multi-plate clutch arrangement

Abstract

Multi-plate clutch arrangement (1) comprising a housing (2) with a feed channel (3) connected to a collection opening (4), through which a fluid, in particular oil, can be conveyed into at least one axial channel (12) arranged in an inner plate carrier (10) of the multi-plate clutch arrangement (1), wherein an oil guide element (8), in particular an oil guide plate, is arranged between the feed channel (3) and the axial channel (12) and is designed to bridge a gap (11) between the housing (2) and the inner plate carrier (10).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a multi-plate clutch arrangement comprising a housing with a supply channel connected to a collecting opening, through which a liquid, in particular oil, can be conveyed into at least one axial channel arranged in an inner plate carrier of the multi-plate clutch arrangement.

[0002] Multi-plate clutch assemblies of the type mentioned above are generally known from the prior art. Typically, particularly in so-called wet-running multi-plate clutches, a fluid, particularly oil, flows around the inner plates on the inner plate carrier and the outer plates on the outer plate carrier, for example, to cool them. After passing through the plate pack, the fluid is typically collected in a reservoir or sump and fed back into the circuit. A collecting opening is typically arranged within the housing, which receives fluid thrown off, for example, by the outer plate carrier and feeds it to a feed channel. The feed channel is connected to an axial channel arranged in the inner plate carrier, through which the fluid can in turn be fed to the plate pack.

[0003] It is therefore clear that fluid must be pumped from a stationary part of the multi-plate clutch arrangement to a rotating part of the multi-plate clutch arrangement between the supply channel in the housing and the axial channel in the inner plate carrier. In order to mount the inner plate carrier so that it can rotate relative to the housing, a bearing device is usually required through which fluid must pass on its way from the supply channel into the axial channel. A compromise must therefore be made in order to avoid overfilling the bearing device and yet still be able to introduce sufficient fluid into the axial channel to supply the plate pack. In this case, the fluid is also moved radially outwards due to the rotational movement, allowing the fluid to flow into the gap areas between the rotating inner plate carrier and the stationary housing, thereby reducing the volume flow of fluid effectively supplied to the axial channel.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of providing a multi-plate clutch arrangement which is improved compared to the prior art and in which, in particular, the supply of fluid to the plate pack is improved.

[0005] The object is achieved by a multi-plate clutch arrangement having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the subclaims.

[0006] As described at the outset, the invention relates to a multi-plate clutch arrangement having a housing with a feed channel connected to a collecting opening, through which feed channel a liquid, for example oil, can be conveyed into an axial channel which extends in the axial direction through an inner plate carrier of the multi-plate clutch arrangement. In other words, the liquid, for example oil, is collected by means of the collecting opening, for example if the liquid has previously been centrifuged from an outer plate carrier, and fed from the collecting opening into the feed channel. The liquid is to be introduced from the feed channel into the axial channel in the inner plate carrier, which axial channel extends in the axial direction, i.e. parallel to the axis of rotation. The feed channel, in contrast, can extend in the radial direction or at an angle thereto.

[0007] The invention is based on the finding that an oil guide element is provided, in particular an oil guide plate, which is arranged between the supply channel and the axial channel and is designed to bridge a gap between the housing and the inner disk carrier. The invention therefore proposes arranging the oil guide element between the supply channel and the axial channel in such a way that the liquid or oil flows from the supply channel into the oil guide element or can be transferred to the axial channel in a defined manner by the oil guide element. On the one hand, this solves the problem whereby the liquid is pushed radially outwards due to the rotational movement. The oil guide element ensures that the liquid can be brought to the axial channel in a targeted manner. Furthermore, the oil guide element can transfer the oil to or into the axial channel in such a way that a gap between the housing and the inner disk carrier is bridged.The oil guide element can, for example, engage in the axial direction in the axial channel or an antechamber that feeds several axial channels, and thus the fluid can flow from the oil guide element into the axial channel in such a way that the fluid remains in the axial channel and no part of the fluid penetrates into the gap between the housing and the inner disk carrier and is thus lost for the lubrication of the disk pack.

[0008] This advantageously results in a comparatively low delivery pressure and faster lubrication. The oil roller, which rotates due to the rotational movement, is picked up by the oil guide element and introduced into the axial channel. The oil guide element can, in particular, be arranged around a shaft that is connected to the inner disk carrier and thus rotates with the inner disk carrier.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the multi-plate clutch arrangement, the oil guide element can be funnel-shaped, with one end of the oil guide element having a smaller opening cross-section facing the axial position of the plate pack. In other words, the funnel shape is formed in the axial direction, i.e. the oil guide element has a larger opening at one axial end and a smaller opening at the opposite axial end. The smaller opening or the smaller opening cross-section faces the plate pack. This results in the fluid being guided from the supply channel into the oil guide element being guided in the direction of the axis of rotation because the diameter is reduced due to the funnel shape, i.e. the inner wall of the oil guide element tapers. The entire oil roller rotating around the shaft, on which the oil guide element is arranged, can thus be tapped and fed in a defined manner to an inner region or to the axial channel.The funnel shape of the oil guide element can be stepped or continuous. This advantageously allows the fluid to be discharged from the oil guide element close to the center or axis of rotation.

[0010] As described, the oil guide element can have one axial end that has a larger opening cross-section than the other axial end. According to one embodiment of the multi-plate clutch arrangement, the oil guide element can have an opening in a lateral surface at the end of the oil guide element with the larger opening cross-section, which opening is arranged at an outlet of the feed channel. The opening in particular brings about a defined oil introduction through which liquid or oil can be introduced from the feed channel into the oil guide element. Furthermore, the orientation of the oil guide element can be ensured by the opening or by a separate anti-twist device. As described, the oil guide element can basically be stationary and thus firmly connected to the housing.The oil guide element can engage around the shaft, which was previously described and which is connected to the inner disk carrier, so that the oil guide element is arranged around this shaft, but is not connected to it in a rotationally fixed manner, but the shaft can rotate relative to the stationary oil guide element.

[0011] Furthermore, the multi-plate clutch arrangement can be provided with a barrier element arranged radially outside the oil guide element, which is designed to block or limit a fluid flow into the bridged gap. As described, a gap is arranged between the inner plate carrier, which has the axial channel, and the housing, through which gap the inner plate carrier remains rotatable relative to the housing. In the axial direction, this gap is bridged by the previously described oil guide element, so that the fluid from the oil guide element is already introduced in the axial direction within the axial channel or into an antechamber upstream of the axial channel within the inner plate carrier or leaves the oil guide element there. The barrier element is provided to prevent the fluid from flowing back to the gap against the desired axial direction.The barrier element can be arranged on an inner circumference of the inner disk carrier between the inner disk carrier and the oil guide element and can encompass the oil guide element in such a way that the gap between the housing and the inner disk carrier is sealed by the barrier element. In other words, fluid escaping from the oil guide element and flowing toward the gap, i.e., in the axial direction away from the disk pack, is stopped or dammed by the barrier element, thus ensuring the volume flow toward the disk pack.

[0012] As already described, the oil guide element is designed, in particular, to be fixed to the housing, thus ensuring the introduction of fluid from the supply channel into the oil guide element. According to one embodiment of the multi-plate clutch arrangement, the oil guide element, which is in particular fixed to the housing, and the barrier element can be rotatably mounted relative to one another. The relative movement between the oil guide element and the barrier element can be achieved by the oil guide element being fixed to the housing and the barrier element being fixedly connected to the shaft or to the inner disk carrier, which has the axial channels or the at least one axial channel.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the multi-plate clutch arrangement, the at least one described axial channel can be connected to an intermediate reservoir, which is radially delimited by the inner plate carrier and connected to the plate pack by at least one radial channel in the inner plate carrier. In other words, the fluid that was introduced into the axial channel by the oil guide element can flow through the axial channel and be guided into the intermediate reservoir. The fluid can then exit the intermediate reservoir through the at least one radial channel in the radial direction and thus be guided into the plate pack. This has the effect, in particular, that the fluid is first collected in the intermediate reservoir and dammed there, so that an even distribution of the fluid from the intermediate reservoir through the at least one radial channel or a plurality of radial channels to the plate pack takes place.The radial channels can in particular be radial bores that introduce the fluid between the inner plates arranged on the inner plate carrier.

[0014] The described multi-plate clutch assembly can be further developed in such a way that an outer plate carrier of the multi-plate clutch assembly has at least one drain channel extending radially through the outer plate carrier. The fluid introduced into the plate pack is guided radially outward, particularly due to the rotational movement, so that the fluid can leave the plate pack or the multi-plate clutch of the multi-plate clutch assembly again through the at least one drain channel.

[0015] The drain channel can be provided, in particular, as a radial bore in the outer disk carrier. The outer disk carrier has at least one drain channel, in particular between two outer disks mounted on the outer disk carrier. The axial position corresponds to the axial position of the disk pack. In particular, the outer disk carrier can have multiple drain channels in the circumferential direction and in the axial direction. As already described in the introduction, the fluid that leaves the outer disk carrier or is thrown out of the outer disk carrier through the drain channel is fed back to the collecting opening, so that it can be fed back through the feed channel into the oil guide element and thus into the oil circuit.

[0016] Furthermore, the multi-plate clutch arrangement can be provided with a rotatable transmission element, in particular the outer plate carrier, designed to convey fluid tangentially from a centrifugal point into the collecting opening connected to the supply channel. For example, the drain channels in the outer plate carrier can be arranged such that, upon leaving the outer plate carrier at the centrifugal point, the fluid is centrifuged tangentially from the outer plate carrier and thereby conveyed into the collecting opening.

[0017] Furthermore, due to the rotational movement of the transmission element, in particular of the outer disk carrier, a circumferentially rotating fluid roller can be generated, whereby the fluid is conveyed from a sump in the circumferential direction together with the rotating transmission element into the collecting opening. In other words, the fluid from the sump is carried or pulled along with the rotating outer disk carrier and introduced tangentially into the collecting opening in an upper region of the housing. The rotation of the rotating transmission element, in particular of the outer disk carrier, therefore creates a circumferential oil column in the housing, which conveys fluid, in particular oil, into the opening via a tangential transition to a collecting opening.

[0018] This improves the volume flow of the liquid, which can be fed back into the feed channel. The collecting opening can have a defined collecting geometry whose radii are adapted so that the liquid fed into the collecting opening can be fed into the feed channel as maximally as possible. In particular, the collecting opening can have a curved section that deflects the centrifuged liquid into the feed channel. The liquid centrifuged by the outer disk carrier or guided through the circulating liquid column, which ultimately moves in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, is deflected by the collecting opening, specifically in the axial direction, and guided back to the feed channel, in particular radially outwards.

[0019] According to a further development of the multi-plate clutch arrangement, the supply channel can be arranged in the axial direction between a bearing device and the at least one axial channel. As described above, the fluid leaving the supply channel is usually guided through a bearing device that supports the inner disk carrier. In the described embodiment, however, the bearing device is arranged in the axial direction on the side of the supply channel opposite the axial channel. In other words, the shaft on which the inner disk carrier is arranged is supported by a bearing device that is arranged on the side of the supply channel opposite the disk pack.

[0020] This ensures that, particularly since the oil guide element is open in both axial directions, sufficient fluid can flow towards the bearing device to supply the bearing assembly. Since a seal is provided on the opposite side of the bearing assembly, i.e. the side in the axial direction which is opposite the supply channel with respect to the bearing assembly, the fluid is accumulated in this area so that the amount of fluid is significantly less than the amount of fluid supplied to the disk pack. This is, however, sufficient for lubrication of the bearing assembly. In particular, it can be provided that a snap ring for fixing an outer ring of the bearing assembly to a housing also fixes the oil guide element in the axial direction. Furthermore, the inner ring of the bearing assembly can be fastened to the shaft, which carries the inner disk carrier, by means of a snap ring.

[0021] In the multi-plate clutch arrangement, it can further be provided that the housing has at least one curved section designed to deflect fluid flowing tangentially into the collecting opening in an axial direction, in particular in the direction of the supply channel. Accordingly, the fluid flow in the collecting opening can be specifically deflected from a tangential to an axial direction into the supply channel by the curved section, specifically by utilizing the kinetic energy of the fluid, in particular of the oil, and guided within the supply channel in a radial direction to the described oil guide element. The fluid can thus be guided back to the supply channel, counter to the axial direction in which the fluid is guided in the axial channels, and radially outside.

[0022] In addition to the multi-plate clutch assembly, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a multi-plate clutch assembly as described above. All advantages, details, and features described with reference to the multi-plate clutch assembly are fully applicable to the motor vehicle.

[0023] The invention is explained below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures. The figures are schematic representations and show: Fig. 1 a sectional view of a multi-plate clutch arrangement; Fig. 2 a detail of the multi-plate clutch arrangement of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 an oil guide element of the multi-disk clutch arrangement of Fig. 1, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 a sectional view in the axial direction of the multi-disk clutch arrangement of Fig. 1-3; Fig. 5 a detail of the sectional view of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 the detail of Fig. 5 in radial view; Fig. 7 a sectional view of an inner disk carrier connected to a shaft of the multi-disk clutch arrangement of Fig. 1-6; and Fig. 8 a perspective view of the outer disk carrier of the multi-disk clutch arrangement of Fig. 1-7.

[0024] Fig. 1 shows a multi-plate clutch assembly 1 having a housing 2 in which a supply channel 3 extends, which is connected to a collecting opening 4. A fluid, for example, oil, can be supplied to a disk pack 5 of a multi-plate clutch 6 of the multi-plate clutch assembly 1 through the supply channel 3. As can be seen, the supply channel 3 extends substantially, or at least in sections, in the radial direction toward a rotational axis 7 of the multi-plate clutch assembly 1.

[0025] The multi-plate clutch assembly 1 has an oil guide element 8, which is arranged on or around a shaft 9, which carries the inner plate carrier 10 or to which the inner plate carrier 10 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner. The fluid transferred from the supply channel 3 into the oil guide element 8 is conveyed further in the direction of the rotation axis 7 due to the funnel shape of the oil guide element 8 and is transferred in the axial direction already within the shaft 9 or within the inner plate carrier 10. This bridges a gap 11 between the inner plate carrier 10 and the housing 2. The shaft 9 can basically also be considered a component of the inner plate carrier 10.

[0026] The liquid that leaves the oil guide element 8 in the direction of the plate pack 5, ie in the illustration in Fig. 1, Fig. 2, to the right, then flows through axial channels 12 in the inner disk carrier 10 or in the shaft 9, so that the fluid is guided into an intermediate reservoir 13 within the inner disk carrier 10. The inner disk carrier 10 also has radial channels 14, which extend through the inner disk carrier 10 in the radial direction and thus connect the intermediate reservoir 13 with the disk pack 5. As further shown in Fig. 8, an outer disk carrier 15 has a plurality of drain channels 16 through which the liquid can leave the disk pack 5 or be thrown out of the outer disk carrier 15.

[0027] Fig. 2 shows a detail of the multi-plate clutch arrangement 1 in the area of ​​the oil guide element 8. As described, the oil guide element 8 is arranged around the shaft 9, wherein the oil guide element 8 is fixedly connected to the housing 2. The oil guide element 8 has an opening 17 which communicates with the feed channel 3 so that the fluid can flow from the feed channel 3 into the oil guide element 8. Due to the funnel shape of the oil guide element 8, the oil roller, which rotates due to the rotational movement of the shaft 9, is guided further towards the axis of rotation 7 and is already introduced in the axial direction within the shaft 9 or within the inner plate carrier 10 into the inner plate carrier 10. In this exemplary embodiment, the shaft 9 and the inner plate carrier 10 are formed in one piece orconnected to one another in one piece, so that the fluid which emerges from the oil guide element 8 in the axial direction is supplied to both the inner disk carrier 10 and the shaft 9, wherein the gap 11 is bridged as described.

[0028] Furthermore, the multi-plate clutch assembly 1 includes a barrier element 18, which is arranged on the shaft 9 or the inner plate carrier 10 and which surrounds the oil guide element 8. The barrier element 18 blocks or prevents the flow of fluid escaping from the oil guide element 8 in the direction of the gap 11. In other words, the fluid is dammed up at the barrier element 18, ensuring the flow direction toward the plate pack 5 and preventing the fluid from penetrating the gap 11 instead.

[0029] Further can Fig. 2 that the supply channel 3 is arranged in the axial direction between the axial channel 12 or the disk pack 5 and a bearing device 19 that supports the shaft 9. Snap rings can be provided that secure the inner ring and the outer ring of the bearing device 19 in the axial direction. One of the snap rings can also be used to secure the oil guide element 8 in the axial direction. As shown, for example, in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the area in the axial direction behind the bearing device 19, which faces away from the oil guide element 8, is sealed, so that a storage space is formed there and thus the oil flow through the bearing device 19 is limited. The majority of the fluid flow thus flows through the oil guide element 8 in the direction of the axial channels 12 or the plate pack 5.

[0030] Fig. Figure 3 shows an isolated view of the oil guide element 8. The opening 17 is clearly provided, which establishes the connection to the supply channel 3. Thus, a rotating oil roller is formed in this area, which, due to its funnel shape, is guided further in the direction of the rotation axis 7.

[0031] Fig. Figure 4 shows an axial sectional view of the multi-disk clutch arrangement 1 in the area of ​​the outer disk carrier 5. An arrow 20 schematically shows how the fluid, which leaves one of the drain channels 16, for example, is tangentially spun off from a sling point and flows into the collecting opening 4. The collecting opening 4, in particular with a curved section 21, redirects the fluid in the axial direction, as is shown, for example, in Fig. 6. The curved section 21 and the collecting opening 4 are formed in the housing 2 in such a way that, in particular, a trouble-free introduction of the liquid from the outer disk carrier 5 according to arrow 20 into the collecting opening 4 is possible. In particular, the housing 2 has no edges or the like in the region of the transition into the collecting opening 4 that could interfere with the intake of the liquid. In other words, the liquid flows in the curved section 21 and in the collecting opening 4 opposite to the axial direction, i.e. opposite to the flow direction in the axial channels 12 and is thus fed back to the feed channel 3, as shown in Fig. 1. The curve section 21 and the collecting opening 4 are shown in detail in Fig. 5, Fig. 6 shown. Fig. 6 shows a Fig. 5 shown representation offset by 90° in radial direction.

[0032] Fig. Figure 7 shows an isolated view of the shaft 9 and the inner disk carrier 10. The radial channels 14 through which the intermediate reservoir 13 is connected to the disk pack 5 are clearly visible. These are arranged at different axial positions for illustrative purposes only, allowing a uniform supply of fluid from the intermediate reservoir 13 to the spaces between the disks in the disk pack 5.

[0033] Fig.Figure 8 shows an isolated perspective view of the outer disk carrier 15. The drain channels 16 provided in the outer disk carrier 15 are arranged in pairs, for example, with several pairs of drain channels 16 distributed over the circumference of the outer disk carrier 15. The drain channels 16 allow the fluid, for example, oil, to flow out of the disk pack 5 and, as already described, is returned to the collecting opening 4, so that an oil circuit or a fluid circuit can be formed.

[0034] The advantages, details and features shown in the individual embodiments can be combined with one another as desired, are interchangeable and transferable to one another. Reference symbol 1 multi-plate clutch arrangement 2 housings 3 feed channel 4 collecting opening 5 slat pack 6-plate clutch 7 axis of rotation 8 Oil guide element 9 Wave 10 inner disc carriers 11 gap 12 axial channel 13 Intermediate reservoir 14 Radial channel 15 outer disc carriers 16 Drain channel 17 Breakthrough 18 Barrier element 19 Storage facility 20 Arrow 21 curve section

Claims

[1] Multi-plate clutch arrangement (1), comprising a housing (2) with a supply channel (3) connected to a collecting opening (4), through which a liquid, in particular oil, can be conveyed into at least one axial channel (12) arranged in an inner plate carrier (10) of the multi-plate clutch arrangement (1), characterized by an oil guide element (8), in particular an oil guide plate, which is arranged between the supply channel (3) and the axial channel (12) and is designed to bridge a gap (11) between the housing (2) and the inner disk carrier (10). [2] Multi-plate clutch arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the oil guide element (8) is funnel-shaped, wherein one end of the oil guide element (8) with a smaller opening cross-section faces the axial position of a disk pack (5) of a multi-disk clutch (6) of the multi-disk clutch arrangement (1). [3] Multi-plate clutch arrangement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the oil guide element (8) has an opening (17) in a lateral surface at the end of the oil guide element (8) with a larger opening cross-section, which opening is arranged at an outlet of the feed channel (3). [4] Multi-plate clutch arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a barrier element (18) arranged radially outside the oil guide element (8) and designed to block or limit a fluid flow into the bridged gap (11). [5] Multi-plate clutch arrangement (1) according to claim 4, characterized by that the oil guide element (8), in particular fixed to the housing, and the barrier element (18) are rotatably mounted relative to one another. [6] Multi-plate clutch arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the at least one axial channel (12) is connected to an intermediate reservoir (13) which is radially delimited by the inner disk carrier (10) and is connected to at least one radial channel (14) in the inner disk carrier (10) with a disk pack (5). [7] Multi-plate clutch arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that an outer disk carrier (15) of the multi-disk clutch arrangement (1) has at least one discharge channel (16) which extends in the radial direction through the outer disk carrier (15). [8] Multi-plate clutch arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a rotatable gear element, in particular the outer disk carrier (15), of the multi-disk clutch arrangement (1) is designed to convey liquid tangentially from a centrifugal point into the collecting opening (4) connected to the feed channel (3). [9] Multi-plate clutch arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the feed channel (3) is arranged in the axial direction between a bearing device (19) and the at least one axial channel (12). [10] Multi-plate clutch arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the housing (2) has at least one curved section (21) which is designed to deflect liquid flowing tangentially into the collecting opening (4) in the axial direction, in particular in the direction of the feed channel (3). [11] Motor vehicle comprising a multi-plate clutch arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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