GB1558774A

GB1558774A - Clutch relaese bearing assembly

Info

Publication number: GB1558774A
Application number: GB4823076A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SKF Industrial Trading and Development Co BV
Current assignee: SKF Industrial Trading and Development Co BV
Priority date: 1975-11-21
Filing date: 1976-11-19
Publication date: 1980-01-09
Also published as: FR2332458B2; IT1074965B; DE2552169A1; FR2332458A2

Description

(54) CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING ASSEMBLY 171) We, SKF INDUSTRIAL TRADING AND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY B.V., a Company organised and existing under the laws of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, of P.O, Box 50, Nieuwegein, the Netherlands, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a clutch release bearing assembly which is an improvement in or modification of the invention as claimed in Application No. 39793/75 filed 29th September 1975 now Serial No.

1,506,320.

Application No. 39793/75 claims a clutch release bearing assembly comprising a first bearing race ring adapted for co-operation with a clutch release lever, a second bearing race ring adapted for cooperation with a clutch fork, and an annular series of rolling elements arranged to roll on the raceways of both bearing race rings, the bearing being mounted in or on a sliding sleeve and a resilient ring being attached to the second bearing race ring or to the sliding sleeve, the ring having a series of circumferentially spaced tongues inclined with respect to the bearing axis and extending towards, but stopping short of, the sliding sleeve or the second race ring respectively with the bearing and sleeve axes coincident.

According to the present invention such a clutch release bearing assembly is provided wherein the first bearing race ring is offset along the axis of the bearing from the second bearing race ring, and the resilient ring is attached to the second bearing race ring on the side which in use of the assembly will be remote from the clutch and extends radially as far as the first bearing race ring, the resilient ring contacting or forming a sealing gap with the first bearing race ring.

The resilient ring may have a continuous axiallly extending lip engaging the end face of the first bearing race ring The resilient ring may have a continuous lip extending at an angle to the bearing axis and engaging an axially facing surface of a recess in the second bearing race ring.

The resilient ring may have a series of radially extending projections distributed on its radially outer surface.

Embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example reference being made to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a section on the line A-B of Figure 2 through a self-centring clutch release bearing assembly; Figure 2 is a side view of the bearing assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section of part of a clutch release bearing assembly with a modified ring lip; Figure 4 is an axial section of a clutch release bearing assembly having a modfied resilient ring; Figure 5 is a view from the left-hand side of the ring of Figure 4, and Figures 6 and 7 show details Y and Z of the ring shown in Figures 5 and 4 respectively.

Like elements have the same reference numbers throughout the drawings.

Referring to Figures I and 2, a clutch release bearing assembly 1 comprises a first inner bearing race ring 3, a second stationary outer bearing race ring 2, an annular series of balls 5 disposed between the rings 2 and 3 and retained in a cage 4, and a ring 6.

Inner race ring 3 is offset along the axis of the bearing from outer race ring 2 and has a convex surface 7 engageable by the clutch release lever (not shown). Ring 6 is located in bore 8 of outer race ring 2 and is made of a resilient substance, e.g. plastics.

Resilient ring 6 has a series of circumferentially spaced tongues 9 which extend toward and at an angle to the bearing axis in the bore of race ring 2. When the clutch release bearing assembly 1 is centred there is a radial clearance between the tongues 9 and an axially extending portion 10 of a pressure plate 11, so that radial movement of the bearing starts to be damped only when such movement is greater than the latter clearance; consequently, the series of balls 5 and the raceways of the race rings 2, 3 are protected from damage in the event of severe road impacts and the bearing also centres very readily.

On the radially outside surface of the resilient ring 6 there is a continuous peripheral ridge 12 which extends radially outwards and which engages in a corresponding recess 13 in bore 8 of outer race ring 2. The axially facing inner surface 14 of resilient ring 6 faces end face 15 of inner race ring 3 which in use of the assembly is remote from the clutch, so that a sealing gap 16 is left between the inner race ring 3 and resilient ring 6. Axially facing outer surface 17 of ring 6 is flush with end face 18 of race ring 2. Bearing 1 is disposed for radial movement on a sliding sleeve 19 and engages the pressure plate 11. The axially extending portion 10 of plate 11 engages sleeve 19 and is located axially thereon by means of a projection or bead 20 and by flange 21 of sleeve 19 which flange is bent round part of the plate and extends radially and outwardly.

Pressure plate 11 has two axially extending and dliametrically opposite lugs 22 each formed with a bore 23. The bores 23 are adapted to receive pins (not shown) for securing a clutch fork (not shown) to the pressure plate 11. The plate 11 and the bearing 1 are combined to form an assembly unit by means of a housing or a metal cover or cap 24. The cover is disposed on the outside surface of outer race ring 2 and has two parts 25 bent around pressure plate 11.

Figure 3 shows a ring 26 which has on its radially inner surface an axiallly and radially extending continuous peripheral sealing lip 27 which is biased into contact and sealing engagement with the end face 15 of the inner race ring 3.

Figures 4 to 7 show a clutch release bearing assembly 1 with a resilient ring 28 which has on its circumferential outside surface a lip 29 angled out towards the bearing and biased into engagement with radially extending surface 30 of the recess 13 in the outer race ring 2, so that tolerances in the axial depth of the recess 13 are compensated for and satisfactory sealing is provided between the resilient ring 28 and the race ring 2. Also, and as can be seen in Figure 7, a series of radially extending projections 31 are distributed over the periphery of the radially outside surface of resilient ring 28 so that the bore 8 of the outer race ring 2 can be manufactured to relatively large tolerances. The resilient ring 28 is introduced into the bore 8 and secured against rotation therein by virtue of the deformation of the resilient projections 31.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A clutch release bearing assembly according to claim 1 of application number 39793/75 (Serial No. 1,506,320) wherein the first bearing race ring is offset along the axis of the bearing from the second bearing race ring, and the resilient ring is attached to the second bearing race ring on the side which in use of the assembly will be remote from the clutch and extends radially as far as the first bearing race ring, the resilient ring contacting or forming a sealing gap with the first bearing race ring.

2. A bearing assembly according to claim 1 wherein the resilient ring has a continuous axially extending lip engaging the end face of the first bearing race ring.

3. A bearing assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the resilient ring has a continuous lip extending at an angle to the bearing axis and engaging an axially facing surface of a recess in the second bearing race ring.

4. A bearing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the resilient ring has a series of radially extending projections distributed on its radially outer surface.

5. A bearing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein a clutch fork plate is connected to the sliding sleeve by means of an axially extending portion, the series of spaced tongues extending toward the said axially extending portion.

6. A clutch release bearing assembly substantially as described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A clutch bearing assembly substantially as described with reference to and as shown in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A clutch release bearing assembly substantially as described with reference to and as shown in Figures 4 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. latter clearance; consequently, the series of balls 5 and the raceways of the race rings 2, 3 are protected from damage in the event of severe road impacts and the bearing also centres very readily. On the radially outside surface of the resilient ring 6 there is a continuous peripheral ridge 12 which extends radially outwards and which engages in a corresponding recess 13 in bore 8 of outer race ring 2. The axially facing inner surface 14 of resilient ring 6 faces end face 15 of inner race ring 3 which in use of the assembly is remote from the clutch, so that a sealing gap 16 is left between the inner race ring 3 and resilient ring 6. Axially facing outer surface 17 of ring 6 is flush with end face 18 of race ring 2. Bearing 1 is disposed for radial movement on a sliding sleeve 19 and engages the pressure plate 11. The axially extending portion 10 of plate 11 engages sleeve 19 and is located axially thereon by means of a projection or bead 20 and by flange 21 of sleeve 19 which flange is bent round part of the plate and extends radially and outwardly. Pressure plate 11 has two axially extending and dliametrically opposite lugs 22 each formed with a bore 23. The bores 23 are adapted to receive pins (not shown) for securing a clutch fork (not shown) to the pressure plate 11. The plate 11 and the bearing 1 are combined to form an assembly unit by means of a housing or a metal cover or cap 24. The cover is disposed on the outside surface of outer race ring 2 and has two parts 25 bent around pressure plate 11. Figure 3 shows a ring 26 which has on its radially inner surface an axiallly and radially extending continuous peripheral sealing lip 27 which is biased into contact and sealing engagement with the end face 15 of the inner race ring 3. Figures 4 to 7 show a clutch release bearing assembly 1 with a resilient ring 28 which has on its circumferential outside surface a lip 29 angled out towards the bearing and biased into engagement with radially extending surface 30 of the recess 13 in the outer race ring 2, so that tolerances in the axial depth of the recess 13 are compensated for and satisfactory sealing is provided between the resilient ring 28 and the race ring 2. Also, and as can be seen in Figure 7, a series of radially extending projections 31 are distributed over the periphery of the radially outside surface of resilient ring 28 so that the bore 8 of the outer race ring 2 can be manufactured to relatively large tolerances. The resilient ring 28 is introduced into the bore 8 and secured against rotation therein by virtue of the deformation of the resilient projections 31. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A clutch release bearing assembly according to claim 1 of application number 39793/75 (Serial No. 1,506,320) wherein the first bearing race ring is offset along the axis of the bearing from the second bearing race ring, and the resilient ring is attached to the second bearing race ring on the side which in use of the assembly will be remote from the clutch and extends radially as far as the first bearing race ring, the resilient ring contacting or forming a sealing gap with the first bearing race ring.