Schaeffler Technologies Ag & Co .kg

Holger Lietzenmaier

Stefan Steiger

Mario Hauss

A counterbalance for balancing a part that is able to rotate about an axis of rotation is disclosed, in particular a part of a torque transmission device, such as a friction clutch unit. The counterbalance has a longitudinal axis and a shaft section that includes a knurled portion with ridges that are inclined in relation to the longitudinal axis. Also disclosed is a torque transmission device, in particular for a drive train in a motor vehicle, including an axis of rotation and at least one part that is able to rotate about the axis of rotation. In this torque transmission device, at least one counterbalance of said type is arranged on the part for balancing purposes.

Counterbalance and torque transmission device

A balancing element for balancing a friction clutch, including a balancing head for providing a balancing mass, and a shaft that is connected to the balancing head, is to be inserted into an opening in the friction clutch, and has a shaft end which points away from the balancing head and which includes a face pointing away from the balancing head substantially in the axial direction of the shaft. The shaft end has a weakening in the material in a subsection between the face and the balancing head in order for the shaft end to plastically deform radially outward in relation to the longitudinal axis of the shaft when a compressive force is applied to the balancing head in the axial direction. This especially allows the face of the shaft end to about a part of the friction clutch once the shaft has been introduced into a receiving opening in the friction clutch, and makes it possible to apply a compressive force to the balancing head in the direction of insertion, said compressive force being so great that the shaft end is plastically deformed in a particularly easy manner in the region of the weakening in the material such that a secure form-fitting connection is established, thereby preventing the balancing element from coming loose again even when the assembly space is tight and keeping the risk of the friction clutch becoming unbalanced low during the entire service life of the friction clutch.

Balancing element for balancing a friction clutch, method for balancing a friction clutch, and the use of a part of a friction clutch

A balancing element for balancing a clutch, including a shaft for inserting into a housing opening of a clutch cover, a head axially protruding from the shaft for limiting an insertion depth, and cutting edges radially protruding from the shaft for plastically deforming a wall surrounding the housing opening. A deforming stop is arranged at a distance from the cutting edges between the cutting edges and the head in order to plastically deform a part of the wall between the cutting edges and the deforming stop. By the plastic deformation of the wall into an area between the cutting edges and the deforming stop, the balancing element can be accommodated captively even under operating conditions without additional tools, whereby simple and economical production of an operationally reliable clutch is enabled.

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Lauf, Germany

Holger Lietzenmaier