CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a coupling arrangement with a coupling housing that connects a drive unit, which for example comprises an internal combustion engine, with an output, such as a gearbox, which is rotatable about a central axis, and to which an axial central projection is assigned on its side facing the drive unit in the radial extent of its center of rotation, which serves to receive a rotor carrier receiving a rotor of an electric machine.

[0002] Such a coupling arrangement is known from DE 10 2016 014 725 A1. The rotor carrier, and thus the rotor of an electric machine, is received on the coupling arrangement, which is designed as a hydrodynamic torque converter, by means of fastening elements that are part of a detachable connecting unit of a fastening device. Particularly when the rotor extends from the rotor carrier towards the coupling housing and thus at least partially overlaps it axially, a compact axial design for the coupling arrangement can be achieved. However, a disadvantage is that the rotor carrier almost completely covers the coupling housing on its drive-facing side, thereby preventing the coupling housing from being easily connected directly to the drive.

[0003] Further examples from the prior art are known from DE 102 21 625 A1, DE 10 2009 038 198 A1, US 6 478 101 B1 or US 2010 / 105518 A1.

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of designing a coupling arrangement in such a way that it can be easily connected directly to a drive in a compact axial design.

[0005] To solve this problem, it is planned to provide a coupling arrangement with a coupling housing that connects a drive unit, to which, for example, an internal combustion engine is assigned, with an output, such as a gearbox, which is rotatable about a central axis, and which has an axial central projection on its side facing the drive in the radial extent area of ​​its center of rotation, which serves to receive a rotor carrier receiving a rotor of an electric machine.

[0006] Of particular importance is that the central projection is connected to a drive unit associated with the drive via a first connecting device and to the rotor carrier via a second connecting device, at least in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0007] By establishing at least a rotationally fixed connection between the central projection and the drive unit on the one hand, and between the central projection and the rotor carrier on the other, movement of the drive unit, which may, for example, include a torsional vibration damper and / or a damping system, can be transmitted to the central projection via the first connection device, and from there to the rotor carrier via the second connection device, all within a very compact design. According to the invention, the central projection is rotationally fixed to the coupling housing by means of a fastening device, thus enabling two machines to be rotationally fixed to the coupling housing in an extremely small installation space: an internal combustion engine via the drive unit, and an electric machine via the rotor carrier.

[0008] Provided that at least one of the connecting devices, like the fastening device, has preferably detachable connecting elements, and the connecting device provided between the drive unit and the central projection is also designed to be detachable, each of the at least rotationally fixed connections produced by these connecting and fastening devices can be released again at any time if necessary, without causing damage or even destruction to the coupling arrangement.

[0009] In an advantageous embodiment, the connecting device provided between the drive unit and the central projection can be equipped with teeth, in particular radial teeth, on both the central projection and the torsional vibration damper. These teeth, acting as a plug connection, are brought into operative contact with each other by a predetermined relative movement of the drive unit and the central projection. In the case of the aforementioned radial teeth, it is sufficient to displace the drive unit and the central projection axially relative to each other, for example, by attaching a component of the drive unit to the central projection.

[0010] To facilitate easy attachment of the central projection to the coupling housing, the central projection has a radially outward-extending mounting flange, which is fastened to the coupling housing by means of preferably detachable connecting elements of the fastening device. On the side of the mounting flange facing away from the coupling housing, the central projection is provided with a support device for the rotor carrier, which has at least one support for the rotor carrier as well as at least one receptacle for at least one preferably detachable connecting element of the second fastening device.

[0011] Regarding the radially outward-extending mounting flange of the central projection, it can either accommodate the rotor carrier axially between itself and the coupling housing, or on its side facing away from the coupling housing. The former results in a very compact axial design, while the latter allows for easier assembly. It is particularly advantageous if the radially outward-extending mounting flange of the central projection, in those circumferential areas where it engages the coupling housing via connecting elements of the fastening device, projects radially further outwards than in the circumferential areas between any two connecting elements.Ideally, this results in an outer contour of at least a substantially corrugated shape for the radially outward-reaching mounting flange of the central projection in its radial circumferential area, which promotes axially elastic behavior of the mounting flange, which in turn allows decoupling of the coupling housing from axial vibrations generated by a drive.

[0012] Advantageously, the central projection on the side of the mounting flange facing away from the coupling housing is provided with a support structure for the rotor carrier, which includes at least one support for the rotor carrier as well as at least one receptacle for at least one connecting element of the second mounting device. The support structure for the rotor carrier is particularly advantageously in the form of struts provided on the side of the radially outward-projecting mounting flange of the central projection facing away from the coupling housing, and which extend, starting from a hub of the central projection, at least substantially radially outward. The struts terminate at their radially inner ends in the hub of the central projection, and at their radially outer ends enclose at least one receptacle for at least one connecting element of the second mounting device.

[0013] Regarding the rotor carrier, it can be stated that it has a plurality of recesses in the circumferential direction, at least on its side facing away from the coupling housing. This allows for various advantages, such as sensors for rotational movement, cooling air supply, and / or weight reduction through material savings.

[0014] Advantageously, the coupling assembly is arranged in a receiving chamber of a gearbox housing, which is separated from another chamber of the gearbox by a cover. The central projection of the coupling assembly can be centered relative to this cover by means of a bearing device, so that the coupling assembly can rotate within the gearbox about its longitudinal axis, the central axis of the coupling assembly preferably coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the gearbox housing. Additionally, the central projection can be sealed against the cover by means of a sealing device. Due to this seal, the coupling assembly is located, depending on the respective fill level of the gearbox housing, in a humid chamber, preferably containing a fluid mist, or in a wet chamber, which can be completely filled with fluid.In contrast, the drive unit can be located outside the receiving area defined by the cover and thus within the aforementioned additional space. If this additional space remains free from fluid mist or fluid filling, it is designed as a dry space.

[0015] The drive unit can include a torsional vibration damper and / or a vibration damper system. Alternatively or additionally, the clutch housing can also include a torsional vibration damper and / or a vibration damper system. In the former case, the torsional vibration damper and / or vibration damper system would be located in a dry area, while in the latter case, they would be located in a damp or wet area.

[0016] The figures show examples of implementation. They illustrate: Fig. 1 a coupling arrangement with a coupling housing connecting a drive unit to an output, to which an axial central projection is assigned on its side facing the drive unit in the radial extent area of ​​its center of rotation, which serves to receive a rotor carrier receiving a rotor of an electric machine; Fig. 2 the clutch housing and the axial central projection from the direction of arrow P1 in Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 a highlighting of the axial central projection of the Fig. 1 with arrangement of the rotor carrier for the rotor of an electric machine on the side of the central projection facing away from the coupling housing; Fig. 4 How Fig. 3 , but with the rotor carrier for the rotor of an electric machine arranged axially between the central projection and the coupling housing; Fig. 5 the axial central projection and the rotor support for the rotor of an electric machine Fig. 4 from the direction of arrow P2 in Fig. 4 .

[0017] At the in Fig. 1 In the depicted drive train, the coupling assembly 1 is designed as a hydrodynamic torque converter. The coupling assembly 1 has a coupling housing 2 that can perform rotational movements about a central axis 3. The coupling housing 2, by incorporating pump impeller blades, acts as a pump impeller 4, which interacts with a turbine impeller 5. The turbine impeller 5 is rotationally fixed to an output 8 formed by a transmission input shaft 9 of a transmission 10. A guide wheel 6 is positioned axially between the pump impeller 4 and the turbine impeller 5 on a freewheel 7, which is mounted, at least in the direction of rotation, on a support shaft 15 that surrounds the transmission input shaft 9 of the transmission 10.The pump impeller 4, the turbine impeller 5, and the guide vane 6 form a hydrodynamic circuit 12, which can be bypassed by a coupling device 13. This allows the movement of the coupling housing 2 to be directed to the output 8, bypassing the hydrodynamic circuit 12. For this to occur, the coupling device 13 must be engaged. To achieve this, a piston 14, which is axially displaceable on a coupling housing hub 16, is moved in a direction that engages the input-side coupling elements 17, which are rotationally fixed to the coupling housing 2, with the output-side coupling elements 18, which are rotationally fixed to the turbine impeller 5 and therefore to the output 8. To disengage the coupling device 13, the piston 14 is moved in the opposite axial direction, thereby releasing the operative connection between the coupling elements 17 and 18.Finally, the clutch housing 2, which is housed in a gearbox housing 11 of the gearbox 10, accommodates a damper system 20, by which excitations of a drive unit 21 having a torsional vibration damper 29 can be eliminated.

[0018] On the side of the coupling housing 2 facing the drive unit 21, an axial central projection 25 is provided that extends in the direction of the drive unit 21 and surrounds the central axis 3 symmetrically. The central projection 25 is connected via a first connecting device 26 to an output flange 28 of the torsional vibration damper 29 of the drive unit 21, the first connecting device 26 having radial teeth 34, 35, one radial tooth 34 being provided on the radial inside of a flange base 36 of the output flange 28 of the torsional vibration damper 29, and the other radial tooth 35 being provided on the radial outside of the central projection 25. The two radial teeth 34 and 35 can be brought into operative connection or disengaged by axial displacement of the output flange 28 of the torsional vibration damper 29 and the central projection 25.Thus, the radial teeth 34 and 35 form detachable connecting elements 31 and 32 of the first connecting device 26.

[0019] The central projection 25 is non-rotatably connected to a rotor carrier 40 of a rotor 41 of an electric machine 42 via a second connecting device 38. To form the connecting device 38, detachable connecting elements 43 in the form of screws 37 are provided, which penetrate recesses 44 in the rotor carrier 40 from the side of the drive unit 21 and are screwed into threaded recesses 45, which, as Fig. 2 As can be seen in the images 55, supports 52 of a support structure 51 for the rotor carrier 40 are provided. The support structure 51 for the rotor carrier 40 is provided on a radially outwardly extending mounting flange 48 of the central projection 25 on the side facing away from the coupling housing 2, and accommodates the supports 52 for the rotor carrier 40 at uniform angular intervals from each other. The supports 52 extend, starting from a hub 54 of the central projection 25, at least substantially radially outwards, and each with its radially outer end forms a receptacle 55 for at least one preferably detachable connecting element 43 of the second connecting device 38 in the form of the screws 37. Each support 52 has a centering edge 56 for the rotor carrier 40 in the radial area between the hub 54 of the central projection 25 and the receptacle 55, against which the rotor carrier 40 can be radially supported.

[0020] The radially outward extending mounting flange 48 of the central projection 25 is, as Fig. 2 The central projection 25 is firmly connected to the coupling housing 2 via a fastening device 49 with connecting elements 46 in the form of a rivet 50. The fastening flange 48 of the central projection 25 projects radially further outwards in those circumferential regions where it engages the coupling housing 2 via the connecting elements 46 of the fastening device 49 than in circumferential regions between any two connecting elements 46. As a result, the fastening flange 48 of the central projection 25 has an outer contour 68 that is at least substantially corrugated in its radial circumferential region.

[0021] At the Fig. 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the rotor carrier 40 is axially received on the side of the radially outwardly projecting mounting flange 48 of the central projection 25 facing away from the coupling housing 2, and, after radial support on the centering edges 56 of the supports 52, is axially fastened to the mounting flange 48 of the central projection 25 by the connecting elements 43 of the second connecting device 38. Such an embodiment is also shown in Fig. 3 shown.

[0022] Axially more compact can be achieved in Fig. 4 The illustrated embodiment is designed in which the rotor carrier 40 is axially received between the radially outwardly projecting mounting flange 48 of the central projection 25 and the coupling housing 2. In this embodiment, the second connecting device 38a is provided with connecting elements 43a in the form of rivets 37a, which penetrate both recesses 44 in the rotor carrier 40 and recesses 58 in the mounting flange 48 of the central projection 25. Fig. 5 As can be seen, in this embodiment the mounting flange 48 of the central projection 25 is designed without supports of a carrier device for the rotor carrier 40. Thus, the rivets 37a of the second connecting device 38a not only provide the axial connection of the rotor carrier 40 to the mounting flange 48 of the central projection 25, but also the centering.

[0023] How Fig. 5 As can be further seen, the rotor carrier 40 has a plurality of recesses 60, 61 on its side facing away from the coupling housing 2 in the circumferential direction. This allows for various advantages, such as sensors for rotational movement, cooling air supply, and / or weight reduction through material savings. In the case of the recesses 60, these can be formed in the circumferential area of ​​the respective connecting element 51 of the fastening device 49, but radially outside of it; in the case of the recesses 61, on the other hand, radially inside it.

[0024] How Fig. 1 As shown, the coupling assembly 1 is arranged in a coupling chamber 62 of the gearbox housing 11 of the gearbox 10, which is separated from a damper chamber 64, housing the torsional vibration damper 29, by a cover 63 of the gearbox housing 11. The cover 63 accommodates a bearing 65 and a sealing device 66 at its radially inner end. The bearing 65 serves to center the central projection 25 of the coupling assembly 1, while the sealing device 66 seals the coupling chamber 62 against the damper chamber 64. This allows, for example, the coupling chamber 62 to contain a fluid or only a fluid mist, while the damper chamber 64 remains dry. Bezugszeichen

[0025] 1 Clutch assembly 2 Clutch housing 3 Central shaft 4 Pump wheel 5 Turbine wheel 6 Guide wheel 7 Freewheel 8 Output 9 Gearbox input shaft 10 Gearbox 11 Gearbox housing 12 Hydrodynamic circuit 13 Clutch device 14 Piston 15 Support shaft 16 Clutch housing hub 17 Drive-side clutch elements 18 Output-side clutch elements 20 Damper system 21 Drive unit 25 Central projection 26 First connection device 28 Output flange 29 Torsional vibration damper 31 Connecting element 32 Connecting element 34 Radial gearing 35 Radial gearing 36 Flange foot 37 Bolts 37a Rivet 38 Second connection device 40 Rotor carrier 41 Rotor 42 Electric machine 43 Connecting elements 44 Recesses 45 Threaded recesses 46 Connecting elements 48 Mounting flange 49 Fastening device 50 Riveting 51 Support device for the rotor carrier 52 Supports 53 Bracing 54 Hub 55 Mounting 56 Centering edge 58 Recesses 60 Recesses 61 Recess 62 Coupling space 63 Cover 64 Damper space 65 Bearing 66 Sealing device68 Outer contour

Claims

1. Clutch arrangement (1) disposed in a transmission housing (11) which has a cover (63), having a clutch housing (2) which connects a drive unit (21) that comprises an internal combustion engine, for example, to a drive output (8) such as a transmission (10), and which clutch housing (2) is rotatable about a central axis (3) and on its side facing the drive unit (21), in the region of radial extent of its centre of rotation, is assigned an axial central protrusion (25) that serves to receive a rotor carrier (40) which receives a rotor (41) of an electric machine (42), wherein the central protrusion (25) by way of a first connecting device (26) is at least co-rotationally connected to the drive unit (21), and by way of a second connecting device (38; 38a) is at least co-rotationally connected to the rotor carrier (40), characterized in that the central protrusion (25) projects in the direction of the drive unit (21), wherein the central protrusion (25) by way of a fastening device (49) is fixedly connected to the clutch housing (2) an by means of a bearing device (65) is centred in relation to the cover (63), and / or the rotor carrier (40), at least on its side facing away from the clutch housing (2), has a plurality of clearances (60, 61) in the circumferential direction, and in that the rotor carrier (40), in each case in the circumferential region of the respective connecting element (51) of the fastening device (49), but radially outside said connecting element (51), is in each case formed having one clearance (60), or in that the rotor carrier (40), in each case in the circumferential region of the respective connecting element (51) of the fastening device (49), but radially within said connecting element (51), is in each case formed having one clearance (61).

2. Clutch arrangement (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the central protrusion (25) is sealed in relation to the cover (63) by means of a sealing device (66).

3. Clutch arrangement (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one connecting device (26; 38; 38a) and / or the fastening device (49) has preferably releasable connecting elements (31, 32; 43; 43a; 46).

4. Clutch arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first connecting device (26), which is provided between the drive unit (21) and the central protrusion (25) is designed to be releasable.

5. Clutch arrangement (1) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the first connecting device (26), which is provided between the drive unit (21) and the central protrusion (25), is provided with radial toothings (34, 35) on the central protrusion (25) as well as on the torsional vibration damper (29) .

6. Clutch arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central protrusion (25) has a radially outwardly engaging fastening flange (48) which by means of connecting elements (51) of the fastening device (49) serves to link the central protrusion (25) to the clutch housing (2).

7. Clutch arrangement (1) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the central protrusion (25), on the side of the fastening flange (48) that faces away from the clutch housing (2), is provided with a support device (51) for the rotor carrier (40), which support device (51) has at least one support (52) for the rotor carrier (40) as well as at least one receptacle (55) for at least one, preferably releasable, connecting element (46) of the fastening device (49).

8. Clutch arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clutch housing (2) and / or the drive unit (21) comprise / comprises an absorber system (20).

9. Clutch arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive unit (21) comprises a torsional vibration damper (29) .

10. Clutch arrangement (1) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the radially outwardly engaging fastening flange (48) of the central protrusion (25) receives the rotor carrier (40) so as to be axially between said fastening flange (48) and the clutch housing (2).

11. Clutch arrangement (1) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the radially outwardly engaging fastening flange (48) of the central protrusion (25) receives the rotor carrier (40) on that side of said fastening flange (48) that faces away from the clutch housing (2).

12. Clutch arrangement (1) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the radially outwardly engaging fastening flange (48) of the central protrusion (25), in those circumferential regions in which said fastening flange (48) by way of connecting elements (46) of the fastening device (49) engages on the clutch housing (2), protrudes radially further outward, while encompassing these connecting elements (46), than in circumferential regions between two respective connecting elements (46) .

13. Clutch arrangement (1) according to Claim 12, characterized in that the radially outwardly engaging fastening flange (48) of the central protrusion (25), in the radial circumferential region of said fastening flange (48), has an at least substantially undulating external contour (68) .

14. Clutch arrangement (1) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the support device (51) for the rotor carrier (40) is present in the form of struts (53) which are provided on that side of the radially outwardly engaging fastening flange (48) of the central protrusion (25) that faces away from the clutch housing (2) and, proceeding from a hub (54) of the central protrusion (25), extend in each case substantially radially outwards.

15. Clutch arrangement (1) according to Claim 14, characterized in that the struts (53), in each case by way of their radially inner end, open into the hub (54) of the central protrusion (25) and, in each case by way of their radially outer end, enclose at least one receptacle (55) for at least one, preferably releasable, connecting element (43; 43a) of the second connecting device (38, 38a).