Noise reducing clutch disengagement

Claim 2

In a noise reducing clutch disengagement device for clutches, operable with a pressure plate and including a clutch bearing having rolling elements and adapted to be radially displaceable with respect to a sliding sleeve means, said bearing a fixed race having a radially directed flange abutting said pressure plate fixedly mounted with respect to said sleeve means, the improvement wherein said flange includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures extending axially therethrough, said fixed race having a damping ring coupled thereto and contacting said flange on a first side thereof facing toward the rolling elements, a plurality of damping members distributed circumferentially on said damping ring, said pressure plate including a plurality of recesses, said damping members passing through said apertures in said flange and entering said recesses in said pressure plate.

Claim 3

The clutch disengagement device of claim 1, wherein each damping member comprises two elastic tabs in contact with radially directed lateral surfaces of each recess in said plate.

Claim 4

The clutch disengagement device of claim 2, wherein said tabs of a damping member are V-shaped.

Claim 5

The clutch disengagement device of claim 1, wherein said apertures have radially extending lateral surfaces and said damping ring comprises axially directed projections integral therewith, said projections being in contact with said lateral surfaces.

Claim 6

The clutch disengagement of claim 1, wherein each damping member comprises a damping element arranged circumferentially between two axially directed projections.

Claim 7

The clutch disengagement device of claim 1, wherein said fixed race includes a plurality of integral end stops adjacent said apertures, entering with clearance into said recesses of said plate.

Claim 8

The clutch disengagement device of claim 1, further comprising an end stop arranged radially over each damping member.

Claim 9

The clutch disengagement device of claim 7, wherein said clutch bearing is concentrically arranged, the radial distance between a damping member and one lateral surface of a recess being the same size as the distance between a lateral surface of said recess and the radially directed surfaces of said end stops.

Claim 10

The clutch disengagement device according to claim 1, wherein said damping ring has an encircling lip inclined towards said rolling elements, the outside diameter of said lip in uninstalled condition being greater than the diameter of said bore of the fixed race on which the damping ring is arranged.

Claim 11

In a noise reducing clutch disengagement device for motor vehicle clutches operable with a pressure plate and including, a clutch bearing having rolling elements and adapted to be radially displaceable with respect to a sliding sleeve means, said bearing including a fixed race having a radially directed flange abutting said pressure plate fixedly mounted with respect to said sleeve means, said flange comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures extending axially therethrough, said fixed race having a damping ring coupled thereto and contacting said flange on a first side thereof facing toward the rolling elements, said damping ring comprising at least three damping members distributed circumferentially thereon, said pressure plate including a plurality of recesses, said damping members passing through said apertures in said fixed race and entering said recesses in said pressure plate.

Claim 12

In a noise reducing clutch disengagement device for motor vehicle clutches operable with a pressure plate and including, a clutch bearing having rolling elements and adapted to be radially displaceable with respect to a sliding sleeve means, said bearing including a fixed race having a radially directed flange abutting said pressure plate fixedly mounted with respect to said sleeve means, said flange comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures extending axially therethrough, said fixed race having a damping ring coupled thereto and contacting said flange on a first side thereof facing toward the rolling elements, said damping ring comprising at least three damping members distributed circumferentially thereon, said pressure plate including a plurality of recesses, said damping members passing through said apertures in said fixed race and entering said recesses in said pressure plate.

Claim 13

In a clutch disengagement device operable with a pressure plate and including a clutch bearing which has rolling elements and is adapted to be radially displaceable with respect to a sliding sleeve, the improvement wherein (a) said bearing comprises a fixed race having a radially directed flange abutting said pressure plate, the pressure plate being fixedly mounted with respect to said sliding sleeve, said flange having a first side thereof facing toward said rolling elements, said flange including a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures extending axially therethrough, (b) said device further comprises a damping ring secured to said flange on said first side thereof, with a plurality of damping members distributed circumferentially on said damping ring and extending axially therefrom in the direction away from said rolling elements and toward said pressure plate, and (c) said pressure plate comprises means for engaging each of said damping members, said damping members on the damping ring, said apertures in said flange, and said means for engaging said damping members all having generally the same circumferential spacing pattern, with said damping members extending axially through said engaging said apertures and further extending to and engaging said engaging means on said pressure plate.

Claim 14

In a clutch disengagement device operable with a pressure plate and including a clutch bearing which has rolling elements and is adapted to be radially displaceable with respect to a sliding sleeve, the improvement wherein (a) said bearing comprises a fixed race having a radially directed flange abutting said pressure plate, the pressure plate being fixedly mounted with respect to said sliding sleeve, said flange having a first side thereof facing toward said rolling elements, said flange including a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures extending axially therethrough, (b) said device further comprises a damping ring secured to said flange on said first side thereof, with a plurality of damping members distributed circumferentially on said damping ring and extending axially therefrom in the direction away from said rolling elements and toward said pressure plate, and (c) said pressure plate comprises means for engaging each of said damping members, said damping members on the damping ring, said apertures in said flange, and said means for engaging said damping members all having generally the same circumferential spacing pattern, with said damping members extending axially through said engaging said apertures and further extending to and engaging said engaging means on said pressure plate.

Claim 15

A device according to claim 11 wherein (a) each damping member comprises an elastic damping element having first circumferential and radial dimensions and extending axially and a pair of elastic damping tabs each being circumferentially spaced from one side of said damping element and extending axially similarly to said damping element, whereby each damping member defines second circumferential and radial dimensions, (b) each of said flange apertures has circumferential and radial dimensions corresponding to those of said damping member and through which said member extends, and (c) each of said pressure plate recesses has circumferential and radial dimensions generally corresponding to but slightly greater than those of said damping element.

Claim 16

A device according to claim 12 wherein each damping element and the recess into which it extends define radial clearance therebetween generally the same as circumferential clearance therebetween.