FR3018877A1 - CLUTCH DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR FOR MOTOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a clutch device, particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising a clutch mechanism comprising a pressure plate (12) movable relative to a reaction plate (5), said pressure plates (12) and reaction (5) being adapted to clamp or release a first portion (13, 19, 20) of a friction disc (14), the friction disc (14) further comprising a second portion (21) coupled to a hub (22) for coupling to an input shaft of a gearbox, said second portion (22) being rotatable relative to the first portion (13, 19, 20) against means resilient damping (24), and pendulum damping means (26) having pendulum masses (28) movably mounted on a support (27) rotatably coupled to the second portion (21) of the friction disk (14); ).

Description

The present invention relates to a clutch device, in particular for a motor vehicle. French patent applications Nos. 1357474 and 1357476, in the name of the Applicant and not yet published, each disclose a clutch device comprising a friction disc comprising a first part carrying friction linings and a second part coupled to a hub for coupling to an input shaft of a gearbox.

The second part is rotatable relative to the first part in a given angular range, against resilient damping means interposed between the first and second parts of the friction disc. The device further comprises pendular damping means comprising pendular masses movably mounted on a support rotatably coupled to the second part of the friction disc. The first part of the friction disc may comprise guide washers and the second portion of the friction disc may comprise an annular web, or vice versa.

The efficiency of the pendular damping means is improved by the following factors. First of all, it is necessary to place the pendulum damping means downstream of the elastic damping means, which allow damping the majority of vibrations and rotational acyclisms, the rest being damped by the damping means Pendulum. Moreover, the greater the mass and the radius of implantation of the pendular masses, the more the pendular damping means are effective. However, in the aforementioned prior art, the pendulum masses are located in the immediate vicinity of the elastic damping means, that is to say on a relatively small implantation radius. The radius of implantation defines the radial distance between the pendulum masses and the axis of rotation of the support of said masses. Similarly, the space available in this area is relatively limited, it is difficult to use masses whose volume and therefore mass are important. There is therefore a need to improve the efficiency of such a clutch device. Moreover, in the prior art, the mounting of such a device on the engine of a vehicle, in general, relatively tedious for a car manufacturer. Indeed, it is necessary to mount, position and maintain several elements simultaneously, namely the friction disk, the hub, the pendulum damping means, a clutch mechanism, and a flywheel.

Recall that a clutch mechanism conventionally comprises a movable pressure plate relative to a reaction plate, said pressure and reaction plates being able to clamp or release a portion of the friction disc. When assembling such a device by a car manufacturer, the clutch mechanism must generally be kept in the disengaged position, position in which the pressure plate is moved away from the reaction plate so as to release the friction disk. Indeed, the disengaged position prevents the pressure plate exerts a force on the friction disk, making it difficult to mount fixing screws. It will also be noted that the pressure plate is conventionally biased towards its engaged position by resilient return means, a position in which it is brought closer to the reaction plate so as to clamp the friction disc.

There is therefore also a need to facilitate the mounting of such a device on the engine of a vehicle, in particular by a car manufacturer. For this purpose, the invention proposes a clutch device, particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising a clutch mechanism comprising a pressure plate movable relative to a reaction plate, said pressure and reaction plates being capable of tightening. or releasing a first portion of a friction disc, the friction disc further comprising a second portion coupled to a hub for coupling to an input shaft of a gearbox, said second portion being rotatable relative to the first part in a given angular range, against elastic damping means interposed between the first and second parts of the friction disc, pendular damping means comprising pendular masses movably mounted on a support coupled in rotation to the second part of the friction disc, characterized in that it comprises a flywheel intended to be shot 1 to rotate in a crankshaft and rotatably coupled to the reaction plate and the pressure plate, the flywheel delimiting with the reaction plate a housing in which are mounted the pendulum masses and at least a part of the support means of pendular damping. In this way, it is possible to accommodate the masses in a housing located at a distance or offset from the elastic damping means and the clutch mechanism, the axial and radial dimensions of such a housing can be relatively important. . The pendular masses can then be implanted on a large radius and have a thickness (axial dimension) important, and therefore also a high mass. The efficiency of the filtration carried out by the pendular damping means is thus significantly improved.

It is for example possible to accommodate the pendulum masses radially facing the pressure plate and its bearing zone on the friction disc. Furthermore, it is possible to pre-mount the assembly formed by the clutch mechanism, the friction disc, the hub to be coupled to an input shaft of a gearbox, and the means of pendular depreciation. Thus, when mounting the device on a motor of a vehicle, for example by a car manufacturer, the flywheel is first mounted on the crankshaft of the engine, then the pre-assembled assembly mentioned above is mounted on the flywheel. Finally, the input shaft of the gearbox can be engaged in the hub. The mounting of such a device is relatively easy since the number of elements to be positioned and held in position is limited, compared with the prior art. Moreover, to achieve such an assembly, it is not necessary to maintain the clutch mechanism, in particular the pressure plate, in the disengaged position. According to one characteristic of the invention, the friction disk comprises an annular web and guide washers arranged axially on either side of the annular web, the resilient damping means of the friction disc being interposed between the annular web and the guide washers, the guide washers belonging to the first part of the friction disk, the annular web belonging to the second part of the friction disk, or vice versa. According to one embodiment of the invention, the support of the pendular damping means is coupled to the second part of the friction disk by means of at least one spacer. Thus, each spacer may have a median zone of substantially square or rectangular cross section, and ends fixed, for example by riveting, to the support and to the second part of the friction disc. It is thus possible to easily adapt the circumferential dimension of the spacer without increasing its radial dimension. This spacer can then be easily accommodated (thanks to a reduced radial dimension, for example), while ensuring that this spacer is not subjected to a tilting effect around its point of attachment or riveting on the support or on the second part of the friction disk. Indeed, given the small congestion constraints in the circumferential direction, it is relatively easy to increase the size of the spacer in this direction, so as to combat the aforementioned tilting effects. Alternatively, each spacer may have a substantially cylindrical middle zone and ends fixed, for example by riveting, the support and the second portion of the friction disc. Such a spacer has a relatively simple structure to produce and is therefore inexpensive. Furthermore, the device may comprise a plurality of spacers connected to each other by an annular portion. The spacers and the annular portion thus form a single element, easy to mount. According to another embodiment of the invention, the support of the pendular damping means comprises at least one leg coming from material with the support and fixed, for example by riveting, to the second part of the friction disk.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the second part of the friction disc comprises at least one lug coming from a material with said second part and fixed, for example by riveting, to the support of the pendular damping means. According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the support of the pendular damping means and the second portion of the friction disk are formed of a single piece, for example by forming a sheet. In addition, the annular web can be formed of two sheets joined to each other.

The invention also relates to a method of mounting a device of the aforementioned type, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - mount the flywheel on the crankshaft of the vehicle, then - mount on the flywheel , the pre-assembled assembly formed by the clutch mechanism, the friction disc, the hub to be coupled to an input shaft of a gearbox, and the pendular damping means. As indicated above, such a method is relatively easy to implement.

The invention will be better understood and other details, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the following description given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a view 1 is an exploded view, in perspective, of the device according to the first embodiment of the invention, FIG. 3 is a half-portion of the device according to a first embodiment of the invention; in axial section of the device according to a second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 4 is a half-view in axial section of the device according to a third embodiment of the invention; FIG. exploded, in perspective, of a part of the device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, - Figure 6 is a half-view in axial section of the device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, - the figure 7 is a half-view in axial section of the device according to a sixth embodiment of the invention; FIG. 8 is a half-view in axial section of the device according to a seventh embodiment of the invention, FIG. 9 is a half-view in axial section of the device according to an eighth embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a clutch device for a motor vehicle comprising a flywheel 1 (FIG. 2) located upstream and comprising an annular radial portion 2 whose radially inner periphery includes holes 3 for screw passage for fixing the flywheel 1 on the downstream end of a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle. The radially outer periphery of the radial portion 2 is extended by a cylindrical rim 4 extending downstream.

An annular reaction plate 5 belonging to a clutch mechanism is mounted on the free end of the rim 4 of the flywheel 2. The reaction plate 5 extending radially and delimits with the flywheel a housing 6 located upstream of the reaction plate 6. A bell-shaped lid 7 is attached to the reaction plate, downstream thereof, the internal volume of the lid 7 serving to accommodate, at least in part, the clutch mechanism. The cover 7 comprises an upstream portion 8, fixed to the cover, and extending generally axially, and a downstream portion 9 extending radially inwards.

The lid 7 is fixed to the radially outer periphery of the reaction plate 5 by means of rivets 10 (FIG. 1). Furthermore, the cover 7 is also attached to the flywheel 1 and the reaction plate 5 by means of screws 11 (Figure 2). The clutch mechanism further comprises a pressure plate 12 located radially facing the reaction plate 5, downstream thereof, in the internal space of the lid 7. The pressure plate 12 is rotatably coupled to the lid 7, the reaction plate 5 and the flywheel 1. The pressure plate 12 is movable between an engaged position in which it is brought axially close to the reaction plate 5 so as to press and tighten the lining 13 of a disk friction 14 between said reaction plates 5 and pressure 12, and a disengaged position in which it is spaced axially from the reaction plate 5 so as to release the friction disk 14. The displacement of the pressure plate 12 is actuated by the intermediate of a diaphragm 15 resting on the cover at zones 16, and resting on the pressure plate 12 at zones 17, located radially outside the zones 16, as is well known in itself. Elastic tabs 18 connect the pressure plate 12 to the cover 7 and exert an axial elastic return force tending to move the pressure plate 12 to its engaged position. The gaskets 13 of the friction disk 14 are fixed at the radially outer periphery of an annular plate 19 fixed on guide washers 20 of the friction disk 14. The latter further comprises a radial annular web 21 located axially between said washers. 20. The radially inner periphery of the web 21 is rotatably coupled to a splined hub 22, to be rotatably coupled to an input shaft of a gearbox. The guide washers 20 are mounted and guided in rotation around the hub 22, via a plain bearing 23.

The annular web 21 has circumferentially extending windows and in which elastic members 24, in particular helical compression springs, are mounted. Windows are also provided in the guide washers 20 to enable the elastic members 24 to be mounted. Each elastic member 24 has an end bearing against the annular web 21 and an end resting on the guide washers 20. In this way, , the guide washers 20 are rotatable relative to the annular web 21, over a given angular range, against a resisting torque exerted by the elastic members 24. The resilient members 24 form a first damping stage vibrations and rotational acyclisms. Friction means 25 are also mounted between the guide washers 20 and the annular web 21. Pendular damping means 26, forming a second damping stage, are coupled in rotation to the annular web 21.

More particularly, the pendular damping means 26 comprise an annular support 27 extending radially, on which pendulum masses 28 are mounted. The pendulum masses 28 are mounted in pairs on the support 27, the masses 28 of the same pair being located on either side of said support 27. Rolling means are interposed between the pendulum masses 28 and the support 27, as is known per se. During the rotation of the support 27 around an axis A, the masses 28 are thus animated by a pendulum movement relative to the support 27.

The radial support 27 is mounted in the housing 6, and is located axially between the radial portion 2 of the flywheel 1 and the upstream face 29 of the reaction plate 5. The masses 28 are mounted at the radially outer periphery of the support 27, at the inside the flange 4, radially facing the friction linings 13 and the pressure plate 12.

The implantation diameter of the pendular masses 28 is therefore important and the thickness of the masses 28 (axial dimension of the masses 28) can be adjusted easily in order to increase the mass of each pendulum mass 28. The radially inner periphery of the support 27 is connected to the radially outer periphery of the web 21 by means of spacers 30, for example four in number, evenly spaced over the entire periphery. In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, each spacer 30 extends axially and has a central zone 31 of square or rectangular section, the ends 32 are engaged and crimped in holes of the support 27 and the sail 21. The circumferential dimension of each spacer 30 is greater than its radial dimension, so as to easily accommodate the spacers 30 in the space allotted to them while avoiding a possible tilting effect of the spacer 30 around its attachment points to sail 27 and to the support 21. FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment, which differs from that described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the flywheel 1 comprises a radially outer portion 2, equipped with the rim 4 mounted at the radially outer periphery of a flexible annular plate 33, able to deform axially. The crankshaft is intended to be fixed by means of screws engaged in holes 3 situated at the radially inner periphery of the flexible sheet 33. FIG. 4 illustrates a third embodiment, which differs from that described with reference to FIGS. and 2 in that each spacer 30 has a substantially cylindrical middle portion 31 and ends 32 engaged and crimped into holes in the support 27 and the web 21. Figure 5 illustrates a fourth embodiment, which differs from that described in FIG. Referring to Figures 1 and 2 in that the spacers 30 are connected to each other by an annular portion 34. The annular portion 34 may be for example made by forming or being rolled welded. The four spacers 30 and the annular portion 34 thus form a single element, easier to mount. Any loss of spacer 30 is also avoided when assembling the support and the web.

FIG. 6 illustrates a fifth embodiment, which differs from that described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the web 27 and the support 21 are formed of one and the same piece, for example a sheet 35 comprising two parts radial plates axially offset from one another, respectively forming the support 27 and the web 21, and connected to one another by radial tabs 36. The sheet 35 can be made by cutting and forming. In this case, however, it may be relatively complex to make portions 27 and 21 of different thicknesses.

However, when the mechanical specifications require it, it may be necessary to make a sail 21 of greater thickness (axial dimension) than the support. In this case, as shown in Figure 7 illustrating a sixth embodiment, the portion 21 of the sheet 35 forming the web can be doubled. In other words, an additional plate 37 is fixed, for example by welding, to the portion 21 of the sheet 35 forming the web, so as to respond to mechanical stresses. FIG. 8 illustrates a sixth embodiment, which differs from that described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the device does not have a spacer 30, the radially outer periphery of the web 21 having tabs 38 extending axially towards the upstream end and whose free ends are engaged and crimped in holes formed at the radially inner periphery of the support 27. FIG. 9 illustrates a seventh embodiment, which differs from that described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the device is devoid of spacers 30, the radially inner periphery of the support 27 comprising tabs 39 extending axially upstream and whose free ends are engaged and crimped in holes formed at the radially outer periphery of the web 21. In each of the foregoing embodiments, it is possible to pre-assemble the assembly formed by the clutch mechanism 12, 5, 15 di friction seat 14, the hub 22 intended to be coupled to an input shaft of a gearbox, and the pendulum damping means 26. Thus, when mounting the device on a motor of a vehicle, by example by a car manufacturer, the flywheel 1 is first mounted on the crankshaft of the engine, then the aforementioned assembly is mounted on the flywheel 1. Finally, the input shaft of the gearbox can be engaged in the hub 22. The mounting of such a device is relatively easy since the number of elements to be positioned and held in position is limited, compared with the prior art. Furthermore, to achieve such an assembly, it is not necessary to maintain the clutch mechanism, in particular the pressure plate 12, in the disengaged position.

Claims (11)

REVENDICATIONS1. Clutch device, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a clutch mechanism comprising a pressure plate (12) movable relative to a reaction plate (5), said pressure plates (12) and reaction plates (5) being adapted to clamp or release a first portion (13, 19, 20) of a friction disc (14), the friction disc (14) further comprising a second portion (21) coupled to a hub (22) for to be coupled to an input shaft of a gearbox, said second portion (21) being rotatable relative to the first portion (13, 19, 20) in a defined angular range, against elastic damping means (24) interposed between the first and second parts of the friction disk (14), pendular damping means (26) comprising pendular masses (28) movably mounted on a support (27) rotatably coupled to the second portion (21) of the friction disc (14), since actérisé in that it comprises a flywheel (1) intended to be coupled in rotation to a crankshaft and rotatably coupled to the reaction plate (5) and to the pressure plate (12), the flywheel ( 1) delimiting with the reaction plate 20 (5) a housing (6) in which are mounted the pendulum masses (28) and at least a portion of the support (27) of the pendular damping means (26). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the friction disc (14) comprises an annular web (21) and guide washers (20) arranged axially on either side of the annular web (21), the elastic damping means (24) of the friction disc (14) being interposed between the annular web (21) and the guide washers (20), the guide washers (20) belonging to the first part of the friction disc (14), the annular web (21) belonging to the second part of the friction disc (14), or vice versa. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support (27) of the pendular damping means (26) is coupled to the second portion (21) of the friction disc (14) via at least one spacer (30). 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that each spacer (30) has a central zone (31) of substantially square or rectangular section, and ends (32) fixed, for example by riveting, to the support (27) and at the second portion (21) of the friction disc (14). 5. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that each spacer (30) has a substantially cylindrical central zone (31) and ends (32) fixed, for example by riveting, to the support (27) and to the second part ( 21) of the friction disc (14). 6. Device according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of spacers (30) connected to each other by an annular portion (34). 7. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support (27) of the pendular damping means (26) comprises at least one tab (39) integral with the support (27) and fixed, for example by riveting, at the second portion (21) of the friction disc (14). 8. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second portion (21) of the friction disc (14) comprises at least one tab (38) integral with said second portion (21) and fixed, for example by riveting, the support (27) of the pendular damping means (26). 9. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support of the pendular damping means (26) and the second part (21) of the friction disc (14) are formed of a single piece, by example by forming a sheet (35). 10. Device according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the annular web (21) is formed of two sheets (35, 37) assembled to one another. 11. A method of mounting a device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - mount the flywheel (1) on the crankshaft of the vehicle, then - mount on the flywheel, the pre-assembled assembly formed by the clutch mechanism (12, 5, 15), the friction disc (14), the hub (22) to be coupled to an input shaft a gearbox, and the pendulum damping means (26).