Start-up clutch assembly

• US 7,431,138 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2005
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BorgWarner Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BorgWarner Incorporated
• Inventors: Heinrich, Johannes, Hauck, Hans Juergen, Schaefer, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Lorence; Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US11/146,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20050284722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 192/106.F
• US Class Current: 192/85.39
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/0638 with more than two discs, e.g. multiple lamellae

Abstract

A start-up clutch including a disk clutch having an outer disk carrier and an inner disk carrier with a multi-disk clutch pack disposed therebetween. The multi-disk clutch pack is adapted to engage and provide torque translation between the inner and the outer carriers. A piston is adapted to be actuated by fluid pressure to cause the multi-disk clutch pack to engage. A first cavity is adapted to be selectively supplied with pressurized fluid to actuate the piston. A second cavity is adapted to be selectively supplied with pressurized fluid to provide cooling to the multi-disk clutch pack. A first fluid passage adapted to provide pressurized fluid to the first cavity, and a second fluid passage is adapted to provide pressurized fluid to the second fluid passage.

Claims

1. A start-up clutch assembly comprising:

a disk clutch having an outer disk carrier and an inner disk carrier with a multi-disk clutch pack disposed therebetween, said multi-disk clutch pack adapted to engage to provide torque translation between said inner and said outer carriers;

a piston adapted to be actuated by fluid pressure to cause said multi-disk clutch pack to engage;

a disk-return spring defining a spring force and adapted to prevent actuation of said piston;

a first cavity adapted to be selectively supplied with pressurized fluid to actuate said piston;

a second cavity adapted to be selectively supplied with pressurized fluid to provide cooling to said multi-disk clutch pack;

a first fluid passage adapted to provide pressurized fluid to said first cavity;

a second fluid passage adapted to provide pressurized fluid to said second cavity, said first and second passages being branches of a main passage; and

a separator plate operatively disposed between said first and second cavities to isolate said first cavity from said second cavity, including a compensating opening, and juxtaposed to said piston so as to create a gap between said piston and said separator plate, wherein said compensating opening and said gap cooperate to form compensating cavities that are fed by a portion of said pressurized cooling fluid from said second cavity through said compensating opening and partially act against movement of said piston to provide compensation for additional centrifugal-force pressure in said first cavity and wherein said compensating opening and said gap further are adapted to control actuation of said piston toward said separator plate and compensate for centrifugal forces of drive components of said disk clutch upon said piston by controlling how fast said pressurized cooling fluid is forced out of said compensating cavities.

2. A start-up clutch assembly comprising:

a disk clutch having an outer disk carrier and an inner disk carrier with a multi-disk clutch pack disposed therebetween, said multi-disk clutch pack adapted to engage to provide torque translation between said inner and said outer carriers;

a piston adapted to be actuated by fluid pressure to cause said multi-disk clutch pack to engage;

a disk-return spring defining a spring force and adapted to prevent actuation of said piston;

a first cavity adapted to be selectively supplied with pressurized fluid to actuate said piston;

a second cavity adapted to be selectively supplied with pressurized fluid to provide cooling to said multi-disk clutch pack;

a first fluid passage adapted to provide pressurized fluid to said first cavity;

a second fluid passage adapted to provide pressurized fluid to said second cavity, said first and second passages being branches of a main passage;

a separator plate operatively disposed between said first and second cavities to isolate said first cavity from said second cavity, including a compensating opening, and juxtaposed to said piston so as to create a gap between said piston and said separator plate, wherein said compensating opening and said gap cooperate to form compensating cavities and are adapted to control actuation of said piston toward said separator plate and compensate for centrifugal forces of drive components of said disk clutch upon said piston by controlling how fast said pressurized cooling fluid is forced out of said compensating cavities; and

a torsional vibration damper having a primary element, a secondary element, and a spring dampening mechanism disposed between and operatively coupling said primary element and said secondary element, said torsional vibration damper connected in series to said disk clutch such that said torsional vibration damper and said disk clutch are juxtaposed to each other along a common axis.