Valeo Corporation

Societe Anonyme Francaise Du Ferodo

Pierre Loizeau

Roger F Carmillet

Andree Caray

Philippe Lhermite

A clutch unit is disclosed for rotatably connecting two coaxial parts mounted for relative rotation. The clutch unit comprises a circular track on one part and at least one self-clamping cam on the other part bearing on a second track carried by the other part. The self-clamping cam comprises a roller having a roller surface and mounted for eccentric rotation about a pin having an outer periphery defining the second track. The roller surface is clampingly engageable with the first track to define an engaged position of the clutch unit. The pin is carried by a radially elastically deformable arm.

Clutch unit for motor vehicle

A clutch comprises a flywheel which rotates with a first shaft, a friction disk which rotates with a second shaft, a clutch cover which rotates with the flywheel and a pressure plate which rotates with the cover. The flywheel is movable axially relative to the cover. An axially acting spring device bears on the cover and urges the pressure plate towards the flywheel to clamp the friction disk against the flywheel. The cover comprises a bearing surface, first and second parts rotatable relative to each other and a circumferentially acting spring device which resists any such relative rotation. The first part rotates with the first shaft and comprises a flange constituting a support flange for the clutch. The second part, against which the friction disk bears axially, comprises a plate constituting the reaction plate proper. Within this plate is a torque limiter comprising friction facings and an axially acting spring device for clamping up these friction facings. The torque limiter is operative between the plate and the bearing surface on the cover. The axially acting spring device associated with the friction disk is the same as the axially acting spring device associated with the friction facings of the torque limiter.

Clutch with damper type flywheel

The circumferentially acting elastic cushion disposed between two coaxial parts of a torsional damper comprises at least one elastically deformable arm. This is attached at one end to the annular flange of one of the coaxial parts. Its other end is unsupported and has a shoulder adapted to engage another shoulder provided for this purpose on the other of the two coaxial parts.

Torsional damper

A torsion damping assembly for a friction clutch plate comprises two coaxial parts mounted for relative rotation within a predetermined range of angular displacement. Circumferentially acting springs including a resiliently deformable arm are circumferentially disposed between the coaxial parts. The resiliently deformable arm circumferentially extends from a support member fixed for rotation with one coaxial part and the free end of the arm is attached to the other coaxial part. A pair of axially spaced transverse surfaces are provided on each coaxial part. The support member is disposed axially between the respective pairs of transverse surfaces for maintaining the axial position of the coaxial parts relative to each other.

Torsion damping assembly for automotive friction clutch plate

Centrifugal actuator device, in particular for a clutch disk assembly

The friction means acting between the two rotary parts constituting a torsion-damping device comprises at least one annular component which is engaged by means of an axial bearing surface with an axial bearing surface of one of the rotary parts and which, by engagement means, is capable of being connected in rotation to the one rotary part over at least one range of the angular movement between the rotary parts. According to the invention, the annular component is opened circularly by means of at least one slit, and elastic means are associated with it which permanently stress it radially in the direction of the axial bearing surface of the one rotary part.

Torsion damping device, especially a clutch plate for a motor vehicle

A torsional damper comprises at least two coaxial parts rotatable relative to one another within predetermined limits. A plurality of circumferentially acting elastic means are disposed between them in the circumferential direction. These elastic means comprise at least one block of elastic material extending in a substantially tangential direction. The or each elastic material block is partially housed, without circumferential clearance in a rest configuration of the damper, in an opening formed for this purpose in a first of the coaxial parts. It is further partially housed, with circumferential clearance in this rest configuration and for at least one circumferential direction, in an opening formed for this purpose in a second of the coaxial parts. The elastic material block carries at least one elastic material peg projecting from it in at least this circumferential direction. Its corresponding circumferential end is at least partly covered by a distribution and retaining plate. This has a notch in its perimeter which is open in the radial direction and through which the elastic material peg passes.

A torsion-damping device of the kind comprising two rotary parts capable of limited relative angular displacement with elastic means interposed circumferentially between the two rotary parts, incorporates an elastically deformable arm extending between two bearing elements one of which is fixed in rotation to one of the rotary parts. This bearing element incorporates at least two radially projecting barbs which are forceable engaged axially in a bearing surface of the respective rotary part and between which it is elastically deformable radially and circumferentially. The invention is especially applicable to damping hubs for clutch plate assemblies in motor vehicles.

Torsion damping device

A torsional damper comprises at least two coaxial parts (A, B) mounted to rotate relative to one another. A plurality of elastic members are disposed between these parts (A, B) in the circumferential direction. At least one of these members is formed by a block (10') of elastic material, partially housed without circumferential clearance in an opening (27') in one of the coaxial parts (A, B). It is also partially housed, with circumferential clearance (J'T, J'R), in an opening (28') in the other of the coaxial parts (A, B). The elastic material block (10') has a peg (32T, 32R) of elastic material projecting from it in at least one circumferential direction. The invention is applicable in particular to friction clutch mechanisms for automotive vehicles.

Torsion dampers

A torsional damper comprises at least two coaxial parts rotatable relative to one another within predetermined limits. A plurality of circumferentially acting elastic means are disposed between them in the circumferential direction. These elastic means comprise at least one block of elastic material extending in a substantially tangential direction. The or each elastic material block is partially housed, without circumferential clearance in a rest configuration of the damper, in an opening formed for this purpose in a first of the coaxial parts. It is further partially housed, with circumferential clearance in this rest configuration and for at least one circumferential direction, in an opening formed for this purpose in a second of the coaxial parts. The elastic material block carries at least one elastic material peg projecting from it in at least this circumferential direction. The arrangement is such that, even in the rest configuration, the elastic material peg is in contact with the corresponding radial edge of the housing in the second coaxial part. Thus it comes into action as soon as there is any relative angular movement of the first and second coaxial parts.

A torsional damper device suitable for friction clutches, especially those for automotive vehicles, comprises two parts disposed to rotate relative to one another within defined limits of relative angular movement. Such relative angular movement is resisted by elastic members each of which is disposed in a housing formed by holes in said parts. Associated with at least one of the elastic members is a respective bearing member disposed in the axial direction between at least one circumferential end of the elastic member and one of the coaxial parts. The bearing member has, perpendicular to the axis of the assembly, at least one arm through the intermediary of which it bears axially on the coaxial part concerned.

Torsional damper device

A torsional damper comprises two parts (A, B) mounted to rotate relative to one another. Disposed between them in the circumferential sense are springs (10', 10') each partially housed with circumferential clearance in an opening (27', 27') in one part (A) and partially housed without circumferential clearance in an opening (28', 28') in the other part (B). With each of the springs (10') with which is associated the lower or lowest circumferential clearance there is associated an elastic material peg (30T, 30R) projecting from the spring and mounted slidably in a bush (32). Between it and this bush (32) are constricting means. The torsional damper finds particular application in clutch mechanisms for automotive vehicles.

Torsional dampers

The torsional damper comprises at least two coaxial parts mounted to rotate relative to one another. Circumferentially acting elastic means resist such relative angular movement and incorporate an elastically deformable arm. This arm extends between two support members with at least one of which it is integral via a respective root area. These support members are engaged with respective rotating parts so as to rotate therewith over at least part of a defined range of relative angular movement. The torsional damper is particularly suited to applications in friction clutches incorporating a damper hub, for use in particular in automotive vehicles.

A torsional damper suitable for use in a friction clutch plate for an automotive vehicle comprises at least two coaxial parts mounted to rotate relative to one another, within a defined range of relative angular movement. Friction means operative between the rotating parts comprise two friction pads constrained to rotate with one part, in rubbing engagement with an axial surface constrained to rotate with the other part. This surface is non-circular in transverse cross-section. Its radius of curvature varies between at least one minimum and at least one maximum. Thus it may be generally oval in shape, for example.

A torsional damper comprises two parts mounted to rotate relative to one another against circumferentially acting elastic means disposed between them. These elastic means include at least one elastically deformable arm fastened at one end to one rotating part so as to rotate therewith. Its other end is unrestricted, and is formed with a shoulder whereby it can engage with a shoulder provided for this purpose on the other rotating part. The or each elastically deformable arm and its support are integral parts of an appropriately shaped flange. An application of the torsional damper is to friction clutches for automotive vehicles, for damping torsional vibration.

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Ville d'Avray, France

Pierre Loizeau