Disengaging bearing for clutches

Claim 2

A release bearing for clutches, especially for friction clutches of motor vehicles, which includes a housing means with inserted roller bearing means and actuated by a disengaging member, characterized in that during the disengagement of the clutch, the disengaging member engages into the housing means and comes into abutment directly on a race of the roller bearing means, and in that the release housing means is provided at the side thereof facing the disengaging member with two openings that are disposed substantially symmetrical to the axis of rotation of the roller bearing means and which expose two surfaces of a race of the roller bearing means.

Claim 3

A release bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that the openings are within the area of the outer circumference of the release housing means and in that said surfaces are of substantially circular segmental shape.

Claim 4

A release bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that said race is the outer race of tHe roller bearing means.

Claim 5

A release bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that said race is the inner race of said roller bearing means.

Claim 6

A release bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that the release bearing essentially consists of a release housing means which includes a bearing housing and a guide tube, and in that an outer race and a cover ring of the roller bearing means is inserted into the bearing housing means, as well as of a thrust ring retained by the inner race of the roller bearing means.

Claim 7

A release bearing according to claim 5, characterized in that the roller bearing means is a grooved ball bearing.

Claim 8

A release bearing according to claim 6, characterized in that said race is the outer race of the roller bearing means.

Claim 9

A release bearing according to claim 6, characterized in that said race is the inner race of said roller bearing means.

Claim 10

A release bearing according to claim 6, characterized in that the openings are within the area of the outer circumference of the release housing means and in that said surfaces are of substantially circular segmental shape.

Claim 11

A release bearing arrangement for clutches, especially for friction clutches of motor vehicles and the like; said arrangement comprising: release housing means, roller bearing means having inner and outer bearing races mounted within said release housing means, and a clutch disengaging member for applying clutch disengaging forces to said release housing means and roller bearing means, wherein said release housing means is provided at the side thereof which faces the disengaging member with at least one housing opening which exposes a surface portion of one of said bearing races, said release housing means having portions covering parts of both of said inner and outer races which face in the direction of the disengaging member, and wherein a portion of said disengaging member extends through said housing opening and abuttingly engages said surface portion during disengagement of the clutch, whereby clutch disengaging forces are transmitted directly from said disengaging member to said one of said bearing races.

Claim 12

A release bearing arrangement for clutches, especially for friction clutches of motor vehicles and the like; said arrangement comprising: release housing means, roller bearing means having inner and outer bearing races mounted within said release housing means, and a clutch disengaging member for applying clutch disengaging forces to said release housing means and roller bearing means, wherein said release housing means is provided at the side thereof which faces the disengaging member with at least one housing opening which exposes a surface portion of one of said bearing races, said release housing means having portions covering parts of both of said inner and outer races which face in the direction of the disengaging member, and wherein a portion of said disengaging member extends through said housing opening and abuttingly engages said surface portion during disengagement of the clutch, whereby clutch disengaging forces are transmitted directly from said disengaging member to said one of said bearing races.

Claim 13

An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of housing openings are provided for accommodating abutting engagement of said disengaging member at a corresponding plurality of surface portions of said one of said bearing races, and wherein said housing openings are disposed substantially symmetrical to the axis of rotation of the roller bearing means.

Claim 14

An arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of housing openings consists of two housing openings.

Claim 15

An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said one of said bearing races is the inner bearing race.

Claim 16

An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said one of said bearing races is the outer bearing race.

Claim 17

An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said at least one housing opening is within the area of the outer circumference of the release housing means, and wherein said surface portion is of substantially circular segmental shape.