Hydraulic clutch piston and seal

• US 4,601,374 A
• Filed: 01/19/1983
• Issued: 07/22/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NTN-BCA Corporation
• Original Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ladin, Eli M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonck, Rodney H.
• Application Number:
  US06/459,184
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 192/85 CA, 192/91 A, 192/98, 92/107, 92/108, 92/109, 92/165 R, 210/532.1
• US Class Current: 192/85.51
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/087 the clutch being actuated by the fluid-actuated member via a diaphragm spring or an equivalent array of levers F16D25/085, F16D25/086 take precedence

Abstract

A system for actuating a clutch by axial movement of an actuating member which is rotatable about a clutch axis with the axial movement for actuating occurring via engagement of the actuating member with a clutch release bearing, the system including a fluid actuated clutch release bearing assembly actuable along a central axis which is generally in line with the clutch axis, and with the clutch release bearing assembly including alignment means separate from the clutch release bearing for moving the axis of rotation of the clutch release bearing substantially into alignment with the clutch axis and with the clutch release bearing assembly including a housing member having an annular, axially extending cylinder portion having a cylinder cavity adapted to receive a piston for reciprocation therein, and with the system including a seal located in the cylinder cavity and operative with the piston to hold the inner end of the piston in a radially spaced relationship with the confronting walls of the cylinder cavity.

Claims

1. In a system for actuating a clutch by axial movement of an actuating member rotatable about a clutch axis via engagement with a clutch release bearing, the improvement comprising a fluid actuated clutch release bearing assembly having a central axis and being adapted to be supported with said central axis generally in line with the clutch axis, said clutch release bearing assembly including a housing member having an annular, axially extending cylinder portion having a cylinder cavity, a generally tubular piston adapted to be received in said cylinder cavity for reciprocation therein generally along said central axis in response to fluid pressure from a fluid line to said cylinder cavity, said piston having a support ring portion adapted to supportingly receive the clutch release bearing for reciprocable movement with said piston, said fluid line including a resilient trap portion located proximate to said bearing assembly for collecting solid particles to inhibit the same from entering said cylinder cavity, alignment means separate from the clutch release bearing and defining a radial clearance for permitting a preselected radial movement of at least a part of said clutch release bearing assembly in response to engagement of the clutch release bearing with the clutch actuating member whereby the axis of rotation of the clutch release bearing can be substantially moved into alignment with the clutch axis, said resilient trap portion as located proximate to said bearing assembly flexibly permitting at least some of said preselected radial movement.