Device for operating a clutch, especially an automotive clutch

• US 5,215,176 A
• Filed: 03/26/1992
• Issued: 06/01/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Hamann, Horst
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pitts, Andrea
• Application Number:
  US07/857,864
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 192/99 S, 74/512, 74/470, 74/516, 74/517, 74/518, 74/97.1
• US Class Current: 192/99.00S
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 23/12 Mechanical clutch-actuating mechanisms arranged outside the clutch as such specific for combined clutches F16D21/00; mechanisms specific for synchronisation F16D23/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18864 Snap action
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20558 Variable output force

Abstract

A device for operating a clutch, especially an automotive clutch, has a clutch lever with two end positions, a past-dead-center spring that acts on the clutch lever, which spring exerts a force on the clutch lever when the clutch lever is positioned between the dead-center position and an end position, such that the force is directed towards this end position, and finally, additional spring mechanisms, which act on the clutch lever to reduce the pedal force that must be applied to it between the end position corresponding to the engaged state of the clutch and the dead-center position. The additional spring mechanisms are designed and mounted in such a way that they are in actual working contact with the clutch lever only from the end position of the clutch lever corresponding to the engaged state of the clutch to the dead-center position of the clutch lever.

Claims

1. A device for operating a clutch, especially an automotive clutch, with a clutch lever pivoted on a pedal mount or on a similar stationary support part, which clutch lever has two end positions, one of which corresponds to an engaged state of the clutch, while the other corresponds to a disengaged state of the clutch, with a past-dead-center spring that acts on the clutch lever, which spring exerts a force on the clutch lever when the clutch lever is positioned between a dead-center position and an end position, such that the force is directed towards this end position, and with additional spring means, which act on the clutch lever to reduce a pedal force that must be applied to it between the end position corresponding to the engaged state of the clutch and the dead-center position, characterized by the fact that an additional spring mechanism is designed and arranged in such a way that it is in actual working contact with the clutch lever only from the end position of the clutch lever which corresponds to the engaged state of the clutch to the dead-center position of the clutch lever

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized by the fact that a rubber cushion serves as the additional spring means, which is mounted between the clutch lever and either the pedal mount or a stationary part attached to the pedal mount in such a way that it is prestressed by the clutch lever on a portion of the clutch lever travel path lying between the dead-center position of the clutch lever and its end position corresponding to the engaged state of the clutch.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2, characterized by the fact that the rubber cushion is mounted near a clutch lever joint on the pedal mount or on a stationary part attached to the pedal mount and that it interacts at its free end with the clutch lever.

4. A device in accordance with claim 2, characterized by the fact that the rubber cushion is mounted on the clutch lever near a clutch lever joint and that it interacts at its free end with the pedal mount or with a stationary part attached to the pedal mount.

5. A device in accordance with claim 2, characterized by the fact that the rubber cushion has a linear spring characteristic.

6. A device in accordance with claim 2, characterized by the fact that the rubber cushion has a nonlinear spring characteristic.

7. A vehicle clutch mechanism comprising a clutch lever pivotally mounted on a pivot axis and being movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position;

a clutch pedal spring means for producing a force on the clutch lever and being disposed between a stationary member and the clutch lever such that the clutch pedal spring force is alignable at a center position with the pivot axis when the clutch lever is intermediate the engaged and disengaged positions and cooperating with the clutch lever to provide a force urging the clutch lever toward the engaged position on one side of the center position and toward the disengaged position on the other side of the center position; and

spring means cooperating with the clutch lever to impose thereon a force toward the disengaged position only when the clutch lever is between the engaged position and the center position.