Friction assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of mechanical transmission systems, in particular to a friction assembly. The friction assembly comprises at least three pressing plates, friction plates and progressive parts, the friction plates and the progressive parts are located in the middles of the pressing plates, the pressing plates and the friction plates made of different materials are arranged in an overlapped and matched mode in the axial direction of the friction assembly, and the progressive parts are installed between the adjacent pressing plates in the axial direction of the friction assembly. According to the friction assembly, multi-section progressive combination of friction assembly bodies made of different materials is achieved by arranging the progressive part, then the smoothness, stability, abrasion resistance, heat dissipation performance and the maximum output torque of the clutch are effectively improved, pause and overheating of the clutch are reduced, and the service life of the clutch is prolonged. The device has the advantages of stable and smooth operation, small volume and weight, high conversion efficiency, wide applicable temperature range, low manufacturing cost and simplicity and convenience in maintenance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of mechanical transmission systems, and in particular to a friction component. Background Art

[0002] The clutch is an important component in the vehicle's power transmission system. Its function is to disconnect and connect the power between the engine and the transmission, thereby ensuring the smooth starting, shifting and braking of the vehicle. The working principle of the clutch is mainly to use friction to transmit or interrupt power. Therefore, the structure and performance of the clutch directly affect the performance and life of the vehicle.

[0003] The commonly used clutch components in the current vehicle power transmission system include single-plate clutch, multi-plate clutch, wet dual clutch and torque converter. Among them, the single-plate clutch uses the clutch plate to transmit power through friction and adopts air cooling to dissipate heat. It has the advantages of low cost, low process requirements, stability and reliability, and high transmission efficiency (transmission efficiency is 90-95%). It is usually used in manual transmission models. The dry dual clutch uses the clutch plate to transmit power through friction and adopts air cooling to dissipate heat. It has the advantages of low cost, low process requirements, and high transmission efficiency (transmission efficiency is 90-95%). However, it has defects such as easy wear, easy high temperature, low speed setback, low torque capacity, and high failure rate. It is currently a common clutch system solution for low-end models. The wet dual clutch uses the clutch plate to transmit power through friction. To solve the heat dissipation problem of the clutch plate, oil cooling is adopted. It is equipped with a hydraulic pump, lubricating fluid, cooling pipe and external cooling system. The clutch plate works in hydraulic oil and is relatively stable in use, but it has defects such as setbacks, high cost, heavy weight, large volume, and general transmission efficiency (transmission efficiency is 86-92%). It is a common clutch system solution for mid-range models. The hydraulic torque converter (AT gearbox) is a non-rigid torque converter with liquid as the working medium. It is one of the forms of hydraulic transmission. It uses the change of momentum generated by the interaction between liquid and blades to transmit torque. It has good smoothness and stability and large torque capacity, but it has problems such as complex structure, high process requirements, high cost, low transmission efficiency (transmission efficiency is 82-90%), heavy weight, large volume, and high patent barriers. It is currently mainly monopolized by ZF, Aisin, and GM. It is the clutch system solution mainly used in mid-to-high-end models.

[0004] It can be seen that these common clutch systems have different defects in terms of cost, stability, transmission efficiency and other issues. Therefore, the machinery industry has a strong demand for new clutch systems with low energy loss, stable operation and low cost, and the friction components play a vital role. Summary of the invention

[0005] The purpose of the present application is to provide a friction component with low energy loss, stable and smooth operation and low cost.

[0006] The embodiments of the present application can be implemented through the following technical solutions:

[0007] A friction assembly comprises a housing, at least three pressure plates and a friction sheet located in the middle of the pressure plates, wherein the pressure plates and the friction sheets are overlapped and matched in the axial direction of the friction assembly and arranged in the housing;

[0008] It also includes a gradual portion, which is installed between adjacent pressure plates along the axial direction of the friction assembly.

[0009] Optionally, the friction plate comprises a first-order friction plate and a second-order friction plate sequentially arranged along the axial direction of the friction assembly, and the first-order friction plate is located at one end close to the input shaft of the clutch system;

[0010] The first-order friction plate is made of at least one of wear-resistant and high-temperature resistant semi-metallic materials, paper-based friction materials, resin-based friction materials, carbon fiber friction materials, carbon ceramic materials, and modified silicon carbide composite materials, and the second-order friction plate is made of composite powder metallurgy materials, etc.

[0011] Optionally, the friction plate comprises a first-order friction plate, a second-order friction plate and a third-order friction plate sequentially arranged along the axial direction of the friction assembly, and the first-order friction plate is located at one end close to the input shaft of the clutch system;

[0012] The first-order friction plate is made of at least one of semi-metallic materials, paper-based friction materials, resin-based friction materials, carbon fiber friction materials, carbon ceramic materials, and modified silicon carbide composite materials; the second-order friction plate is made of composite powder metallurgy materials; and the third-order friction plate is made of iron-based powder metallurgy materials.

[0013] Optionally, the friction plate comprises a first-order friction plate, a second-order friction plate, a third-order friction plate, ... N-order friction plates (N≥4) arranged in sequence along the axial direction of the friction assembly, and the first-order friction plate is located at one end close to the input shaft of the clutch system;

[0014] The first-order friction plate is made of at least one of semi-metallic materials, paper-based friction materials, resin-based friction materials, carbon fiber friction materials, carbon ceramic materials, and modified silicon carbide composite materials; the second-order friction plate, the third-order friction plate...the N-order friction plate are made of composite powder metallurgy materials.

[0015] Optionally, the progressive portion is an elastic element, and the elastic element corresponds to the friction plate one by one.

[0016] Furthermore, the elastic coefficient of the elastic element increases gradually along the direction away from the input shaft of the clutch system.

[0017] Optionally, the progressive portion is a hydraulic element, the hydraulic element corresponds to the friction plate one by one, and the hydraulic element can be displaced along the axial direction of the friction assembly under the action of its corresponding driving mechanism.

[0018] A friction assembly provided by an embodiment of the present application has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0019] (1) The friction assembly in the present application realizes multi-stage progressive engagement of the friction assembly by setting a progressive portion, thereby enhancing the smoothness and stability in the initial stage, reducing clutch setback and overheating. In addition, the friction plate part of the friction assembly is partially engaged, which can also enhance the ventilation on both sides of the friction assembly and enhance the heat dissipation effect. It has the advantages of excellent performance, reliable quality, high conversion efficiency, stable and smooth operation, and low cost;

[0020] (2) The friction plates in the present application are made of different materials. The friction plates of different materials are combined in different progressive stages. Through the combination of friction plates of different materials, the requirements for different characteristics such as friction torque, wear resistance, and heat resistance at different combination stages can be achieved, thereby improving the performance of the friction component and ensuring the operating stability of the friction component;

[0021] (3) The first-order friction plate can reduce the high temperature impact caused by the intense friction in the initial semi-clutch stage and improve the stability and smoothness of the semi-clutch stage; the second-order friction plate can balance the friction performance of the first-order friction plate; the third-order friction plate is used to enhance the maximum torque capacity of the friction component. By using friction plates of different materials, the stability of operation is further guaranteed and the performance of the friction component is improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 An exploded view of a single clutch having a friction assembly according to the first embodiment;

[0023] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a single clutch having a friction assembly according to the first embodiment;

[0024] Figure 3 It is a cross-sectional view of a dual clutch having a friction assembly according to the first embodiment.

[0025] Figure numerals: 1. friction assembly, 11. pressure plate, 111. reverse wedge structure, 12. friction plate, 121. first-order friction plate, 122. second-order friction plate, 123. third-order friction plate, 1231. wedge structure, 13. progressive part, 2. housing, 3. transmission shaft, 4. clamping assembly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Hereinafter, the present application will be further described based on preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] The vocabulary in this specification is used to illustrate the embodiments of the present application, but is not intended to limit the present application. Unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "disposed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection, a direct connection, an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or a communication between the two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be specifically understood.

[0028] In addition, in the description of the embodiments of the present application, various components on the drawings are enlarged or reduced in size for ease of understanding, but this practice is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application.

[0029] Embodiment 1

[0030] The multi-plate friction assembly consists of multiple sets of pressure plates and friction plates. The friction efficiency is increased by using multiple sets of friction plates. It has been widely used in automatic transmissions, dual-clutch transmissions or multi-clutch transmissions, and four-wheel drive system multi-plate clutch differentials, etc. However, although the existing multi-plate friction assembly can increase the friction efficiency, when the friction assembly is in action, multiple sets of pressure plates and friction plates will move at the same time, resulting in a sense of frustration in the initial stage of clutch action, as well as high temperature effects (severe wear, thermal decay, thermal protection, etc.) caused by a long period of semi-clutch state.

[0031] Based on the above problems, the present application provides a friction assembly 1 in which the friction plate can act progressively, thereby reducing the sense of frustration in the initial stage of clutch action, thereby reducing the energy loss of the friction assembly 1 and improving the operating stability of the friction assembly 1.

[0032] Specifically, Figure 1-Figure 3 As shown, the friction assembly 1 includes a shell 2, at least three pressure plates 11, a friction plate 12 located in the middle of the pressure plate 11, and a progressive portion 13. The pressure plate 11 and the friction plate 12 are overlapped and matched in the shell 2 along the axial direction of the friction assembly 1. The progressive portion 13 is installed between adjacent pressure plates 11 along the axial direction of the friction assembly 1. The progressive portion 13 can be combined with its corresponding pressure plate 11 under pressure, so as to apply different pressures to different pressure plates 11, thereby realizing multi-stage progressive combination of the friction assembly 1, thereby enhancing the smoothness and stability in the initial stage and reducing clutch frustration. In addition, the partial combination of the friction plate 12 of the friction assembly 1 can also enhance the heat dissipation area of ​​the friction assembly 1 and enhance the heat dissipation effect.

[0033] In some specific embodiments of the present application, taking a three-stage friction plate as an example, Figure 1-Figure 3 As shown, the friction assembly 1 in the present application includes 4 pressure plates 11 and 3 friction plates 12, which are respectively a first-order friction plate 121, a second-order friction plate 122 and a third-order friction plate 123 arranged in sequence along the axial direction of the friction assembly 1, wherein the first-order friction plate 121 is located at one end close to the input shaft of the clutch system. It can be seen that the first-order friction plate 121, the second-order friction plate 122 and the third-order friction plate 123 will act in sequence, thereby realizing multi-stage progressive engagement.

[0034] In some preferred embodiments of the present application, the first-order friction plate 121, the second-order friction plate 122 and the third-order friction plate 123 are made of different materials respectively, and different progressive stages are combined with friction plates 12 of different materials. Through the combination of friction plates 12 of different materials, the requirements for different properties such as friction force, wear resistance, heat resistance, etc. in different combination stages can be achieved, thereby improving the performance of the friction component and ensuring the operating stability of the friction component.

[0035] In some specific embodiments of the present application, the first-order friction plate 121 is used to improve the heat dissipation and stability of the clutch in the semi-clutch stage, to reduce the high temperature impact caused by the severe friction in the initial semi-clutch stage, and to improve the stability and smoothness of the semi-clutch stage.

[0036] In some specific embodiments of the present application, the first-order friction plate 121 is made of at least one of semi-metallic material, paper-based friction material, resin-based friction material, and carbon fiber friction material. The semi-metallic material, paper-based friction material, resin-based friction material, and carbon fiber friction material have good wear resistance and high temperature resistance.

[0037] In some other embodiments of the present application, the first-order friction plate 121 is made of carbon ceramic material, which has the properties of high temperature resistance, good thermal conductivity, wear resistance, high hardness and high strength, and can be applied to high-end products.

[0038] In some preferred embodiments of the present application, the first-order friction plate 121 is made of a modified silicon carbide composite material, as described in Patent No. CN201510208268.9, the material is made of FeSi2 (iron disilicide) modified C / C-SiC (carbon-ceramic composite material), and a third phase FeSi2 is introduced into the C / C-SiC composite material to adjust the composition. On the basis of preparing C / C porous body, Fe-Si alloy with lower melting point and lower price than Si is used for reactive infiltration to prepare FeSi2 modified C / C–SiC, and FeSi65 alloy powder and pure Si powder are used for infiltration to prepare FeSi2 modified C / C–SiC composite material C / SiC–FeSi2 with higher FeSi2 content. Experiments show that the introduction of higher content of FeSi2 can reduce the surface roughness of C / C–SiC microstructure, improve the integrity of friction film, weaken plowing effect, reduce linear wear rate, and improve friction stability, but also significantly reduce the friction coefficient, which can greatly enhance the stability of the initial semi-clutch stage. The use of this material can obtain stronger wear resistance and high temperature resistance, thereby obtaining extremely strong semi-clutch stage stability, which can support the vehicle to be in low-speed creep mode for a long time.

[0039] In some specific embodiments of the present application, the second-order friction plate 122 is made of a composite powder metallurgy material, which is a material with balanced properties, and can play a transition role between the first-order friction plate 121 and the third-order friction plate 123, thereby balancing the friction performance of the first-order friction plate 121.

[0040] In some specific embodiments of the present application, the three-stage friction plate 123 is used to enhance the maximum torque capacity of the friction assembly 12. Specifically, the three-stage friction plate 123 is made of an iron-based powder metallurgy material, which has a large friction coefficient and can significantly enhance the torque capacity of the friction assembly 12.

[0041] In some preferred embodiments of the present application, Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the third-order friction plate 123 is provided with a wedge structure 1231 on at least one side along its axial direction, and the pressure plate 11 on the side corresponding to the wedge structure 1231 is provided with an anti-wedge structure 111 that cooperates with the wedge structure 1231. The third-order friction plate 123 is connected to the pressure plate 11 via the wedge structure 1231, which can effectively increase the contact area, thereby further improving the torque capacity of the friction assembly 12.

[0042] It is conceivable that the third-order friction plate 123 may be provided with a wedge structure 1231 on any side along its axial direction, or on both sides. In actual production, a wedge structure 1231 may be provided on at least one side of its axial direction as required to meet actual production needs.

[0043] In some other specific embodiments of the present application, taking the second-order friction plate as an example, the friction assembly 1 in the present application includes 3 pressure plates 11 and 2 friction plates 12, which are respectively the first-order friction plate 121 and the second-order friction plate 122 arranged in sequence along the axial direction of the friction assembly 1, wherein the first-order friction plate 121 is located at one end close to the input shaft of the clutch system. It can be seen that the first-order friction plate 121 and the second-order friction plate 122 will act in sequence, thereby realizing multi-stage progressive engagement.

[0044] Furthermore, the first-order friction plate 121 is made of at least one of semi-metallic materials, paper-based friction materials, resin-based friction materials, carbon fiber friction materials, carbon ceramic materials, and modified silicon carbide composite materials, and the second-order friction plate 122 is made of composite powder metallurgy materials. The second-order friction plate 122 has a stronger friction coefficient than the first-order friction plate 121 to compensate for the low friction coefficient of the first-order friction plate 121.

[0045] It is conceivable that the second-order friction plate 122 may be provided with a wedge structure 1231 on either side along its axial direction, or on both sides. In actual production, a wedge structure 1231 may be provided on at least one side along its axial direction as required to meet actual production needs.

[0046] In some other specific embodiments of the present application, the number of friction plates is not less than 4, that is, the friction assembly 1 includes (N+1) pressure plates 11 and N friction plates 12 (N≥4), which are respectively a first-order friction plate 121, a second-order friction plate 122, a third-order friction plate 123...N-order friction plates arranged in sequence along the axial direction of the friction assembly 1, wherein the first-order friction plate 121 is located at one end close to the input shaft of the clutch system. It can be seen that the first-order friction plate 121, the second-order friction plate 122, the third-order friction plate 123...N-order friction plates will act in sequence, thereby realizing multi-stage progressive engagement.

[0047] Furthermore, the first-order friction plate 121 is made of at least one of semi-metallic materials, paper-based friction materials, resin-based friction materials, carbon fiber friction materials, carbon ceramic materials, and modified silicon carbide composite materials; the second-order friction plate 122, the third-order friction plate 123...N-order friction plates are all made of composite powder metallurgy materials; the second-order friction plate 122, the third-order friction plate 123...N-order friction plates can provide the first-order friction plate 121 with good friction force, and there is no need to set a friction plate 12 with a larger friction coefficient to make up for the problem of the low friction coefficient of the first-order friction plate 121.

[0048] In some specific embodiments of the present application, multiple first-order friction plates 121 and multiple second-order friction plates 122 can be set in combination according to actual needs, that is, friction plates of each order can be combined, such as first-order friction plate 121*2, second-order friction plate 122*2, first-order friction plate 121*1, second-order friction plate 122*2, first-order friction plate 121*2, second-order friction plate 122*1.

[0049] It is conceivable that the N-stage friction plate can be provided with a wedge structure 1231 on any side along its axial direction, or on both sides. In actual production, the wedge structure 1231 can be provided on at least one side of its axial direction as required to meet the needs of actual production.

[0050] like Figure 1-Figure 3 As shown, the progressive portion 13 is an elastic element, which corresponds to the friction plate 12 one by one. The elastic elements have different torques. Under pressure, elastic elements with different torques will produce different compression displacements, thereby achieving a progressive combination method.

[0051] In some specific embodiments of the present application, the elastic element includes at least one of a coil spring, a diaphragm spring, a torsion bar spring, a rubber pad, an air cushion, and an elastic support. Of course, it is conceivable that other elastic elements that can generate displacement under pressure can also be used. No matter what kind of element is used, as long as it can generate different displacements.

[0052] Furthermore, the elastic coefficient of the elastic element increases successively in the direction away from the input shaft of the clutch system, that is, the elastic coefficient of the first-order friction plate 121 is the smallest, and the elastic coefficient of the third-order friction plate 123 is the largest, so as to achieve performance matching with the first-order friction plate 121, the second-order friction plate 122 and the third-order friction plate 123, and further consolidate the effect of progressive combination.

[0053] like Figure 1-Figure 3 As shown, based on the above-mentioned friction assembly 1, the present application also provides a clutch system, which includes the above-mentioned friction assembly 1, a transmission shaft 3 and a clamping assembly 4, wherein the transmission shaft 3 and the clamping assembly 4 are installed in the outer shell 2, the transmission shaft 3 passes through the outer shell 2, the pressure plate 11 and the friction plate 12 along its axial direction, and is movably connected to the pressure plate 11, one end of the transmission shaft 3 is connected to the transmission or transfer case, and the other end is connected to the drive axle; the clamping assembly 44 can control the clamping pressure of the friction assembly to achieve the cutting off and transmission of power.

[0054] like Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the present application only draws a structural diagram showing that the friction component 1 can be applied to a single clutch and a dual clutch. In fact, the friction component 1 in the present application can also be used in automatic transmissions, dual clutch transmissions or multi-clutch transmissions, and four-wheel drive system multi-plate clutch differentials and other scenarios where clutches are used. It is only necessary to replace the friction component 1 in the above-mentioned device with the progressive friction component 1 in the present application. Since the above-mentioned device is an existing device, it will not be further described here.

[0055] In some preferred embodiments of the present application, the clutch system also includes a heat dissipation component for improving the heat dissipation performance within the clutch system, so as to enhance the heat dissipation performance of the clutch system, reduce the impact of temperature on the system, and improve operational stability.

[0056] In some specific embodiments of the present application, the heat dissipation component is an active or passive electronic fan.

[0057] In some preferred embodiments of the present application, the clutch system further includes a dust purification component for reducing the impact of dust on the friction performance of the system and improving the operating stability of the system.

[0058] In some specific embodiments of the present application, the clutch system can be driven by at least one propulsion mechanism selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic propulsion mechanism, a mechanical propulsion mechanism, and an electromechanical propulsion mechanism.

[0059] Embodiment 2

[0060] The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the progressive portion 13 in this embodiment is a hydraulic element, which corresponds one-to-one to the friction plate 12. The hydraulic element can be displaced along the axial direction of the friction assembly 1 under the action of its corresponding driving mechanism. Compared with ordinary elastic elements, the hydraulic element has the advantage of precise control and can achieve precise control of the displacement, thereby achieving a more ideal progressive combination.

[0061] The above is a detailed introduction to the specific implementation methods of the present application. For those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications may be made to the present application without departing from the principles of the present application. These improvements and modifications also fall within the scope of protection of the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A friction assembly, comprising a housing, at least three pressure plates and a friction plate located in the middle of the pressure plates, wherein the pressure plates and the friction plates are overlapped and matched in the axial direction of the friction assembly and arranged in the housing, characterized in that: It also includes a gradual portion, which is installed between adjacent pressure plates along the axial direction of the friction assembly.

2. A friction assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The friction plate comprises a first-order friction plate and a second-order friction plate which are sequentially arranged along the axial direction of the friction assembly, and the first-order friction plate is located at one end close to the input shaft of the clutch system; The first-order friction plate is made of at least one of wear-resistant and high-temperature resistant semi-metallic materials, paper-based friction materials, resin-based friction materials, carbon fiber friction materials, carbon ceramic materials, and modified silicon carbide composite materials, and the second-order friction plate is made of composite powder metallurgy materials, etc.

3. A friction assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The friction plate comprises a first-order friction plate, a second-order friction plate and a third-order friction plate which are sequentially arranged along the axial direction of the friction assembly, and the first-order friction plate is located at one end close to the input shaft of the clutch system; The first-order friction plate is made of at least one of semi-metallic materials, paper-based friction materials, resin-based friction materials, carbon fiber friction materials, carbon ceramic materials, and modified silicon carbide composite materials; the second-order friction plate is made of composite powder metallurgy materials; and the third-order friction plate is made of iron-based powder metallurgy materials.

4. A friction assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The friction plate comprises a first-order friction plate, a second-order friction plate, a third-order friction plate ... N-order friction plates (N≥4) arranged in sequence along the axial direction of the friction assembly, and the first-order friction plate is located at one end close to the input shaft of the clutch system; The first-order friction plate is made of at least one of semi-metallic materials, paper-based friction materials, resin-based friction materials, carbon fiber friction materials, carbon ceramic materials, and modified silicon carbide composite materials; the second-order friction plate, the third-order friction plate...the N-order friction plate are made of composite powder metallurgy materials.

5. A friction assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The progressive portion is an elastic element, and the elastic element corresponds to the friction plate one by one.

6. A friction assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that: The elastic coefficient of the elastic element increases gradually along the direction away from the input shaft of the clutch system.

7. A friction assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The progressive portion is a hydraulic element, which corresponds to the friction plate one by one. The hydraulic element can be displaced along the axial direction of the friction component under the action of its corresponding driving mechanism.

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