Friction Clutch Pressure Plate With Sliding Weights for Lower Squeezing Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional friction clutches with V-shaped fingers occupy excessive space, require high squeezing force for actuation, and have complex structures, limiting torque transmission and endurance, especially at varying engine speeds.
Innovation Solution
A friction clutch pressure plate device with an annular primary and secondary pressure plate and sliding weight plates, designed to maximize centrifugal force within a limited space, reducing the squeezing force required for actuation across all engine speed domains, featuring inclined and curved surfaces to manage centrifugal forces effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If V-shaped fingers with cylindrical weights are used to reduce squeezing force, then squeezing force is reduced, but device complexity and space occupation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure plate device is divided into a primary pressure plate and a secondary pressure plate, with weight plates integrated into the secondary pressure plate. This segmentation allows the weight plates to be positioned optimally for generating centrifugal force while maintaining a compact overall structure, reducing both complexity and space occupation compared to external V-shaped finger mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The weight plates are merged with the secondary pressure plate as an integrated structure rather than separate components. This combining eliminates the need for additional V-shaped fingers and external weight mechanisms, reducing device complexity while maintaining the centrifugal force generation function.
2Ease of operation
If V-shaped fingers with cylindrical weights are used to reduce squeezing force, then squeezing force is reduced, but space occupation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The weight plates are positioned radially outward from the rotation axis within the plane of the secondary pressure plate, utilizing the radial dimension efficiently. The inclined inner wall face of the primary pressure plate converts radial centrifugal force into axial pressing force, maximizing space utilization and minimizing the overall volume occupied by the mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined inner wall face of the primary pressure plate and the corresponding inclined surface of the weight plates create a tapered, curved interface that efficiently converts radial centrifugal force into axial pressing force. This curved geometry allows compact packaging of the force transmission mechanism, reducing the space required compared to straight-sided geometric arrangements.
3Ease of operation
If spring device elastic pressing force is reduced to lower squeezing force, then squeezing force is reduced, but torque transmission capability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The weight plates are positioned to engage with the inclined inner wall face of the primary pressure plate before the clutch needs to transmit maximum torque. As rotation speed increases, centrifugal force builds up progressively, pre-loading the system with additional pressing force that supplements the spring device force, ensuring adequate torque transmission capability is established in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing force on the clutch disc unit becomes dynamic, combining the static elastic pressing force from the spring device with the dynamic centrifugal force from the rotating weight plates. This dynamic force generation allows the system to maintain low squeezing force at idle while automatically increasing total pressing force under high torque conditions.
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 reduces the squeezing force needed for clutch actuation across all engine speed domains, enhances endurance, and minimizes space occupation, allowing for easier integration and improved torque transmission, while maintaining a simple structure.
Implementation Method 1
the weight plates are capable of sliding in radial directions with respect to the axis... the primary pressure plate comprises a first outer circumferential wall that is formed toward the weight plates of such primary pressure plate and that possesses an inner wall face which is inclined such that distance thereof from the axis increases with decreasing distance therefrom to the secondary pressure plate
Data Source
AI summary
Friction clutch pressure plate device 11 which is provided between spring device 12 and clutch disc unit 4 of friction clutch 1 comprises primary pressure plate 19, secondary pressure plate 22 which is capable of approaching and receding from primary pressure plate 19, and a plurality of weight plates 23 which are slidably arranged between mutually opposed side faces 19a, 22a of primary pressure plate 19 and secondary pressure plate 22. Primary pressure plate 19 comprises first outer circumferential wall 25 having inclined inner wall face 24, secondary pressure plate 22 comprises second outer circumferential wall 28 having perpendicular inner wall face 27, and weight plate 23 comprises tip portion engaging surface that engages with perpendicular inner wall face 27 and a tip portion inclined surface 32 that engages with inclined inner wall face 24.