Clutch with central pin release bearing

Claim 2

Apparatus for mechanical operation of a clutch that is arranged between an engine and a transmission, said apparatus comprising: a pressure rod having its first end in friction contact with that pressure plate of the clutch which is rotating at engine speed; a clutch throw-out lever means for enabling mechanical operation of the clutch; and a clutch release bearing located between said lever means and said pressure rod, said release bearing comprising a support element against which said lever means bears, a thrust bearing, a pressure spring located between the support element and the thrust bearing and a rotating element with one side in contact with the second end of said pressure rod and the other side in contact with the thrust bearing, said pressure spring being of such dimensions that for all operating conditions of the clutch it ensures a connection between said lever means and the pressure plate in the direction of a common axis of said release bearing, said pressure rod and said pressure plate, said support element being in the shape of a housing for the other elements of said release bearing and having an entrance opening for said pressure rod of such a dimension as to retain the elements of said release bearing in one unit prior to incorporation of the release bearing in said apparatus.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure spring is a cup spring.

Claim 4

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the thrust bearing is an axially inclined ball bearing.

Claim 5

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the throw-out lever and the release bearing are arranged in a common oil filled housing.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said throw-out lever bears against a wall of said housing at the point where the common axis intersects the wall.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including a thrust plate located between the pressure spring and the thrust bearing of said release bearing.

Claim 8

Apparatus for mechanical operation of a clutch that is arranged between an engine and a transmission, said apparatus comprising: a pressure rod having its first end in friction contact with that pressure plate of the clutch which is rotating at engine speed; a clutch throw-out lever means for enabling mechanical operation of the clutch; and a clutch release bearing located between said lever means and said pressure rod, said release bearing comprising a support element against which said lever means bears, a thrust plate, a pressure spring located between the support element and the thrust plate, a rotating element with one side in contact with the second end of said pressure rod and a thrust bearing located between the other side of said rotating element and said thrust plate, said pressure spring being of such dimensions that for all operating conditions of the clutch it ensures a connection between said lever means and the pressure plate in the direction of a common axis of said release bearing, said pressure rod and said pressure plate, said thrust plate being in the shape of a thrust plate housing for the thrust bearing and the rotating element and having an entrance opening for said pressure rod and a set-in flange in the area of the entrance, said set-in flange acting as an abutment for the rotating element, thereby retaining the Elements of the release bearing as a single unit prior to incorporation of the release bearing in said apparatus.

Claim 9

Apparatus for mechanical operation of a clutch that is arranged between an engine and a transmission, said apparatus comprising: a pressure rod having its first end in friction contact with that pressure plate of the clutch which is rotating at engine speed; a clutch throw-out lever means for enabling mechanical operation of the clutch; and a clutch release bearing located between said lever means and said pressure rod, said release bearing comprising a support element against which said lever means bears, a thrust plate, a pressure spring located between the support element and the thrust plate, a rotating element with one side in contact with the second end of said pressure rod and a thrust bearing located between the other side of said rotating element and said thrust plate, said pressure spring being of such dimensions that for all operating conditions of the clutch it ensures a connection between said lever means and the pressure plate in the direction of a common axis of said release bearing, said pressure rod and said pressure plate, said thrust plate being in the shape of a thrust plate housing for the thrust bearing and the rotating element and having an entrance opening for said pressure rod and a set-in flange in the area of the entrance, said set-in flange acting as an abutment for the rotating element, thereby retaining the Elements of the release bearing as a single unit prior to incorporation of the release bearing in said apparatus.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further including a rivet means for connecting said thrust plate housing to said pressure spring along the common axis, the support being in the shape of a bridge surrounding three sides of said thrust plate housing and having a set of flanges at its periphery, said throw-out lever contacting the flanges of said support along a fork-shaped area of said throw-out lever.