Luk Lamellen Und Kupplungsbau Gmbh

Helmut Kohler

Wolfgang Haas

Friedrich Gerhardt

Heinz Molt

Peter Klein

Alexander Ellert

Herbert Kiefer-Gander

Joachim Hoffmann

A pulley which can be driven by the output element of the engine in a motor vehicle to transmit torque to one or more endless belts or chains has a rotary input member, a rotary output member and a damper which yieldably opposes rotation of the input and output members relative to each other about a common axis and is at least partially confined in an annular chamber defined by at least one of the input and output members. The chamber can further receive a friction bearing which operates between the input and output members, as well as a vibration absorbing device. Such device can have a mass which is adjacent a flange of one of the input and output members and one or more energy storing elements acting in the circumferential direction of the pulley.

Pulley with a damper between rotary input and output members

A friction clutch wherein the diaphragm spring is installed between two annular seats which are carried by the clutch cover. At least one side of the spring has a set of radially extending reinforcing projections each of which extends in part into the annular main (outer) section and into one of the radially inwardly extending prongs. The respective seat has recesses for intermediate portions of such projections. The diaphragm spring is made of special spring steel and the recesses can be formed by deformation of and/or removal of material from the respective seat or seats.

Friction clutch and method of making a diaphragm spring therefor

The axially movable pressure plate of a friction clutch for motor vehicles is non-rotatably secured to the housing by a set of leaf springs each of which has an end portion overlying that surface of the pressure plate which faces away from the clutch plate. The end portion of each leaf spring has an opening in register with the open end of a blind bore in the surface of the pressure plate. Such end portions of the leaf springs are permanently fastened to the pressure plate by tubular connecting elements having (a) enlarged end portions overlying those sides of the leaf springs which face away from the pressure plate and (b) main portions which extend through the respective openings and into the registering blind bores and are radially expanded into pronounced frictional engagement with the pressure plate. The plastically deformable material of the main portions of the connecting elements is expanded by an extractible tool or by discrete spreading pins which are driven into open-ended sockets of the connecting elements and remain therein to maintain the main portions in radially expanded condition. The connecting elements contribute to a reduction of the overall weight of the friction clutch, to a reduction of the dimensions of the clutch, as considered in the axial and radial directions, to a reduction of the weight of the clutch, and to greater reliability of the connections between the leaf springs and the pressure plate and hence to greater safety of the clutch.

Method of assembling a friction clutch

A friction clutch wherein the leaf springs which confine the pressure plate to axial movement relative to the housing are secured to the pressure plate by fastening devices having solid or tubular connecting elements a first portion of each of which is anchored in a discrete blind bore of the pressure plate and each of which extends outwardly through and beyond an opening in the respective leaf spring. Those portions of the connecting elements which extend outwardly beyond the openings of the respective leaf springs are deformed to constitute rivet heads which overlie the leaf springs and hold them against movement away from the respective surface of the pressure plate. Such mode of fastening the leaf springs to the pressure plate allows for a reduction of the radial dimensions and weight and enhances the safety of the clutch, especially as concerns the bursting strength of the pressure plate.

Growing community of inventors

Buhlertal, Germany

Helmut Kohler