Clutch mechanism and method for installing such mechanism on transmission drivetrain

• US 10,458,486 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2017
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Embrayages (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Embrayages (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Dole, Arnaud, Thibaut, Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, Jacob S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Taylor, II, James J
• Application Number:
  US15/457,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20170268583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 192 481
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 13/52 Clutches with multiple lamellae ; Clutches in which three or more axially moveable members are fixed alternately to the shafts to be coupled and are pressed from one side towards an axially-located member F16D13/385 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2021/0661 Hydraulically actuated multiple lamellae clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2021/0669 Hydraulically actuated clutches with two clutch plates
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 21/06 at least two driving shafts or two driven shafts being concentric
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2250/0084 Assembly or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/08 with fluid-actuated member not rotating with a clutching member F16D25/02 takes precedence F16D25/048 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/083 Actuators therefor F16D25/085 - F16D25/087 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/10 Clutch systems with a plurality of fluid-actuated clutches arrangements or mounting of clutches in vehicles B60K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/12 Details not specific to one of the before-mentioned types

Abstract

A clutch mechanism intended to be installed between an engine and a transmission of a motor vehicle. The clutch mechanism is configured to be installed on the transmission (400) in two steps and by means of an axial locking system for axial locking of the control system (300) with respect to a clutch (100, 200). The axial locking system comprises a first axial locking element (304, 402) for implementing at least an axial retention between the control system (300) and the transmission (400), and a second axial locking element (600) for implementing at least an axial retention between the clutch (100, 200) and a shaft (A1, A2) of the transmission, and a means for rotational coupling of a clutch support (500) with respect to the control system (300), the rotational coupling means being different from the axial locking system.

Claims

1. A clutch mechanism intended to be installed between an engine and a transmission of a motor vehicle, the clutch mechanism comprising:

a subassembly comprising;

a clutch;

a clutch support (500) configured to support the clutch radially by a rolling bearing (113); and

an output hub;

a clutch control system (300) comprising a housing (307) and an annular piston configured to move axially with respect to the housing (307) in order to engage or disengage the clutch, the clutch support (500) being arranged in an axially intermediate position between the control system (300) and the output hub;

an axial locking system for axial locking of the clutch control system with respect to the clutch, the axial locking system comprising;

a first axial locking element (304, 402) configured to implement at least an axial retention between the control system (300) and the transmission (400);

a second axial locking element (600) configured to provide an axial retention between the clutch and a shaft (A1, A2) of the transmission, the second axial locking element (600) axially engaging both the shaft (A1, A2) of the transmission (400) and the output hub of the clutch; and

a rotational coupling device (303, 503) for non-rotatably coupling of the clutch support (500) with respect to the control system (300), the rotational coupling device (303, 503) being different from the axial locking system;

the rotational coupling device (303, 503) comprising first splines (303) arranged on the clutch control system (300) and second splines (503) arranged on the clutch support (500), the first splines non-rotatably engaging the second splines.

2. The clutch mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the clutch is a first multiple-disc clutch (100), wherein the output hub is a first output hub (120), wherein the subassembly further comprises a second multiple-disc clutch (200) and a second output hub (220), wherein the shaft of the transmission includes a first shaft (A1) and a second shaft (A2), and wherein the control system (300) comprises a first annular piston (320) and a second annular piston (330) configured respectively to couple or decouple the first clutch (100) and the second clutch (200) onto or from the first shaft (A1) or the second shaft (A2) of the transmission.

3. The clutch mechanism according to claim 2, wherein an actuation support (800) is at least rotationally coupled to the housing (307) of the control system (300).

4. The clutch mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the second axial locking element (600) comprises a retention ring.

5. The clutch mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the second axial locking element (600) furthermore comprises a spacer (700) interposed axially between the retention ring and the output hub.

6. The clutch mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first axial locking element (304, 402) comprises an abutment face (304) of the housing (307) facing the transmission (400).

7. A method for installing the clutch mechanism according to claim 1, the method comprising at least the following steps:

axially abutting the control system (300) against the transmission (400);

non-rotatably coupling the clutch to the control system (300) by inserting the clutch support (500) onto a circumferential seat (305) of the control system (300) and axially abutting the clutch support (500) against the control system (300); and

axially locking the clutch support (500) on the transmission shaft (A1, A2) by inserting a retention ring into a groove of the transmission shaft (A1, A2).

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of axially locking the clutch support (500) onto the transmission shaft comprises an intermediate step of inserting a spacer (700) between the output hub of the clutch and the retention ring, in order to reduce the axial play between the clutch support (500) and the control system (300).

9. A clutch mechanism intended to be installed between an engine and a transmission of a motor vehicle, the clutch mechanism comprising:

a subassembly comprising;

a clutch;

a clutch support (500) configured to support the clutch radially by a rolling bearing (113); and

an output hub;

a clutch control system (300) comprising a housing (307) and an annular piston configured to move axially with respect to the housing (307) in order to engage or disengage the clutch, the clutch support (500) being arranged in an axially intermediate position between the control system (300) and the output hub of the clutch mechanism;

an axial locking system for axial locking of the clutch control system with respect to the clutch, the axial locking system comprising;

a first axial locking element (304, 402) configured to implement at least an axial retention between the control system (300) and the transmission (400);

a second axial locking element (600) configured to provide an axial retention between the clutch and a shaft (A1, A2) of the transmission, the second axial locking element (600) axially engaging both the shaft (A1, A2) of the transmission (400) and the output hub of the clutch; and

a rotational coupling device (805, 503) for non-rotatably coupling of the clutch support (500) with respect to the control system (300), the rotational coupling device (805, 503) being different from the axial locking system; and

an actuation support (800) mounted to the housing (307) of the control system (300) and non-rotatably coupled to the housing (307) of the control system (300),

the rotational coupling device (805, 503) comprising first splines (805) arranged on the clutch control system (300) and second splines (503) arranged on the clutch support (500), the first splines being male splines and the second splines being female splines.

10. The clutch mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the actuation support (800) is integral with the housing (307) of the control system (300).

11. The clutch mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the clutch support (500) is in abutment against a circumferential seat on the actuation support (800) and arranged axially between the annular piston of the control system (300) and the output hub of the clutch.

12. The clutch mechanism according to claim 11, wherein the first splines (303) are arranged on the circumferential seat (305), and wherein the second splines (503) are arranged on a complementary seat of the clutch support (500).

13. The clutch mechanism according to claim 12, wherein the rotational coupling device is disposed axially in an internal space of a force transmission member (105, 205).

14. The clutch mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the actuation support (800) is applied onto the housing (307) of the control system (300).

15. The clutch mechanism according to claim 14, wherein the clutch support (500) is in abutment against a circumferential seat on the actuation support (800) and arranged axially between the annular piston of the control system (300) and the output hub of the clutch.