GB1565861A

GB1565861A - Clutch release mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB1565861A
Application number: GB76977A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SKF Kugellagerfabriken GmbH
Current assignee: SKF GmbH
Priority date: 1976-01-10
Filing date: 1977-01-10
Publication date: 1980-04-23
Also published as: IT1115251B

Description

(54) CLUTCH RELEASE MECHANISM (71) We, SKF KUGELLAGERFAB RIKEN GESELLSCHAFT MIT BES CHRANKTER HAFTUNG, a German Body Corporate of Ernst-Sachs-Strasse 2-8, 8720 Schweinfurt, German Federal Republic 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 concerns a clutch release mechanism.

According to the invention a clutch release mechanism comprises a sleeve, a thrust bearing and a retaining element. the thrust bearing being disposed on the sleeve and including an inner race ring, an outer race ring and an annular series of rolling elements arranged to roll on raceways of both race rings, the sleeve having a flange extending radially outwardly and generally transverse to the sleeve axis to form a thrust plate, the inner race ring having a flange extending radially outwardly and generally transverse to the sleeve axis and being in sliding contact with the thrust plate, the thrust plate having a radial projection on which is mounted the retaining element.

which element comprises a plate abutting the thrust plate and. on the radially outer end, two lugs extending axially from opposite faces of the plate, the lug extending toward the thrust bearing being located in a recess in the thrust plate.

The retaining element may have a member on each side of the plate extending across one face of the plate. the members extending towards each other and around the thrust plate projection, each member having a depending element extending radially inwardly towards the sleeve and over the inner race ring flange.

The sides of the thrust plate projection and the portions of the retaining element members extending around the sides of the thrust plate projection may converge radially outwardly.

The lug extending toward the thrust bearing may have a bore for a wire spring to engage a release fork.

An embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a section A-B on Figure 2 through a self-centring clutch release mechanism having a thrust bearing, a thrust plate and integral sliding sleeve and a retaining element: Figure 2 is an axial view from the left of the sliding sleeve shown in Figure 1 with the retaining elements fitted; Figure 3 is an axial view from the right and turned through 90" of part of the thrust plate shown in Figure 1 with a retaining element attached to the thrust plate; Figure 4 is a view from the left of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a section of the retaining element: Figure 6 is a side view from the left of the retaining element shown in Figure 5: Figure 7 is a side view from the right of the retaining element shown in Figure 5; and Figure 8 is a plan view of the retaining element.

The clutch release mechanism illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a clutch thrust bearing 1. a sliding sleeve 2 having a flange extending radially outwardly and generally transverse to the sleeve axis which flange forms a thrust plate 3, a damping ring 4 and retaining elements 5. The retaining elements 5 are positively connected to the thrust plate 3, as can be seen by reference to Figures 3 and 4. The clutch thrust bearing 1 includes an inner race ring 9 and an outer race ring 10 both of sheet metal. an annular series of balls 11 arranged to roll in the raceways of both race rings, and a cage 12, and is disposed on the sliding sleeve 2 so as to be slidable in the radial direction relative to the sleeve. Inner race ring 9 has a flange 6 extending radially outwardly and generally transverse to the sleeve axis, which flange is in sliding contact with the thrust plate 3. The thrust plate 3 has a plurality of axially extending projections 7 which engage with recesses 8 of the flange 6 and prevent rotation of the inner race ring 9 relative to the sleeve 2. The space between the bearing race rings 9, 10 on the side of the bearing distal from the clutch (not shown) is sealed by a sheet metal ring 13 connected to the outer race ring 10; on the other side of the bearing a seal gap 14 is formed between the end portions of the inner and outer race rings 9 and 10. The damping ring 4, through which radial bearing displacement is damped, is situated between the inner race ring 9 and the sliding sleeve 2. The thrust plate 3 is provided with two diametrically opposed radial projections 15 on each of which is mounted a retaining element 5, which element is shown separately in Figures 5 to 8. Each retaining element 5 has a hardened plate 16 and a contact surface 17 for a release fork 18 (Figure 1): kAdjacently disposed lugs 19. 20 are provided on one end of the plate 16 and are bent. preferably at right angles. lug 19 towards and lug 20 away from the clutch thrust bearing 1. Lug 19 is punched out from the material of lug 20 and has a bore 21 receiving a wire spring 22 (Figure 1) which spring engages the release fork 18. On each side of the plate 16 is a member or arm 23 which extends across and is spaced from one face of the plate. the two arms 23 extending towards each other and around projection 15, and each retaining element 5 being slid one on to the projection 15 of each thrust plate 3. The sides 24 of each projection 15 and the corresponding portions 25 of each arm '3 of the retaining elements 5 converge radially outwardly to ensure firm seating of each retaining element 5 on the respective projection 15 of the thrust plate 3. Each retaining element 5 is located radially by the lug 19 engaging a recess 27 in the projection 15 and by elements or noses 26 extending over the lug.

From each arm 23 depends an element with a portion or finger 28 extending at an acute angle to the plate 16 and towards the middle of the bearing and a portion 29 extending parallel to the plate radially over the flange 6 of the inner race ring 9 so that the clutch release bearing 1 and the sliding sleeve 2 with the thrust plate 3 form a single unit.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A clutch release mechanism comprising a sleeve. a thrust bearing and a retaining element the thrust bearing being disposed on the sleeve and including an inner race ring, an outer race ring and an annular series of rolling elements arranged to roll on raceways of both race rings, the sleeve having a flange extending radially outwardly and generally transverse to the sleeve axis to form a thrust plate, the inner race ring having a flange extending radially outwardly and generally transverse to the sleeve axis and being in sliding contact with the thrust plate, the thrust plate having a radial projection on which is mounted the retaining element, which element comprises a plate abutting the thrust plate and, on the radially outer end, two lugs extending axially from opposite faces of the plate, the lug extending toward the thrust bearing being located in a recess in the thrust plate.

2. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the retaining element has a member on each side of the plate extending across one face of the plate, the members extending towards each other and around the thrust plate projection, each member having a depending element extending radially inwardlv toward the sleeve and over the inner race ring flange.

3. The mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein the sides of the thrust plate projection and the portions of the retaining element members extending around the sides of the thrust plate projection converge radially outwardly.

4. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the lug extending toward the thrust bearing has a bore for a wire spring to engage a release fork.

5. A clutch release mechanism substantiallv as hereinbefore described with refer ence to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. and is disposed on the sliding sleeve 2 so as to be slidable in the radial direction relative to the sleeve. Inner race ring 9 has a flange 6 extending radially outwardly and generally transverse to the sleeve axis, which flange is in sliding contact with the thrust plate 3. The thrust plate 3 has a plurality of axially extending projections 7 which engage with recesses 8 of the flange 6 and prevent rotation of the inner race ring 9 relative to the sleeve 2. The space between the bearing race rings 9, 10 on the side of the bearing distal from the clutch (not shown) is sealed by a sheet metal ring 13 connected to the outer race ring 10; on the other side of the bearing a seal gap 14 is formed between the end portions of the inner and outer race rings 9 and 10. The damping ring 4, through which radial bearing displacement is damped, is situated between the inner race ring 9 and the sliding sleeve 2. The thrust plate 3 is provided with two diametrically opposed radial projections 15 on each of which is mounted a retaining element 5, which element is shown separately in Figures 5 to 8. Each retaining element 5 has a hardened plate 16 and a contact surface 17 for a release fork 18 (Figure 1): kAdjacently disposed lugs 19. 20 are provided on one end of the plate 16 and are bent. preferably at right angles. lug 19 towards and lug 20 away from the clutch thrust bearing 1. Lug 19 is punched out from the material of lug 20 and has a bore 21 receiving a wire spring 22 (Figure 1) which spring engages the release fork 18. On each side of the plate 16 is a member or arm 23 which extends across and is spaced from one face of the plate. the two arms 23 extending towards each other and around projection 15, and each retaining element 5 being slid one on to the projection 15 of each thrust plate 3. The sides 24 of each projection 15 and the corresponding portions 25 of each arm '3 of the retaining elements 5 converge radially outwardly to ensure firm seating of each retaining element 5 on the respective projection 15 of the thrust plate 3. Each retaining element 5 is located radially by the lug 19 engaging a recess 27 in the projection 15 and by elements or noses 26 extending over the lug. From each arm 23 depends an element with a portion or finger 28 extending at an acute angle to the plate 16 and towards the middle of the bearing and a portion 29 extending parallel to the plate radially over the flange 6 of the inner race ring 9 so that the clutch release bearing 1 and the sliding sleeve 2 with the thrust plate 3 form a single unit. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A clutch release mechanism comprising a sleeve. a thrust bearing and a retaining element the thrust bearing being disposed on the sleeve and including an inner race ring, an outer race ring and an annular series of rolling elements arranged to roll on raceways of both race rings, the sleeve having a flange extending radially outwardly and generally transverse to the sleeve axis to form a thrust plate, the inner race ring having a flange extending radially outwardly and generally transverse to the sleeve axis and being in sliding contact with the thrust plate, the thrust plate having a radial projection on which is mounted the retaining element, which element comprises a plate abutting the thrust plate and, on the radially outer end, two lugs extending axially from opposite faces of the plate, the lug extending toward the thrust bearing being located in a recess in the thrust plate.