US3722643A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle clutch with gear synchronizing brake
Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
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Filing: 1971-09-30
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1991-09-30
Abstract
Abstract The clutch release mechanism of a friction clutch for a truck or like heavy-duty automotive vehicle is linked with a brake which quickly slows the clutch shaft when the clutch is released to permit prompt shifting of the associated gear transmission. Continued rapid rotation of the shaft after axial disengagement of the driven disc from the pressure plate may otherwise result from the inertia of the relatively heavy driven disc or from the viscosity of the cooling oil often employed in such heavy-duty clutches, particularly while the oil is still cold.
Inventors
- 👤 R Kempf
- 👤 H Riese
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:14
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D23/00; F16D23/12; F16D23/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
411 words
A clutch arrangement comprising: a. a support; b. an output shaft mounted on said support for rotation about an axis; c. a driving member rotatable on said support about said axis; d. a clutch casing fixedly fastened to said driving member; e. a pressure plate secured to said clutch casing for joint rotation, said pressure plate and said driving member having respective, opposite, radially extending faces; f. yieldably resilient means on said casing biasing said pressure plate axially toward said driving member; g. a driven disc member secured to said output shaft for joint rotation and axially movable thereon between said opposite faces, said yieldably resilient means normally clamping said driven disc member between said faces for transmission of torque from said driving member to said output shaft; h. clutch release means including 1. a tubular clutch release member coaxially enveloping said shaft and being secured against rotation witH said shaft, said clutch release member having two axially terminal portions respectively adjacent and remote from said driving member, 2. actuating means for moving said clutch release member on said shaft in an axial direction, and 3. motion transmitting means for moving said pressure plate away from said driving member when said clutch release member is moved axially away from said driving member, said motion transmitting means including i. a clutch release bearing having a first part mounted on the terminal portion of said tubular clutch release member adjacent said driving member, and a second part rotatable on said first part about said axis, and ii. a motion transmitting member secured to said pressure plate for rotation therewith and engaging said second part for transmitting axial motion from said second part to said pressure plate; j. brake means for braking said output shaft, said brake means including a first brake element secured to said support against rotation about said axis and a second brake element secured to said output shaft for rotation therewith; and k. brake engaging means responsive to axial movement of said clutch release member away from said driving member for frictionally engaging said brake elements and thereby impeding said rotation of said output shaft, 1. said brake engaging means including a brake engaging member fixedly mounted on the axially terminal portion of said tubular clutch release member remote from said driving member, and axially moving said braking elements relative to each other into a position of engagement when said clutch release member moves axially away from said driving member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
411 words
A clutch arrangement comprising: a. a support; b. an output shaft mounted on said support for rotation about an axis; c. a driving member rotatable on said support about said axis; d. a clutch casing fixedly fastened to said driving member; e. a pressure plate secured to said clutch casing for joint rotation, said pressure plate and said driving member having respective, opposite, radially extending faces; f. yieldably resilient means on said casing biasing said pressure plate axially toward said driving member; g. a driven disc member secured to said output shaft for joint rotation and axially movable thereon between said opposite faces, said yieldably resilient means normally clamping said driven disc member between said faces for transmission of torque from said driving member to said output shaft; h. clutch release means including 1. a tubular clutch release member coaxially enveloping said shaft and being secured against rotation witH said shaft, said clutch release member having two axially terminal portions respectively adjacent and remote from said driving member, 2. actuating means for moving said clutch release member on said shaft in an axial direction, and 3. motion transmitting means for moving said pressure plate away from said driving member when said clutch release member is moved axially away from said driving member, said motion transmitting means including i. a clutch release bearing having a first part mounted on the terminal portion of said tubular clutch release member adjacent said driving member, and a second part rotatable on said first part about said axis, and ii. a motion transmitting member secured to said pressure plate for rotation therewith and engaging said second part for transmitting axial motion from said second part to said pressure plate; j. brake means for braking said output shaft, said brake means including a first brake element secured to said support against rotation about said axis and a second brake element secured to said output shaft for rotation therewith; and k. brake engaging means responsive to axial movement of said clutch release member away from said driving member for frictionally engaging said brake elements and thereby impeding said rotation of said output shaft, 1. said brake engaging means including a brake engaging member fixedly mounted on the axially terminal portion of said tubular clutch release member remote from said driving member, and axially moving said braking elements relative to each other into a position of engagement when said clutch release member moves axially away from said driving member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
actuating means for moving said clutch release member on said shaft in an axial direction, and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
actuating means for moving said clutch release member on said shaft in an axial direction, and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
94 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, said support including a transmission housing, said output shaft constituting the input shaft of a multiple-speed transmission in said housing, a first one of said brake elements being secured on said housing, said brake means including a third brake element secured on said housing against rotation about said axis, said first brake element and said third brake element being arranged for axial movement toward and away from each other, the second brake element being axially movable on said shaft between said first and third brake elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 2, said clutch release member being tubular about said axis, a bushing coaxially interposed between said tubular member and said output shaft, a first axially terminal portion of said bushing adjacent said driven disc being secured on said shaft against rotation, and said second brake element being fixedly fastened to the second axially terminal portion of said bushing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
170 words
motion transmitting means for moving said pressure plate away from said driving member when said clutch release member is moved axially away from said driving member, said motion transmitting means including i. a clutch release bearing having a first part mounted on the terminal portion of said tubular clutch release member adjacent said driving member, and a second part rotatable on said first part about said axis, and ii. a motion transmitting member secured to said pressure plate for rotation therewith and engaging said second part for transmitting axial motion from said second part to said pressure plate; j. brake means for braking said output shaft, said brake means including a first brake element secured to said support against rotation about said axis and a second brake element secured to said output shaft for rotation therewith; and k. brake engaging means responsive to axial movement of said clutch release member away from said driving member for frictionally engaging said brake elements and thereby impeding said rotation of said output shaft,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
170 words
motion transmitting means for moving said pressure plate away from said driving member when said clutch release member is moved axially away from said driving member, said motion transmitting means including i. a clutch release bearing having a first part mounted on the terminal portion of said tubular clutch release member adjacent said driving member, and a second part rotatable on said first part about said axis, and ii. a motion transmitting member secured to said pressure plate for rotation therewith and engaging said second part for transmitting axial motion from said second part to said pressure plate; j. brake means for braking said output shaft, said brake means including a first brake element secured to said support against rotation about said axis and a second brake element secured to said output shaft for rotation therewith; and k. brake engaging means responsive to axial movement of said clutch release member away from said driving member for frictionally engaging said brake elements and thereby impeding said rotation of said output shaft,
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 3, a portion of said shaft being formed with axially elongated, circumferentially alternating ribs and grooves, said driven disc movably engaging said grooves, and said first axially terminal portion of the bushing carrying a plurality of radial lugs received in said grooves respectively for securing the bushing against rotation on said shaft while permitting axial movement thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 3, further comprising a source of cooling oil, said clutch release member having an inner axial face formed with a groove therein, said groove being axially open toward said driven disc and said brake elements and communicating with said source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 5, said second brake element being axially interposed between the portion of said groove axially open toward said brake elements and said third brake element and being formed with an axial aperture for passage of oil from said portion of the groove toward said third brake element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 6, further comprising cover means axially bounding said brake housing for impeding release of said cooling oil from said brake housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a brake housing mounted on said transmissioN housing and enveloping said brake elements, said brake housing having a circumferential wall formed with a first axially elongated recess open toward said driving member and with a second axially elongated recess open in a direction away from said driving member, said first brake element having a radial projection axially guided in said first recess, and said third brake element having a radial projection axially guided in said second recess, said recesses having respective transverse end walls.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 8, further comprising yieldably resilient means biasing said third brake element toward engagement with said end wall of said second recess, said brake engaging means including a brake engaging member on said clutch release member, said first brake element being axially interposed between said brake engaging member and said second brake element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 9, further comprising abutment means axially bounding said brake housing in a direction toward said driving member and limiting movement of said first brake element in the last-mentioned direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, said second part being offset from said first part in a radially outward direction and enveloping said first part, said actuating means comprising a yoke member mounted on said support for axially moving said clutch release member while securing the same against rotation about said axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |