CLUTCH MECHANISM AND METHOD FOR INSTALLING SUCH A MECHANISM ON A TRANSMISSION DRIVETRAIN

• US 20170268583A1
• Filed: 03/13/2017
• Published: 09/21/2017
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,458,486 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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

The invention relates to a clutch mechanism intended to be installed between an engine and a transmission of a motor vehicle, the mechanism being configured to be installed on a transmission (400) in two steps and by means of a system for axial locking of the control system (300) with respect to the clutch (100, 200). The axial locking system comprises a first axial locking element (304, 302) 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 the 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, said mechanism comprising:

a subassembly comprising;

at least one clutch (100, 200);

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

a clutch control system (300) comprising a housing (307) and at least one annular piston (320, 330) configured to move axially with respect to the housing (307) in order to engage or disengage the clutch (100, 200), the clutch support (500) being arranged in an axially intermediate position between said control system (300) and an output hub (120, 220) of the clutch mechanism;

a system for axial locking of the control system with respect to the clutch, said 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 implement at least an axial retention between the clutch and a shaft (A1, A2) of the transmission,

wherein the clutch mechanism comprises a means (303, 503) for rotational coupling of the clutch support (500) with respect to the control system (300), said rotational coupling means (303, 503) being different from the axial locking system.

2. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein it comprises two multiple-disc clutches (100, 200), the control system (300) comprising a first and a second annular piston (320, 330) configured respectively to couple or decouple the first and the second clutch (100, 200) onto or from a first or a second shaft (A1, A2) of the transmission.

3. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein an actuation support (800) is at least rotationally coupled to the housing (307) of the control system (300).

4. The mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the actuation support (800) is materially integral with the housing (307) of the control system (300).

5. The mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the actuation support (800) is applied onto the housing (307) of the control system (300).

6. The mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the clutch support (500) is in abutment against a circumferential seat on the actuation support (800) and arranged axially between the annular piston (320, 330) of the control system (300) and the output hub (120, 220) of the clutch (100, 200).

7. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the second axial locking element (600) is in axial abutment against the shaft (A1, A2) of the transmission (400) and against the output hub (120, 220) of the clutch (100, 200).

8. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the second axial locking element (600) comprises an element of the retention ring type.

9. The mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the second axial locking element (600) furthermore comprises a spacer (700) interposed axially between the retention ring and the output hub (120, 220).

10. The mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the means (303, 503) for rotational coupling between the clutch support and the control system is of the key type.

11. The mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the rotational coupling means (303, 503) comprises first splines (303) arranged on the circumferential seat (305) and second splines (503) arranged on a complementary seat of the clutch support (500).

12. The mechanism according to claim 11, wherein the rotational coupling means (303, 503) is disposed axially in an internal space of a force transmission member (105, 205).

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

14. A method for installing a clutch mechanism according to claim 1, wherein it comprises at least the following steps:

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

rotationally coupling the clutch (100, 200) to the control system (300) by inserting the clutch support (500) onto a circumferential seat (305) of the control system (300);

axially abutting the clutch support (500) against the control system (300);

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

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of axially locking the clutch support (500) onto the transmission shaft comprises the intermediate step of inserting a spacer (700) between the output hub (120, 220) of the clutch (100, 200) and the retention ring, in order to reduce the axial play between the clutch support (500) and the control system (300).

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

17. The mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the clutch support (500) is in abutment against a circumferential seat on the actuation support (800) and arranged axially between the annular piston (320, 330) of the control system (300) and the output hub (120, 220) of the clutch (100, 200).