Clutch Pressure Plate With Deformable Support Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure plates for motor vehicle friction clutches lack a component structure that allows relative movement between counter-friction elements and the carrier structure, leading to inadequate power transmission and increased wear.
Innovation Solution
A pressure plate with a support structure designed to deform in the circumferential direction, allowing counter-friction elements to twist, tilt, or incline, thereby equalizing contact pressure distribution and enhancing force absorption through intentional twistability and flexible connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the pressure plate uses a rigid support structure to maintain structural stability, then structural stability is improved, but relative movement between counter-friction elements and the carrier structure is prevented, leading to inadequate power transmission and increased wear
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is designed with intentional twistability and flexibility, allowing it to deform dynamically in the circumferential direction under load. This enables the counter-friction elements to move relative to the carrier structure, improving power transmission while maintaining overall structural stability through controlled deformation rather than rigid fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure's material and dimensional parameters are specifically selected to allow controlled deformation in the circumferential direction. By changing the rigidity parameters locally while maintaining overall structural integrity, the design enables relative movement between components for better power transmission without compromising structural stability.
2Manufacturing precision
If the support structure is made rigid to maintain positional accuracy of counter-friction elements, then positional accuracy is improved, but wear increases due to inability to accommodate disturbing forces
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure incorporates controlled flexibility that allows it to deform under disturbing forces, enabling the counter-friction elements to twist, tilt, and incline relative to the carrier structure. This dynamic adaptation reduces wear while maintaining sufficient positional accuracy for effective frictional contact during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The intentionally designed twistability of the support structure acts as a pre-configured cushioning mechanism that absorbs disturbing forces before they can cause excessive wear. This beforehand cushioning through controlled deformation protects the counter-friction elements and extends service life while maintaining positional accuracy within acceptable tolerances.
3Device complexity
If the pressure plate is designed as a single rigid component for simplicity, then device complexity is reduced, but contact pressure distribution cannot be equalized, leading to uneven wear and reduced efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure plate is segmented into a carrier structure and multiple counter-friction elements that can move independently. This segmentation allows the support structure to deform and equalize contact pressure distribution across different friction elements, improving reliability while maintaining relatively simple overall device complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to deform in the circumferential direction, enabling automatic equalization of contact pressure distribution. This dynamic behavior improves pressure distribution and reduces uneven wear without significantly increasing device complexity, as the flexibility is built into the support structure itself rather than requiring complex active control mechanisms.
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
The solution improves the service life of clutch components by allowing the pressure plate to absorb and dissipate forces, reducing wear and enhancing torque transmission efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the support structure is dimensioned and its material are such that a deformation acting in the circumferential direction, such as bending, stretching, compression and/or displacement, on the support structure causes a Change in position of one or more of the counter-friction elements
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~8
AI summary
The invention relates to a pressure plate (1) for a friction clutch of a motor vehicle, which is intended, together with another pressure plate (1), to clamp a clutch disc comprising at least one friction element (3) for transmitting torque, wherein the pressure plate (1) has a support structure (4) to which a plurality of counter friction elements (5) are connected to interact with the at least one friction element (3), wherein the support structure (4) is dimensioned and produced with respect to the material thereof such that a deformation to the supporting structure which acts in the circumferential direction effects a change in position of one or more of the counter friction elements (5) relative to the support structure (4). The invention also relates to a motor vehicle friction clutch (2) comprising a pressure plate (1) of the type according to the invention, wherein the clutch (2) is designed as a single-disc clutch, a multi-disc clutch or a dual clutch.