Fichtel & Sachs Ag

Mannesmann Sachs Ag

Georg Kraus

Bernhard Schierling

Hilmar Gobel

Bernd Stockmann

Reinhold Weidinger

Michael Weiss

Klaus Gorzitzke

Thomas Stretz

Jorg Lampe

The invention relates to a motor vehicle friction clutch with automatic wear compensation, in which a wear indicator is provided that, due to its elasticity, exerts a clamping force on the wear adjustment device without any additional spring elements.

Elastic wear indicator for a friction clutch

A dual-mass flywheel comprises a primary mass (7) which is adapted to be fastened to a crankshaft (3) of an internal-combustion engine concentric to an axis of rotation (1) and a secondary mass (9) which is mounted for rotation relative to the primary mass (7) around the axis of rotation (1). The secondary mass (9) is coupled in a rotationally elastic manner to the primary mass (7) by a torsion-damping arrangement (19). The primary mass has two formed sheet-metal parts (35, 37) which define a cavity (47) to accommodate springs (17) of the torsion-damping arrangement (19) and is provided with supplementary masses in order to increase the moment of inertia. The supplementary masses may be made up of extensions (45, 63) of the formed sheet-metal parts (35, 37) or of additionally welded-on mass-rings (67). In particular, the supplementary masses are located in a region which is generally radially outwardly of the secondary mass (9).

Dual-mass flywheel

The torsional shock absorber which is preferably suitable for a dual-mass flywheel comprises an input part (1) and an output part (21) which is rotatable round a common axis of rotation. Between control edges (43) of the input part (1) and control edges (41) of the output part (21), long load springs (23) designed for load running are arranged in an annular channel (15) which surrounds the axis of rotation and couples the output part (21) torsionally elastically to the input part (1). The output part (21) or optionally spring pots (25) provided at the face ends of the load springs (23) carry a peripherally resilient intermediate element (45) which projects beyond the control edges (41) of the part guiding the intermediate element (45) and rests on the control edges (35) of the other part. The control edges of these two parts are spaced from one another in the rest position of the torsional shock absorber, this spacing forming the operating range of the idling suspension. The idling suspension is bridged over once the spacing is used up.

Torsional shock absorber

The invention relates to a method for removing a motor vehicle friction clutch of modular design and to friction clutches suitable for this method. The arrangement of openings in the clutch plate and the use of specific tools for venting the friction clutch enable the clutch plate to be orientated such that the fastening screws may be opened by corresponding screwdrivers through the slots of the spring tongues of the diaphragm spring and through the openings in the clutch plate. This enables a clutch module to be exchanged completely after damage or normal wear.

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Bergrheinfeld, Germany

Georg Kraus