Clutch assembly

Abstract

The invention proposes a clutch assembly (1) which is intended for coupling a drive to a unit of a motor vehicle and comprises a housing (3, 6), in which an inner ring (2), a friction lining (4), a spring set (11) and a bearing (7, 8) are arranged, wherein, in an operating position of the inner ring (2), it is possible to establish a frictional connection between the inner ring, friction lining and housing by means of the spring force of the spring set (11) and the inner ring can be displaced axially into a release position, in which the housing is rotatably mounted in relation to the inner ring via the bearing. According to the invention, the housing is designed in two parts and is made up of an outer ring and an outer-ring carrier, wherein the outer ring and the outer-ring carrier are designed such that, once the housing has been put together, the inner ring, the friction lining, the spring set and the bearing are fixed in the housing.

Description

[0001] File: 26702 WO / AVS Clutch assembly The invention relates to a clutch assembly for connecting a drive to a motor vehicle assembly. The assembly can be, for example, a compressor or a retarder. The drive of such assemblies is not required throughout operation, so it is already known from the prior art to arrange a clutch between the drive and the assembly. Power transmission in switchable clutches is generally achieved via friction linings designed for only a specific number of switching cycles. Especially in safety-relevant auxiliary assemblies, such as the air compressor in motor vehicles, which provides compressed air for the service brake system, a clutch connected between the drive and the assembly must not fail.From DE 10 2017 114 325 A1, for example, a conical friction clutch is known which is moved into the operating position by means of a spring element and can be switched into a disengaged position by means of the actuating element. Another clutch device is known from DE102019135350 B1. The essential clutch components are the friction linings, which are subject to wear. To ensure the function of the auxiliary unit, the clutch must be in the closed position when the clutch is not engaged. As an additional safeguard against excessive wear, a locking element is proposed which prevents the clutch from slipping in the event of excessive wear. For maintenance, the clutch devices can be dismantled, for example to replace the friction linings. The mechanic is then responsible for correctly setting the switching forces and / or switching travel, which can lead to incorrect settings.File: 26702 WO / AVS The object of the invention is to propose a clutch assembly for coupling a drive train to an assembly that ensures safe operation. This object is achieved according to the invention by an embodiment according to the independent claim. Further advantageous embodiments of the present invention can be found in the subclaims. A clutch assembly for coupling a drive to an assembly of a motor vehicle is proposed, which comprises a housing in which an inner ring, a friction lining, a spring assembly and a bearing are arranged, wherein in an operating position of the inner ring, a friction connection can be established between the inner ring, friction lining and housing by means of the spring force of the spring assembly and the inner ring can be displaced axially into a disengaged position, in which the housing is rotatably mounted relative to the inner ring via the bearing.According to the invention, the housing is designed in two parts and is composed of an outer ring and an outer ring carrier, wherein the outer ring and the outer ring carrier are designed in such a way that the inner ring, the friction lining, the spring assembly and the bearing are fixed in the housing after assembly of the housing. This design allows the clutch assembly to be assembled in advance and mounted as a unit on a shaft of a unit. The fixed setting of the spring forces makes it possible to ensure close tolerances, which improves functional reliability. In a preferred embodiment, the outer ring and the outer ring carrier can be permanently connected after assembly. This can be achieved, for example, by welding, gluing or another permanent connection. The inner ring is preferably coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to an intermediate sleeve, e.g.File: 26702 WO / AVS welded, wherein the intermediate sleeve has internal teeth designed such that the intermediate sleeve is axially movable on a shaft with counter teeth. The torque is transmitted from the clutch to the unit via the teeth. The axial displaceability ensures displacement from the operating position to the disengaged position, idle. Furthermore, the bearing can consist of a shaft sleeve on which a flanged bushing is mounted, and an axial bearing arranged between the spring assembly and the outer ring carrier, wherein the shaft sleeve is designed such that it is axially displaceable on a shaft journal. In a preferred embodiment, the friction lining can be applied to the inner ring, which can be brought into contact with an inner surface on the outer ring. A friction lining applied to the inner surface of the outer ring or friction rings applied on both sides is also conceivable.Furthermore, a unit with a corresponding clutch assembly is proposed, wherein the clutch assembly can be pushed onto a drive shaft of the unit and an axial position of the clutch assembly relative to the unit can be adjusted by means of a stop. The stop can be a stop nut or clamping nut that can be screwed onto the shaft journal. The unit also comprises an actuator by means of which the inner ring can be moved axially against the spring assembly into the disengaged position. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to Figure 1. This shows a sectional view through a clutch assembly 1 according to the invention. The essential clutch components are the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3, which are mounted so as to be rotatable relative to one another in the illustrated open position of the clutch, so that no torque can be transmitted from the outer ring 3 to the inner ring 2.The friction lining 4 or clutch lining is arranged between the inner ring 2 and the outer ring 3, file: 26702 WO / AVS, wherein in the embodiment shown the latter is fastened to the inner ring 2 and is movable against the inner surface 16 of the outer ring 3. This general clutch surface arrangement is sufficiently known from the prior art. The inner ring 2 is connected to the intermediate sleeve 17, welded in this embodiment. The space between the intermediate sleeve 17 and the inner ring 2 is designed such that the spring assembly can be installed there. The shaft 12 has an internal toothing 5, on which the intermediate sleeve 17 is positioned axially displaceably and radially rotationally fixed. This ensures torque transmission from the friction lining 4 via the intermediate sleeve 17 to the shaft 12. In the front area of ​​the shaft 12 there is a shaft journal 18.The shaft sleeve 9 is arranged on the shaft journal 18 and is axially secured with a clamping nut 14 so that a precise axial position of the shaft sleeve 9 on the shaft journal 18 can be defined, which forms a stop for the intermediate sleeve 17 in the disengaged position. The axial displacement of the intermediate sleeve 17 into the disengaged position is achieved by means of the actuator 10, which here is designed as a piston 10 and, as known from the StdT, is pneumatically actuated. The working position shown is the disengaged or decoupling position, in which the piston 10 is pressurized with compressed air so that an axial force acts on the spring assembly 11 and this is compressed. The spring assembly 11 is supported on the axial bearing 7. The outer ring carrier 6 is arranged on the shaft 12 or the shaft journal 18 so as to be freely rotatable, with the bearing being provided by the flange bushing 8.The coupling to the drive is not shown, although the outer ring carrier 6 can be coupled directly to the drive. The coupling assembly 1 is an assembly that includes all coupling parts, including the intermediate sleeve 17 and the shaft sleeve 9, which can be pushed onto the shaft 12 and the shaft journal 18, respectively. File: 26702 WO / AVS The essential external structure of the coupling assembly 1 is formed by the outer ring 3 and the outer ring carrier 6, which are welded together via the weld seam 15, so that a housing is created for the components 2, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 17 arranged between them, which must be assembled before the outer ring 3 and outer ring carrier 6 are joined and welded together and then can no longer be removed. The coupling assembly 1 can only be pushed onto the shaft end as a whole, whereby an axial position of the coupling assembly 1 can be determined using the clamping nut 14.In the non-actuated state, i.e., with the friction clutch engaged, torque can be transmitted from the outer ring carrier 6 via the outer ring 3, the friction lining 4, the inner ring 2, and the intermediate sleeve 17 to the shaft 12. Should the friction lining 4 become worn, the operating condition can be restored by simply replacing the entire clutch assembly 1. This closed design of the clutch assembly 1 ensures that defined gap dimensions can be set during assembly of the clutch.

[0002] File: 26702 WO / AVS List of reference symbols 1 Clutch assembly 2 Inner ring 3 Outer ring 4 Friction lining 5 Internal toothing 6 Outer ring carrier 7 Axial bearing 8 Flange bush 9 Shaft sleeve 10 Actuator 11 Spring assembly 12 Shaft 13 Oil channel 14 Clamping nut 15 Weld seam 16 Inner surface 17 Intermediate sleeve 18 Shaft journal

Claims

File: 26702 WO / AVS Patent claims 1.Clutch assembly (1) for coupling a drive to an assembly of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing (3, 6) in which an inner ring (2), a friction lining (4), a spring assembly (11) and a bearing (7, 8) are arranged, wherein in an operating position of the inner ring (2) by means of the spring force of the spring assembly (11) a friction connection can be established between the inner ring (2), the friction lining (4) and the housing (3, 6) and the inner ring (2) can be axially displaced into a disengaged position in which the housing (3, 6) is rotatably mounted relative to the inner ring (2) via the bearing (7, 8, 9), characterized in that the housing (3, 6) is designed in two parts and is composed of an outer ring (3) and an outer ring carrier (6), wherein the outer ring (3) and the outer ring carrier (6) are designed such that the inner ring (2), the friction lining (4), the spring assembly (11) and the bearings (7, 8, 9) are fixed in the housing after assembly of the housing (3, 6). 2.Coupling assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer ring (3) and the outer ring carrier (6) are permanently connected after assembly.

3. Coupling assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner ring (2) is rotationally fixedly coupled to an intermediate sleeve (17) having internal teeth designed such that the intermediate sleeve (17) is axially movable on a shaft with counter teeth.

4. Coupling assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that. File: 26702 WO / AVS that the bearing (7, 8, 9) consists of a shaft sleeve (9) on which a flanged bushing (8) is mounted, and an axial bearing (7) arranged between the spring assembly and the outer ring carrier, wherein the shaft sleeve (9) is designed such that it is axially displaceable on a shaft journal (18).

5. Clutch assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the friction lining (4) is applied to the inner ring (2) and can be brought into contact with an inner surface (16) on the outer ring (3).

6. Unit with clutch assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the clutch assembly (1) can be pushed onto a drive shaft (12) of the unit, and an axial position of the clutch assembly (1) relative to the unit can be adjusted by means of a stop (14).Unit according to claim 6, characterized in that the unit comprises an actuator (10) by means of which the inner ring (2) can be displaced in the axial direction against the spring assembly (11) into the disengaged position.

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