Societe Anonyme Francaise Du Ferodo

Gerard De Gennes

A self-centering clutch release bearing comprises an operating element, a drive element having an omnidirectional latitude of radial movement for the self-centering action, a cover axially connecting these elements together, and axially-directed resilient means integrated in the transverse wall of the cover for acting on the drive element. According to the invention, the transverse wall of the cover is provided with support zones which alternate with anchoring zones and which are offset axially in relation thereto, and the cover bears on the drive element only by its support zones.

Self-centering clutch bearings

There is described a brake shoe for a ring type brake which means it has a cylindrical brake ring secured to a member to be braked. The brake shoe comprises a part-cylindrical, preferably sheet metal support plate having on one face a brake lining and on the opposite face an elongate rib extending generally between opposed edges of the support plate and having a substantially flat bearing surface. Preferably the rib is stamped in the sheet metal support plate and receives a complementary portion of the brake lining material therein. The rib may be disposed cordally of the support plate or parallel to the generatrices thereof. Two such ribs may be provided on a support plate parallel to each other though spaced at different distances from median plane thereof. The contact areas of the substantially flat bearing surface with the piston of the hydraulic unit associated therewith are preferably dissymmetrical about one or both of the median planes of the brake shoe. The hydraulic unit may also have two pistons each coacts with the rib(s). Both brake shoes for such a brake may be provided with such flat bearing rib(s).

Ribbed brake shoe support plate for cylindrical ring type brake

The invention relates to an operating control device for an automobile engine assembly unit comprising successively a clutch and a gear-box equipped with an inertia brake, the control comprising a pressure plate carried on a declutching stop and adapted, by an axial displacement of the clutch in the direction of action, to apply a friction disc against a reaction surface on the casing of the gear-box, the disc being keyed for rotation with the input shaft of the gear-box while remaining axially slidable on this shaft; the control device further comprises a unidirectional axial coupling device located between the declutching stop and the pressure plate, this unidirectional coupling permitting an axial sliding movement of the pressure plate only in the direction opposite to the direction of action, and retaining members intended to engage the pressure plate when the declutching stop moves in the direction opposite to its direction of action. The declutching stop acts by traction or by thrust, the pressure plate thus acting conversely by thrust or by traction. The invention is applicable in particular to clutch-gear-box units fitted with inertia brakes.

Inertia-brake control for input shaft of gear box, and its application

The invention relates to friction discs of the progressive engagement type, especially for clutches of heavy automobile vehicles, the disc comprising two annular friction linings extending respectively on both sides of and in contact with a cut-out corrugated support, each lining being fixed individually by continuous glueing zones on this support, along parts of the corrugations of the support which are in contact with the lining. The surface area of the glueing zones should be between 5 and 35%, and preferably about 10% of the surface area of the lining. In a modification, each lining is fixed on the support, not only by the glueing zones but also by at least one rivet per zone arranged at right angles to each glueing zone. The riveting operation is preferably carried out after glueing and before the adhesive is polymerized or set.

Method of making a friction disc

A sub-assembly for a diaphragm clutch comprises a clutch cover, a diaphragm, and connecting means rockably fastening the diaphragm to the cover with the interposition of a supporting washer. The connecting means comprise flat, relatively thin claws which extend from the front face of the cover through openings in the diaphragm and which are provided at the end of their axial portion with a wing portion which is bent over to retain the supporting washer; the entire supporting washer is disposed radially outside the diameter on which the axially extending portion of the claws lie.

Diaphragm clutch assembly

The invention relates generally to an assembly unit for a clutch, especially for automobile vehicles, and comprising an annular cover, a pressure-plate fixed for rotation with the cover and movable axially with respect to this latter, an elastic diaphragm with controllable action interposed between the cover and the pressure-plate and tending especially to move this plate away from the cover, a friction-disc adapted to be coupled for rotation with a first or driven shaft, and a reaction-plate intended to be coupled to a second or driving shaft, the assembly unit being adapted for fixing by the periphery of the cover on the reaction-plate so as to effect a controlled gripping of the friction-disc between the pressure-plate and reaction-plate, the cover periphery comprising radial fixing zones; the cover is provided at positions along its periphery with spacing members which project from the fixing zones, these members being fixed permanently on the cover periphery and extending substantially radially, each spacing member having a supporting surface by which it is intended to come into contact with the associated reaction-plate.

Assembly unit for a clutch, especially for the clutches of automobile

An assembly for a diaphragm clutch comprises a clutch cover, a diaphragm, connecting means pivotally connecting the diaphragm to the cover, and a supporting washer interposed between the connecting means and the diaphragm. The connecting means comprises a head element which abuts the front face of the cover, and claws which extend through openings in the cover and the diaphragm and which have turned-over ends which engage the supporting washer. The head element of the connecting means is of arcuate construction, forming part of a cylinder whose generatrices are parallel to the axis of the assembly.

A self-centering clutch release bearing comprises a drive element which acts on the release device of a clutch, connected to an actuating element which co-operates with a displacement control means. The connection between the two elements is a self-centering frictional connection controlled by a Belleville washer which bears with its inner or outer periphery against one of the elements. The washer is connected to the other of the elements by fastening claws which extend around its other periphery.

Radially movable clutch release bearing

The invention relates to friction discs of the progressive engagement type, especially for clutches of heavy automobile vehicles, the disc comprising two annular friction linings extending respectively on both sides of and in contact with a cut-out corrugated support, each lining being fixed individually by continuous glueing zones on this support, along parts of the corrugation of the support which are in contact with the lining. The surface area of the glueing zones should be between 5 and 35%, and preferably about 10% of the surface area of the lining. In a modification, each lining is fixed on the support, not only by the glueing zones but also by at least one rivet per zone arranged at right angles to each glueing zone. The riveting operation is preferably carried out after glueing and before the adhesive is polymerized or set.

Friction disc with bonded lining

A clutch assembly has a central driving plate fixed to a hub and a pair of interconnected lateral plates arranged on each side of the central plate, one of which carries friction linings. A number of corresponding windows are formed in the driving plate and in the lateral plates which receive coil springs which form a torsionally-resilient torque-transmitting connection between the central plate and the lateral plates, and the lateral plates are interconnected by integral feet formed on one or both of the plates from the material removed to form the windows therein.

Clutch assembly

The present invention relates to a disc-brake of the kind comprising a fixed support, a disc fast for rotation with a shaft to be braked, two brake-shoes each arranged respectively one on each side of the disc and movable perpendicularly to the plane of the disc and a hydraulic operating unit comprising a blind cylinder with a moving piston acting on a first brake-shoe, the cylinder being associated with the movement of the transfer member for acting on the second brake-shoe and subjected to springs urging the member radially towards the periphery of the disc, the fixed support being provided removably with locking and guiding pins ensuring the radial retention of the transfer member through the operating unit and in contact with which this unit is slidably mounted.

Closed-loop type disc brake

Brakes for automobile vehicles for example, of the kind comprising a fixed support, a braking member having a ring, two braking plates disposed on each side of the ring and a floating stirrup engaged on the plates and on the ring. The stirrup has operating means adapted to act directly on one of the plates and indirectly on the other, through the intermediary of the stirrup, so as to grip and brake the ring. The stirrup is mounted with a simultaneous sliding and pivoting action of the fixed support, so as to follow any possible conical deformation of the ring on which it is engaged, due to heat stresses for example. The rear transverse face of the stirrup is in simple supporting contact with a retaining member secured to the fixed support, and which permits the sliding and pivotal movements of the stirrup, an elastic spring being provided to urge the stirrup and the retaining member into contact with each other. The retaining member may be pivotally mounted on the fixed support and thereby provides the pivotal movement of the stirrup.

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Senlis, France

Gerard De Gennes