Clutch plate supported by stressed leaf springs

Claim 2

In a friction clutch assembly having two coaxially rotatable clutch structures, a radially fixed and axially displaceable frictional entrainer disc, one of said structures comprising an axially displaceable pressure plate disposed coaxially to said disc, plate spring means acting on said pressure plate for displacing the same into frictional engagement with said disc for closing the clutch, said pressure plate being displaceable against the action of said spring means for opening the clutch, individually elongated strap-like transmission members extending transversely to the clutch axial direction and connecting said pressure plate with the other of said clutch structures for torque transmission therebetween when the clutch is closed and for disengaging said pressure plate from said disc to open the clutch, said members having a wavy configuration along the length thereof and being elastically yieldable and prestressed in the clutch axial direction, said members also being prestressed in compression in the longitudinal direction thereof in superimposition to the prestress directed in the clutch axial direction, the resultant of said superimposed prestresses being effective over the entire working range of the clutch in the clutch axial direction wherein said pressure plate and said disc are disengageable so as to open the clutch.

Claim 3

Friction clutch according to claim 1, wherein the resultant of said Superimposed prestresses is substantially constant over the entire working range of the clutch.

Claim 4

Friction clutch according to claim 1, wherein said elongated strap-like transmission members extend substantially in chord relation to said pressure plate.

Claim 5

Friction clutch according to claim 1, wherein said other of said clutch structures is a cover for the clutch.

Claim 6

Friction clutch according to claim 1, wherein said transmission members are fastened at the ends thereof to said one of said clutch structures and at a region intermediate said ends thereof to said pressure plate.

Claim 7

A friction clutch comprising two coaxially rotatable clutch structures, an entrainer disc, one of said structures comprising a pressure plate coaxially displaceable into and out of pressure engagement with said disc for closing and opening the clutch, individually elongated transmission members connecting said pressure plate with said other clutch structure for torque transmission, said members being elastically yieldable and prestressed in the clutch axial direction, and means for conjointly superimposing upon said transmission members a prestress in compression in the longitudinal direction of said members, said other clutch structure comprising a cover for the clutch, and including three of said elongated strap-like transmission members, said members consisting of leaf springs forming a triangular arrangement and fastened to the clutch cover and to said pressure plate, mutually adjacent ends of each two of said leaf springs having a fastening point in common.

Claim 8

A friction clutch comprising two coaxially rotatable clutch structures, an entrainer disc, one of said structures comprising a pressure plate coaxially displaceable into and out of pressure engagement with said disc for closing and opening the clutch, individually elongated transmission members connecting said pressure plate with said other clutch structure for torque transmission, said members being elastically yieldable and prestressed in the clutch axial direction, and means for conjointly superimposing upon said transmission members a prestress in compression in the longitudinal direction of said members, said other clutch structure comprising a cover for the clutch, and including three of said elongated strap-like transmission members, said members consisting of leaf springs forming a triangular arrangement and fastened to the clutch cover and to said pressure plate, mutually adjacent ends of each two of said leaf springs having a fastening point in common.

Claim 9

In a clutch according to claim 6, said leaf springs having said mutually adjacent ends fastened to said clutch cover, and each of said leaf springs having its middle region fastened to said pressure plate.

Claim 10

A friction clutch comprising two coaxially rotatable clutch structures, an entrainer disc, one of said structures comprising a pressure plate coaxially displaceable into and out of pressure engagement with said disc for closing and opening the clutch, individually elongated transmission members connecting said pressure plate with said other clutch structure for torque transmission, said members being elastically yieldable and prestressed in the clutch axial direction, and means for conjointly superimposing upon said transmission members a prestress in compression in the longitudinal direction of said members, said elongated strap-like transmission members extending substantially in chord relation to said pressure plate and being each fastened in its middle to said plate, the ends of each of said members being fastened to said other clutch structure.

Claim 11

A friction clutch comprising two coaxially rotatable clutch structures, an entrainer disc, one of said structures comprising a pressure plate coaxially displaceable into and out of pressure engagement with said disc for closing and opening the clutch, individually elongated transmission members connecting said pressure plate with said other clutch structure for torque transmission, said members being elastically yieldable and prestressed in the clutch axial direction, and means for conjointly superimposing upon said transmission members a prestress in compression in the longitudinal direction of said members, said elongated strap-like transmission members extending substantially in chord relation to said pressure plate and being each fastened in its middle to said plate, the ends of each of said members being fastened to said other clutch structure.

Claim 12

In a friction clutch assembly having two coaxially rotatable clutch structures, a radially fixed and axially displaceable frictional entrainer disc, one of said structures comprising an axially displaceable pressure plate disposed coaxially to said disc, spring means acting on said pressure plate for displacing the same into frictional engagement with said disc for closing the clutch, said pressure plate being displaceable against the action of said spring means for opening the clutch, three individually elongated strap-like transmission members extending transversely to the clutch axial direction and connecting said pressure plate with the other of said clutch structures for torque transmission therebetween when the clutch is closed and for disengaging said pressure plate from said disc to open the clutch, said members having a wavy configuration along the length thereof and being elastically yieldable and prestressed in the clutch axial direction, said members also being prestressed in the longitudinal direction thereof in superimposition to the prestress directed in the clutch axial direction, the resultant of said superimposed prestresses being effective over the entire working range of the clutch in the clutch axial direction wherein said pressure plate and said disc are disengageable so as to open the clutch, said transmission members consisting of leaf spriNgs forming a triangular arrangement and fastened to said other clutch structure and to said pressure plate, mutually adjacent ends of each two of said leaf springs having a fastening point in common.

Claim 13

In a friction clutch assembly having two coaxially rotatable clutch structures, a radially fixed and axially displaceable frictional entrainer disc, one of said structures comprising an axially displaceable pressure plate disposed coaxially to said disc, spring means acting on said pressure plate for displacing the same into frictional engagement with said disc for closing the clutch, said pressure plate being displaceable against the action of said spring means for opening the clutch, three individually elongated strap-like transmission members extending transversely to the clutch axial direction and connecting said pressure plate with the other of said clutch structures for torque transmission therebetween when the clutch is closed and for disengaging said pressure plate from said disc to open the clutch, said members having a wavy configuration along the length thereof and being elastically yieldable and prestressed in the clutch axial direction, said members also being prestressed in the longitudinal direction thereof in superimposition to the prestress directed in the clutch axial direction, the resultant of said superimposed prestresses being effective over the entire working range of the clutch in the clutch axial direction wherein said pressure plate and said disc are disengageable so as to open the clutch, said transmission members consisting of leaf spriNgs forming a triangular arrangement and fastened to said other clutch structure and to said pressure plate, mutually adjacent ends of each two of said leaf springs having a fastening point in common.