CLUTCH DEVICE

• US 20120152684A1
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BorgWarner Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BorgWarner Incorporated
• Inventors: Hauck, Hans Juergen, Zacher, Tobias
• Granted Patent: US 9,447,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 192/48.1
• 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 13/58 Details tools for assembling or disassembling clutches B25B27/0064
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 13/69 Arrangements for spreading lamellae in the released state
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 13/70 Pressure members, e.g. pressure plates, for clutch-plates or lamellae; Guiding arrangements for pressure members clutch flywheels comprising two or more masses with a rotational damper F16F15/12
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2013/581 Securing means for transportation or shipping
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2021/0661 Hydraulically actuated multiple lamellae clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 21/06 at least two driving shafts or two driven shafts being concentric
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2300/12 Mounting or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2300/26 Cover or bell housings; Details or arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/082 the line of action of the fluid-actuated members co-inciding with the axis of rotation
• 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: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A clutch device for arrangement in a drive train of a motor vehicle between a drive unit and a transmission is provided. The clutch device may include a multiple-disk clutch arrangement for selective torque transfer between the drive unit and the transmission. The multiple-disk clutch arrangement may be actuable via a force transfer element supported on a disk carrier of the multiple-disk clutch arrangement.

Claims

1. A clutch device, comprising:

a multiple-disk clutch arrangement comprising a disk carrier; and

a force transfer element that actuates the multiple-disk clutch arrangement and that is supported by the disk carrier.

2. The clutch device of claim 1, wherein the disk carrier and the force transfer element are latched together.

3. The clutch device of claim 1, wherein the force transfer element extends through clearances in the disk carrier in a first direction such that the force transfer element is supported by the disk carrier in an opposite direction.

4. The clutch device of claim 1, wherein the force transfer element is supported by the disk carrier in a direction counter to a restoring force of a restoring element.

5. The clutch device of claim 1, further comprising a supporting element at least partly located between the force transfer element and the disk carrier at a location where the disk carrier supports the force transfer element.

6. The clutch device of claim 5, wherein the force transfer element comprises an actuation finger and the supporting element is latched with the actuation finger in a circumferential direction

7. The clutch device of claim 5, wherein the force transfer element comprises an actuation finger supported by the disk carrier in a circumferential direction with at least a portion of the supporting element interposed therebetween.

8. The clutch device of claim 5, wherein the force transfer element and the supporting element are latched and at least one of the supporting element or the force transfer element comprises at least one of a latching depression, a latching clearance or a latching window.

9. The clutch device of claim 1, wherein the force transfer element comprises an actuation finger extending through a clearance in the disk carrier and the actuation finger comprises a hook or hammerhead shape engaged behind a margin of the clearance.

10. The clutch device of claim 1, wherein the force transfer element is supported by the disk carrier in both axial directions.

11. The clutch device of claim 1, wherein the force transfer element is constructed and arranged so that it can transfer an actuation force to the multiple-disk clutch arrangement at a 1:

1 ratio.

12. The clutch device of claim 1, wherein the force transfer element and the multiple-disk clutch arrangement together form a module for connection with an actuation device with a bearing being interposed for rotary take-up decoupling.

13. The clutch device of claim 12, wherein the module comprises a carrying tube supporting the disk carrier in a radial direction, the carrying tube being connectable to the actuation device.

14. The clutch device of claim 12, wherein the module comprises a torsional vibration damper having an the output side supported by the multiple-disk clutch arrangement.

15. The clutch device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second multiple-disk clutch arrangement; and

a second force transfer element that actuates the second multiple-disk clutch arrangement and that is supported by the first force transfer element, each multiple-disk clutch arrangement arranged to selectively transfer torque from a common drive unit to respective first and second transmission input shafts.

16. The clutch device of claim 15, wherein the second force transfer element extends through clearances in a second disk carrier.

17. A clutch device, comprising:

a multiple-disk clutch arrangement comprising a disk carrier; and

a force transfer element comprising actuating fingers extending through support elements latched with at least one of the disk carrier or the force transfer element.

18. A method, comprising:

aligning actuation fingers of a force transfer element with clearances of a disk carrier of a multiple-disk clutch arrangement; and

latching the force transfer element together with the multiple-disk clutch arrangement to form a module.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the latching comprises providing supporting elements that include or are configured to engage latching elements.