Valeo Corporation

Christian Gay

Philippe Lassiaz

Jacky Naudin

Philippe Lazziaz

Guido Rivolta

A diaphragm clutch mechanism comprises a cover provided on its internal periphery with fixing lugs for the diaphragm and retaining lugs disposed opposite holes in the diaphragm. The retaining lugs are at least partially bent to form flanges which extend towards the outside of the cover such that during rotation of the assembly, the flanges act as vanes which draw cooling air through the holes in the diaphragm and into the space inside the cover. The invention is particularly applicable to a clutch mechanism for a motor vehicle.

Clutch mechanism, especially for an automobile vehicle

An automotive clutch has a diaphragm coupled to a clutch actuating member through a locating member and a coupling clip, the latter being arranged to join the clutch actuating member to the locating member by means of a snap fit. A 'cage' is defined axially between the locating member and a retaining plate which is disposed on the side of the locating member opposite to the diaphragm. The assembly further includes a resilient member having a plurality of tongues extending axially through the diaphragm, and is hooked on the retaining plate by means of these tongues. The resilient member is arranged on the side of the diaphragm opposite to the locating member.

Assembly for coupling a locating member to a diaphragm, particularly for

The present invention relates to annular diaphragm springs for use in clutches and speed changers for automobile vehicles, of the kind having radial fingers separated by orifices alternating with the fingers. According to the invention at least two fingers are each equipped with a fold delimiting a lateral part of the orifice. This stiffens the fingers without increasing the thickness of the diaphragm.

Annular diaphragm spring for use in an automobile clutch

In a power transmission comprising a driving shaft and a driven shaft coupled through a clutch unit, the rotational velocities of the shafts are measured by two sensors mounted on the declutching member which slides on the driven shaft to actuate the clutch diaphragm. The sensors may for example be of the variable reluctance type, and are positioned so as to face a portion of the driven shaft and another part of the driving shaft which comprise at least one element or structural feature to which the sensors are responsive, such as ribs or grooves constituting a kind of 'pinion' of the driven shaft and a finger which is fixed with respect to the cover plate of the clutch, the latter being itself rotatable with the driving shaft. This 'pinion' may be modified so as to allow the degree of wear of the clutch friction pads to be measured.

Power transmission with a clutch unit having shaft speed measuring means

A clutch control device, particularly for automotive vehicles, comprises a manoeuvring member which is coupled axially with a working element which engages the relevant part of the actuating member of the clutch itself. The manoeuvring member and working element are coupled together through a retaining shroud, using an assembly device which comprise a plurality of tabs or lugs projecting from a lateral wall of the retaining shroud and which are able to slide in corresponding axial grooves formed in the manoeuvring member until they leave the grooves on the face of the manoeuvring member opposite to that at which they were introduced. Relative rotation is then carried out between the retaining shroud and the manoeuvring member, so as to engage the tabs securely in radial recesses formed in the radial portion of the manoeuvring member, the recesses being offset by a predetermined angle from the axial grooves.

Clutch control device, especially for automotive vehicles

The invention relates to an assembly of two members (10, 11). The first member (11) has a thrust portion (16) whereby it bears axially on the second member (10), on a first surface of the latter. The first member also has tabs (17) whereby it extends through the second member (10). Between the second member (10) and the tabs (17) of the first member (11), on the surface of the second member opposite to first member, an axially acting resilient ring (22) of the Belleville washer type is interposed. The invention is particularly applicable to the diaphragm of a clutch mechanism, particularly for an automobile, whereby it is attached to the securing member carried on the diaphragm to permit a declutching surface to be attached to the latter.

Assembly of two generally annular members, in particular a diaphragm and

A clutch release bearing comprises a drive member through which it is adapted to operate on the clutch release device of a clutch. It also comprises an operating member through which it is adapted to be operated on by a clutch release yoke. The operating member incorporates two recesses the bottom of each of which faces axially towards the drive member and forms a transverse bearing facet. Each of the recesses is adapted to interlock with the clutch release yoke to prevent rotation of the clutch release bearing about its axis.

Clutch release bearing, in particular for automotive vehicle

A clutch release bearing assembly of the kind comprising an operating element and a drive element which, by a flanged edge, is axially applied against a flange of the operating element. For the corresponding axial application and retention of the assembly, an elastic washer bears on the drive element; this elastic washer is provided with at least one lug having a transverse shoulder by which it is engaged with the operating element. The lug of the elastic washer is prolonged beyond its transverse shoulder and at its end is provided with a right-angled flange. This facilitates the use of a tool which co-operates with the lugs during assembly of the release bearing. The arrangement is particularly applicable to self-centering clutch release bearings for automobile vehicles.

Clutch release bearing

A clutch release bearing for an automobile vehicle has an operating member controllable by the clutch release fork and a drive member adapted to act on the fingers of the clutch diaphragm. The drive member comprises a roller bearing having a non-rotatable race formed with a flange for engaging the operating member, a roller cage, and a rotatable race for contact with the diaphragm. The operating member and the drive member are held together by a spring washer which during assembly of the release bearing is engaged and flipped over into position by a fitting bearing which is formed on the roller cage between the rotatable race and the flange.

Roller bearing cage for clutch release bearing

A clutch release bearing intended to act by traction. The clutch release bearing is fitted with a coupling device which is elastically deformable radially. The coupling device is attached through the intermediary of a coupling piece to a declutching device of the clutch. A bearing is provided to bear on the declutching device. The bearing has a bistable resilient washer which in a waiting position holds the coupling device in a retracted position, and through the intermediary of a ring frees the coupling device in the operating position. The clutch release bearing is particularly applicable to a self-centering clutch release bearing for automobiles.

Clutch release bearing for an automobile vehicle and means for the

A clutch release bearing comprises a maneuvering member operated on by a control member, usually a clutch release yoke. A drive member in direct or indirect axial bearing engagement with the maneuvering member, when operated on by the latter, operates on the clutch release device of a clutch. An axially acting spring washer of the Belleville spring type urges the drive member against the maneuvering member and retains the drive membering relative to the maneuvering member in the axial direction. This spring washer is able to turn inside out selectively so as to assume one or other of two separate stable configurations. One of these is a concave configuration and the other is a convex configuration. One configuration is an inoperative configuration and the other is an operative one. One peripheral edge of the spring washer bears axially on the drive member when it is in the operative configuration. On its other peripheral edge is a set of lugs through which it bears on the maneuvering member. The spring washer and these lugs form a dihedron. The maneuvering member includes a circumferential groove cooperating with the lugs. It has one flank serving as an abutment to the lugs in the inoperative configuration of the spring washer while its other flank supports the lugs in the operative configuration thereof. As a result, the dihedral angle between the lugs and the spring washer remains the same in both the operative and the inoperative configuration.

Clutch release bearing with bistable spring washer

This is a 'pull' type clutch release bearing. There are provided, on the one hand, abutment means adapted for circumferential bearing engagement, in a first direction, of the clutch release bearing on a member external thereto, on rotation of the clutch release bearing about its axis, and, on the other hand, a bracing member adapted to oppose any retrograde rotation of the clutch release bearing after such circumferential bearing engagement.

Automative clutch release bearing

A clutch release bearing assembly comprises a clutch release bearing adapted to be coupled to a clutch release device of a clutch by a coupling part attached to the clutch release device. This coupling part comprises a radial bearing flange adapted to bear axially on the clutch release device and an axial bush passing axially through the clutch release device. The assembly further comprises a drive part on the clutch release bearing and a fastening device operative in traction between the coupling part and the drive part. This fastening device fastens the coupling part and the drive part together in the axial direction from the clutch release device to the clutch release bearing. It comprises an annular coupling member carried by either the coupling part or the drive part. This is elastically deformable in the radial direction. There is a transverse drive bearing surface on the other part and the annular coupling member bears axially on this drive bearing surface. The end of the coupling member comprises two or more radial lugs and in the bush are respective openings each having a respective one of the lugs passing through it. The assembly further comprises a guide surface coaxial with the bush and a guide bearing surface forming part of this guide surface. Each lug is adapted to bear on the guide bearing surface.

Clutch release bearing assembly in particular for automobile vehicles

A clutch release bearing suitable for automobile vehicles comprises an operating element designed to be acted on directly or indirectly by a control member. In practice this is a clutch release yoke. It also comprises a drive member designed to operate on the clutch release device of a clutch. This bears axially on the operating element either directly or indirectly. Coupling means couple the drive element to the operating element in the axial direction. The coupling means are in one piece with a substantially plane plate and have a generally U-shaped configuration, with two parallel arms joined by an arch-shaped curve middle part. They consist of two clips disposed at diametrically opposite positions relative to each other. Each is formed from a respective arm of the aforementioned plate, the whole forming a single member.

Automotive clutch release bearing

A clutch release bearing assembly comprises a coupling part adapted to couple a clutch release bearing to a clutch release device of a clutch. The coupling part is attached to the clutch release device. A drive part forms part of the clutch release bearing and there is an annular retaining groove on the coupling part or the drive part. A fastening device operative in traction between the coupling part and the drive part couples these parts together in the axial direction from the clutch release device to the clutch release bearing. The fastening device comprises an annular coupling member which is elastically deformable in the radial direction and at least partly engaged in the annular retaining groove. It further comprises a substantially transverse drive bearing surface on the other (coupling or drive) part, on which the coupling member bears axially in the axial direction in question. There is a groove in the same part as the drive bearing surface. An annular decoupling member is adapted to decouple the clutch release bearing from the clutch release device of the clutch. It is movable axially in the previously mentioned groove, of one flank of which the drive bearing surface forms part. The coupling member is carried by the coupling part. The decoupling member is carried by the drive part. The decoupling member comprises engagement means adapted to couple it releasably to the coupling member in at least the axial direction from the clutch release device to the clutch release bearing.

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Paris, France

Christian Gay