Dual clutch assembly for a motor vehicle powertrain

• US 7,063,195 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2004
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Berhan, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonck, Rodney H.
• Application Number:
  US10/900,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20060021842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 192/48.8
• 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 2021/0684 Mechanically 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: F16H 3/006 power being selectively transmitted by either one of the parallel flow paths
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0037 Special features of coaxial shafts, e.g. relative support thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19228 Multiple concentric clutch shafts

Abstract

Apparatus for transmitting torque between a power source and a transmission, includes first and second coaxial input shafts, a housing, first bearing rotatably supporting the first input shaft on the housing, clutch assembly, flywheel, support shaft secured to the flywheel and located radially between the first and second input shafts, and second bearing located radially between the second input shaft and the support shaft. The clutch driveably connects and disconnects the flywheel and an input shaft.

Claims

1. Apparatus for transmitting torque between a power source and a transmission, comprising;

first and second coaxial input shafts;

a housing;

a first bearing rotatably supporting the first input shaft on the housing;

a flywheel;

a support shaft secured to the flywheel and located radially between the first and second input shafts;

a second bearing located radially between the second input shaft and the support shaft;

a first clutch for driveably connecting and disconnecting the flywheel and the first input shaft;

an output shaft driveably connected to the power source;

a flywheel support disc piloted on the output shaft at a first axial side of the flywheel, and secured to the flywheel; and

a flex plate secured at a radially inner attachment to the output shaft, extending radially from the output shaft, and secured to the flywheel support disc at a radially outer location, whereby the flywheel is driveably connected to the output shaft.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second clutch for driveably connecting and disconnecting the flywheel and the second input shaft.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flex plate is located at a first axial side of the flywheel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flex plate is located at a first axial side of the flywheel;

and

the first bearing is located at a second axial side of the flywheel opposite the first side.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an output shaft driveably connected to a power source, formed with a guide surface aligned with an axis of an output shaft; and

a flywheel support disc secured to the flywheel, formed with a surface complementary to the guide surface and seated on the guide surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first torsion damper driveably connected to the first input shaft and the first clutch.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second clutch for driveably connecting and disconnecting the flywheel and second input shaft;

a first torsion damper driveably connected to the first input shaft and the first clutch; and

a second torsion damper driveably connected to the second input shaft and the second clutch.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first clutch further comprises:

a first pressure plate supported for displacement relative to the flywheel;

a first clutch disc located between the flywheel and the first pressure plate, for frictionally engaging and disengaging the flywheel and the first pressure plate, in response to displacement of the first pressure plate; and

a first mechanism for displacing the first pressure plate relative to the flywheel.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first clutch further comprises:

a first pressure plate supported for displacement relative to the flywheel;

a first clutch disc located between the flywheel and the first pressure plate, for driveably engaging and disengaging the flywheel and the first pressure plate in response to displacement of the first pressure plate; and

a first mechanism for displacing the first pressure plate relative to the flywheel; and

further comprising a second clutch that includes;

a second pressure plate supported for displacement relative to the flywheel;

a second clutch disc located between the flywheel and the second pressure plate, for driveably engaging and disengaging the flywheel and the second pressure plate in response to displacement of the second pressure plate; and

a second mechanism for displacing the second pressure plate relative to the flywheel.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

a first torsion damper driveably connected to the first input shaft and the first clutch disc; and

a second torsion damper driveably connected to the second input shaft and the second clutch disc.

11. A powertrain, comprising:

a first and second input shafts;

a housing;

a first bearing rotatably supporting the first input shaft on the housing;

a flywheel;

a support shaft secured to the flywheel and located radially between the first and second input shafts;

a second bearing located radially between the second input shaft and the support shaft;

a first clutch for driveably connecting and disconnecting the flywheel and the first input shaft;

a second clutch for driveably connecting and disconnecting the flywheel and the second input shaft; and

wherein the second bearing further comprises first and second needle bearings located radially between the second input shaft and the support shaft, the first needle bearing being located axially at an axial location of the first bearing, the second needle bearing being located axially between an axial location of the first bearing and an axial location of the flywheel.

12. The powertrain of claim 11, wherein:

the first clutch further comprises a first pressure plate supported for displacement relative to the flywheel, a first clutch disc located between the flywheel and the first pressure plate, for frictionally engaging and disengaging the flywheel and the first pressure plate, in response to displacement of the first pressure plate, and a first mechanism for displacing the first pressure plate relative to the flywheel; and

the second clutch further comprises a second pressure plate supported for displacement relative to the flywheel, a second clutch disc located between the flywheel and the second pressure plate, for driveably engaging and disengaging the flywheel and the second pressure plate in response to displacement of the second pressure plate, and a second mechanism for displacing the second pressure plate relative to the flywheel.

13. The powertrain of claim 12, further comprising:

a first torsion damper driveably connected to the first input shaft and the first clutch disc; and

a second torsion damper driveably connected to the second input shaft and the second clutch disc.