DOUBLE CLUTCH

• US 20110114437A1
• Filed: 06/29/2009
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co.KG (INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG (INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Noehl, Oliver
• Granted Patent: US 9,169,881 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 192/48.601
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/54 Systems consisting of a plurality of bearings with rolling friction spindle bearings F16C35/08
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2361/43 Clutches, e.g. disengaging bearing in general F16D11/00 - F16D47/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 37/007 of rolling bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2021/0607 Double clutch with torque input plate in-between the two clutches, i.e. having a central input plate
• 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 2300/021 Cooling features not provided for in group F16D13/72 or F16D25/123, e.g. heat transfer details
• 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: Y02T 10/60 Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect

Abstract

A double clutch which has two friction clutches, a central pressure-exerting plate and two pressure plates that are axially movable relative to the pressure-exerting plate with the interposition of friction linings of two clutch disks, which mesh with each transmission input shaft, of actuating devices. Here, the pressure plates are acted on by transmission elements by the actuating devices directly without a lever action. Furthermore, for cooling and lubrication of actuating devices and transmission elements, an annular chamber with an increase in fluid volume can be formed.

Claims

1. A double clutch, comprising:

two friction clutches driven by a drive unit with a common clutch cover and a pressure-exerting plate connected rigidly with said cover with two pressure-exerting surfaces as well as two axially displaceable pressure plates respectively facing a pressure-exerting surface,

whereby between each pressure plate and the pressure-exerting plate, friction lining of a clutch disk connected non-rotatably with respectively a transmission input shaft of transmission can be clamped to establish frictional engagement through axial pressure-exertion by the pressure plates by means of respectively an actuating device,

wherein the pressure plates are actuated by means of transmission elements pressurized by the actuating devices and the pressure plates are displaced by the same actuation stroke set on the actuating devices.

2. The double clutch according to claim 1, wherein both actuating devices are disposed on a common mounting around both transmission input shafts.

3. The double clutch according to claim 2, wherein the mounting is rotatably disposed on clutch cover and supported non-rotatably on a transmission housing of the transmission (23).

4. The double clutch according to claim 1, wherein the clutch cover is supported rotatably on transmission housing.

5. The double clutch according to claim 1, wherein the clutch cover features an axial projection towards the transmission, on which the mounting is received and by means of which the double clutch is supported rotatably on the transmission housing.

6. The double clutch according to claim 4, wherein the clutch cover is mounted axially fixed on an axial shoulder of the transmission housing by means of a loose bearing and rotatably against the transmission housing.

7. The double clutch according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the friction clutches is a forcefully closed friction clutch.

8. The double clutches according to claim 1, wherein both friction clutches are forcefully closed friction clutches, whereby the actuation strokes for closing said clutches are oppositely oriented.

9. The double clutch according to claim 1, wherein the actuating devices are operated by hydrostatic means.

10. The double clutch according to claim 9, wherein the common mounting of the actuating devices is a slave cylinder housing, in which an externally pressurized slave cylinder is installed for pressurizing a transmission element respectively.

11. The double clutch according to claim 10, wherein the slave cylinder features a ring piston respectively, which is axially displaceable inside a pressure chamber that can be pressurized from outside and whereby an interposed actuating bearing actuates the transmission elements.

12. The double clutch according to claim 10, wherein an annular chamber that is sealed outwards is formed between the transmission elements and the slave cylinder housing.

13. The double clutch according to claim 12, wherein the annular chamber (58) is filled with fluid at least partially.

14. The double clutch according to claim 13, wherein the fluid features lubricating and/or cooling properties.

15. The double clutch according to claim 13, wherein the fluid is circulated by a pump disposed outside the annular chamber.

16. The double clutch according to claim 13, wherein the fluid in the annular chamber is fogged.

17. The double clutch according to claim 12, wherein the annular chamber between the transmission elements and the ring piston sealed against the slave cylinder housing is sealed by an actuating bearing sealed radially outside the rolling bodies.

18. The double clutch according to claim 12, wherein the annular chamber between transmission elements forming the piston plates and the clutch cover are radially sealed by means of axially displaceable piston plates.

19. The double clutch according to claim 18, wherein at least a sealing plate is formed by a bearing ring of an actuating bearing.

20. The double clutch according to claim 19, wherein the bearing ring is a bearing ring provided radially outside.

21. The double clutch according to claim 18, wherein the piston plates are formed as sleeves, whereby an axial end section is axially fixed and sealed with an internal circumference of the transmission element, with the clutch cover or with a component connected with said cover and an opposite axial end section against an internal circumference of the corresponding transmission part is axially displaceable, with the clutch cover or is sealed axially displaceably with a component connected with said cover by means of a ring seal.

22. The double clutch according to claim 21, wherein on the axial projection of the clutch cover a sleeve-shaped sealing plate is axially fixed and sealed, which is sealed axially displaceably relative to the bearing ring of an actuating bearing featuring an axial shoulder.

23. The double clutch according to claim 12, wherein a support bearing for rotatable mounting of the slave cylinder housing on the axial projection is mounted on the sleeve-shaped sealing plate connected with the clutch cover.

24. The double clutch according to claim 1, wherein the pressure chambers of the slave cylinder respectively are supplied with pressure by means of a pressure line coming from the transmission housing.

25. The double clutch according to claim 24, wherein the pressure is provided by a transmission pump, a master cylinder or an electric pump unit.

26. The double clutch according to claim 15, wherein the fluid in annular chamber is circulated by means of a pump via a supply line and return line from the transmission housing.

27. The double clutch according to claim 10, wherein the slave cylinder housing features a torque multiplier against the transmission housing.

28. The double clutch according to claim 27, wherein the torque multiplier is formed at least by one of the pressure lines, the supply line and/or return line.

29. A friction clutch, comprising:

a clutch cover driven by a drive unit and a pressure-exerting plate connected rigidly with said cover, with pressure-exerting surfaces as well as axially displaceable pressure plate facing one of these pressure-exerting surfaces,

whereby between each pressure plate and the pressure-exerting plate, friction lining of a clutch disk connected non-rotatably with one transmission input shaft of a transmission for establishing frictional engagement through axial pressure-exertion by the pressure plate by means of an actuating device can be clamped,

wherein the pressure plate is actuated by means of a transmission element pressurized by the actuating device and the pressure plate is displaced by the same actuation stroke set on the actuating device.

30. The friction clutch according to claim 29, wherein the actuating device is mounted rotatably by means of the support bearing and the support bearing as well as an actuating bearing provided between the actuating device and the transmission element are accommodated in a common annular chamber.