Clutch release bearing device

• US 7,878,714 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ABet SKF
• Original Assignee: ABet SKF
• Inventors: Arnault, Benoît, Collognat, Jean-Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannon; Thomas R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pilkington; James
• Application Number:
  US10/965,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20050265646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,301 Days
• Field of Search: 384/477, 384/484, 384/485, 384/607, 384/612, 192/98, 192/110.B
• US Class Current: 384/612
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/163 with angular contact
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2361/43 Clutches, e.g. disengaging bearing in general F16D11/00 - F16D47/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/783 of the mounting region
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/7886 mounted outside the gap between the inner and outer races, e.g. sealing rings mounted to an end face or outer surface of a race
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/7889 mounted to an inner race and extending toward the outer race
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 23/142 with a resilient member acting radially between the bearing and its guide means
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2300/08 Details or arrangements of sealings not provided for in group F16D3/84

Abstract

Clutch release bearing device, including an operating element, a rolling bearing furnished with rolling elements, with a non-rotating ring provided with a radial portion facing inwards and having a central opening, and with a rotating ring, the said rolling bearing being mounted on the operating element with which it may move axially, and a self-alignment sleeve placed between the non-rotating ring and the operating element and provided with a plurality of elastic ribs facing inwards.

Claims

1. A clutch release bearing device comprising:

an inner non-rotating ring made by pressing of a metal sheet or a tube having an annular raceway for a row of rolling elements and an extension facing inwards in the form of a radial portion having a bore defining a first circular central opening, said radial portion being configured to couple with a radial surface of an operating element;

an outer rotating ring made by pressing of a metal sheet or of a tube having an annular raceway for said row of rolling elements and a radial portion facing inwards configured to couple with a surface of a diaphragm of the clutch device and defining a second circular central opening;

an elastic sleeve element including a sheet metal brace, a body of synthetic material with a plurality of splines extending radially inwards, configured to couple with an outer surface of said operating element; and

a sealing portion with a sealing lip that seals at least a portion of said second circular central opening by contacting an inwardly facing end surface of said radial portion of the outer rotating ring;

said sheet metal brace comprising a first axial portion contacting said bore of said radial portion of said inner non-rotating ring, a radial portion extending from an end of the first axial portion and contacting said radial portion of said inner non-rotating ring, and a second axial portion extending from said radial portion and extending through at least a portion of the body of synthetic material;

wherein said elastic sleeve element is made of a single piece comprised of said sheet metal brace, said body of synthetic material overmolded on said brace, and said sealing portion; and

said single piece fitting entirely between a radial plane of contact of the diaphragm of the clutch device with the said outer rotating ring and a radial plane passing through the center of the rolling elements.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the outer rotating ring and the inner non-rotating ring have a substantially constant thickness.

3. A clutch release bearing device comprising:

an operating element;

a rolling bearing mounted on the operating element with which it may move axially, the rolling bearing comprising;

rolling elements,

a non-rotating ring made by metal sheet pressing, said non-rotating ring being provided with a contact face on the operating element and a radial portion facing inwards and having a central opening,

a rotating ring made by metal sheet pressing, said rotating ring having a contact face on a diaphragm and a radial portion facing inwards and having a central opening; and

a self-alignment sleeve, comprising a body of synthetic material, placed between the non-rotating ring and the operating element and provided with a plurality of elastic splines facing inwards, the self-alignment sleeve further comprising;

an axial portion adjusted in the central opening of the radial portion of the non-rotating ring,

a radial portion facing outwards and pressing axially against a part of the inward-facing radial portion of the non-rotating ring, said radial portion having an inside face and an outside face, the elastic splines being overmolded on said inside face of said radial portion and placed relative to a plane passing through the center of the rolling elements on the same side as the contact face of the rotating ring on the diaphragm, and extending axially over at least a part of the space delimited by a radial plane passing through the contact face of the rotating ring on the diaphragm and by a radial plane passing through the contact face of the non-rotating ring on the operating element;

a sealing portion overmolded on said outside face of said radial portion with a sealing lip that seals at least a portion of the central opening of the radial portion of the rotating ring by contacting an inwardly facing end surface of the radial portion of the rotating ring; and

a sheet metal brace comprising a first axial portion contacting said central opening of said non-rotating ring, a radial portion extending from an end of the first axial portion and contacting said radial portion of said non-rotating ring, and a second axial portion extending from said radial portion and extending through at least a portion of the body of synthetic material.

4. A clutch release bearing device comprising:

an inner non-rotating ring having an annular raceway for a row of rolling elements and an extension facing inwards in the form of a radial portion having a bore defining a first central opening, said radial portion being configured to couple with a radial surface of an operating element;

an outer rotating ring having an annular raceway for said row of rolling elements and a radial portion facing inwards configured to couple with a surface of a diaphragm of the clutch device and defining a second central opening;

an elastic sleeve element including a sheet metal brace, a body of synthetic material with a plurality of splines extending radially inwards, configured to couple with an outer surface of said operating element; and

a sealing portion with a sealing lip that seals at least a portion the second central opening by contacting an inwardly facing end surface of the radial portion of the outer rotating ring;

said sheet metal brace comprising a first axial portion contacting said bore of said radial portion of said inner non-rotating ring, a radial portion extending from an end of the first axial portion and contacting said radial portion of said inner non-rotating ring, and a second axial portion extending from said radial portion and extending through at least a portion of the body of synthetic material; and

said elastic sleeve element fitting entirely between a radial plane of contact of the diaphragm of the clutch device with the said outer rotating ring and a radial plane passing through the center of the rolling elements.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the inner non-rotating ring is made by pressing of a metal sheet or a tube.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the outer rotating ring is made by pressing of a metal sheet or a tube.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the first and second central openings are substantially circular.

8. The device of claim 4, wherein said elastic sleeve element is made of a single piece comprised of said sheet metal brace, said body of synthetic material overmolded on said brace, and said sealing portion.