Clutch Actuator Mounting for Stable Hydraulic Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of motor vehicle clutch devices with hydraulic actuation systems is complicated by the difficulty in achieving precise positioning of components, particularly due to relative rotations between the actuator and bell housing, which makes routing the hydraulic line unpredictable and challenging.
Innovation Solution
The actuating means is firmly connected to a support element fixed directly to the motor housing, ensuring a clear and unambiguous position, with a hydraulic actuator featuring an axially movable annular piston and a concentrically arranged cylinder, and a hydraulic line connected to this support element, which is either an arcuate holder or seated in a recess of the bell housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the actuating means is rotatably mounted on the bell housing, then the actuator can be held stationary when the pressure plate housing rotates, but the relative rotation between the actuator and bell housing makes hydraulic line routing unpredictable and assembly difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating means is extracted from the bell housing mounting and instead firmly connected to a support element fixed directly to the motor housing. This separation removes the source of relative rotation problems from the bell housing assembly, allowing the hydraulic line routing to be precisely defined relative to the motor housing rather than dealing with unpredictable rotations at the bell housing interface.
2Manufacturing precision
If the actuating means is firmly connected to the motor housing, then the position of the actuating means is clearly and unambiguously defined, but the bell housing becomes a separate component requiring additional assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
A support element is introduced as an intermediary component between the motor housing and the actuating means. This support element serves as a dedicated mounting structure that firmly connects the actuator to the motor housing, providing precise positioning while maintaining clear separation of functions. The support element acts as a mediator that resolves the conflict between secure mounting and component integration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration simplifies and reproducibly positions the actuating means, preventing relative rotation and ensuring a stable hydraulic line routing, facilitating easier assembly and operation of the clutch device.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure plate is acted upon axially by a spring (spring means) and in particular by an active section thereof, so that a friction torque can be transmitted via the clutch device.
Implementation Method 2
If, however, hydraulic movement means are used for the axial movement of the active portion of the spring
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a clutch device (1), in particular a motor vehicle clutch device, with a clutch disc (2) which can be clamped between a flywheel (4) and a pressure plate (5) by means of a spring element (3), wherein the clutch device (1) is attached to an engine housing (6) during intended use, and wherein an actuating element (7) is provided by which an effective section (8) of the spring element (3) acting on the pressure plate (5) is axially movable. To simplify the assembly of the clutch device, the invention provides that the actuating element (7) is rigidly connected, at least with one of its components (9), to a support element (10) which is attached directly to the engine housing (6).