such as pins for engagement in calibrated holes made in the contact zone extending the fixing zone 35,135 The reverse is possible. As a variant, the flange locally carries tubular projections 100 in the form of chimneys 101 for cooperation, each centering with a calibrated and chamfered hole 102 made in the contact zone 103 extending the fixing zone 35 Of course the opposite solution is possible, the chimneys can be made in the zone 103 and the calibrated holes in the flange 11, in all cases the centering means are

  provided between the flange 11 and the cover 24.

  As is evident from the

  description, after formation of set 10 by simple

  axial stacking the assembly is fixed, after threading on the centering means, by welding or gluing on the flange

it extending transversely.

  It will be appreciated that the flange it has three transversely offset parts axially with respect to each other, namely a first internal part 71 for fixing the flange il to the motor shaft 14, a second part 72, for connection of the first part 71 to the third part 73, and finally the third part 73 for fixing the cover 24 by its zone 35, 135 to said third part 73 The third part 73 also serves as a support for the contact zone. The third part is the most axially distant from the shaft 14 and carries at its external periphery an annular rim of axial orientation 75 on which

  the starter ring gear 6 is fixed.

  This flange 75 is connected to the part 73 by a rounded 76 and ends with a radial flange 77 The flange 75 stiffens the flange and protects the weld 33, the flare 76 facilitating the welding operation by creating

a release.

  Of course, the present invention is not

  limited to the embodiments described.

  In particular the elastic means 23 can consist of a plurality of coil springs, the

  plate 50 then being secured to plate 22.

  Instead of a connection by tangential tongues 41, the plate 22 can be linked in rotation

  to the cover 23 by a tenon-mortise type connection.

  The cover fixing flange may have an axial portion at its outer periphery forming

spacer.

  The reaction plate 20 may have at its

  outer periphery an axial rim.

  Finally, instead of spot welding, welding with a weld bead can be carried out according to the

applications.

Claims (8)

  1) Clutch unit assembly of the type comprising, to be attached in a unitary manner to a support flange (11), a first plate (20), or reaction plate, a friction disc (21), a second plate ( 22), or pressure plate, mounted axially movable relative to the reaction plate (20) while being integral in rotation with the latter, elastic means with axial action (26) capable of urging the pressure plate (22) towards the reaction plate (20) for tightening the friction disc (21), and, to provide axial support to said elastic means (23), a retaining member (24) coupled to the reaction plate (20), characterized in that the retaining member (24) consists of a hollow-shaped cover comprising a fixing flange (30), for its fixing by means of fixing means to the reaction plate (20), a skirt (31 ) at least partially surrounding the pressure plate (22) and connects ordering, on the one hand, the fixing rim (30) and, on the other hand, a bottom (32) offering a support (34) to the elastic means with axial action (23), as well as a fixing zone (35, 135) for fixing the cover by   welding or bonding to the support flange (11).   2) unitary assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said fixing zone (35) extends radially below the support (34), which offers   the bottom (32) of the cover to said elastic means (23).   3) unitary assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that said fixing zone (35) is radially inclined.   4) unitary assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said fixing zone (135) extends radially above the support (35) offered by the   bottom (32) of the cover to said elastic means (23).   ) Unit assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that said fixing zone (135) is formed by means of a rounded connection of the bottom   (32) from the cover (23) to its skirt (31).   6) Unit assembly according to any one of   Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the area of   fixing (35,135) is extended towards the axis of the assembly by a contact zone extending radially for contact with the flange (11).   7) Assembly according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that   centering means are provided between the cover (24) and the flange (11).   8) Support flange for fixing an assembly   unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7,   characterized in that it comprises transversely three parts offset axially from each other, namely a first part (71), for fixing the support flange, a second part (72), for connection to the third part (73) and finally the third part (73) for fixing the cover (30) to the third part.   9) support flange according to claim 8, characterized in that the third part (73) carries at its outer periphery an annular rim of axial orientation (75) on which is fixed a starter ring. ) Support flange according to claim 9, characterized in that said flange (75) is connected to the   third part by a rounding (76).