Valeo Corporation

Valeo Materiaux De Friction

Denis Menard

Philippe Luquet

Richard Guerin

G&eacute;rard Jacq

Philippe Pantier

Loic Adamczak

Jean-Pierre Boutaud

Cecile Rommeru

Friction material designed for fitting to a device employing friction in a liquid medium, and a method of producing such a friction material and the device to which it is fitted

A torque converter includes a bridging clutch having an annular friction liner for engaging axially against a reaction surface of the clutch. The liner is in the form of an annular ring having a friction surface, an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter, with a network of grooves formed in the friction surface to enable a liquid to flow between the liner and the reaction surface. The network of grooves is not open radially in the outer perimeter of the liner.

Friction liner having a network of grooves, for a clutch

A friction liner having a flat, annular general form, for a friction device designed to operate in a liquid medium, consists in particular of a clutch friction wheel or a brake disc, especially for an automatic gearbox or associated with such a gearbox, or a synchronising ring or cone for a manual gearbox. Such friction devices are intended in particular for motor vehicles. The liner is made of a friction material consisting of a mat of fibers impregnated with a thermosetting resin. After a final curing step while the liner is being moulded under pressure, this material has a porous structure with intercommunicating cells. The liner includes zones having different controlled porosities.

Friction liner with controlled porosity, for a friction device working

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Limoges, France

Denis Menard