Clutch Spring Structure Limits Friction Radius Change
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Solution Overview
Problem
Clutch arrangements in vehicle drive trains face issues with uneven force distribution leading to changes in mechanical load on friction surfaces, causing wear and mechanical stresses due to speed differences and radially acting forces, which can result in undesirable effects like tilting of components.
Innovation Solution
A clutch arrangement with a spring structure that limits the change in effective friction radius or contact pressure force radius by design, using a pressing element with a spring structure that can change shape to manage contact pressure and maintain uniform loading, incorporating a spiral or disk spring structure to control the engagement behavior and reduce wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a spring structure is used to improve engagement behavior and increase contact pressure, then the engagement behavior is improved, but the effective friction radius changes significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the spring structure's geometric parameters (radius ratios, thickness distribution) to achieve a balance between engagement behavior improvement and effective friction radius stability. The spring is designed with specific radius ratios (inner radius 0.3-0.7 times outer radius, pressing point radius 0.8-1.2 times inner radius) to control the change in effective friction radius within 20% of the mean value while maintaining improved engagement characteristics.
2Force
If the contact pressure force radius changes during operation, then the mechanical load on friction surfaces changes, but this leads to increased wear and mechanical stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a non-uniform thickness distribution in the spring structure, with the spring being thinner at the inner radius and thicker at the outer radius. This local variation in geometry compensates for the uneven force distribution during clutch engagement, ensuring more uniform contact pressure across the friction surfaces and reducing localized wear and mechanical stresses.
3Temperature
If oil circulation is used to dissipate heat from friction surfaces, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing the clutch system to utilize its own operational characteristics for cooling. The relative motion between friction surfaces during engagement and disengagement naturally generates oil circulation and heat dissipation, eliminating the need for separate active cooling mechanisms while maintaining effective temperature control of the friction surfaces.
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 effectively limits the change in effective friction radius, improving engagement behavior, reducing wear, and enhancing cooling efficiency while maintaining uniform loading and reducing mechanical stresses on components.
Implementation Method 1
a spring structure which is designed and arranged in such a way that a change in shape on component (280) at least partially causes the force via which the pressing element creates or separates the frictional engagement
Implementation Method 2
Clutches are often based on the creation of a frictional contact between corresponding components which are coupled to a drive component and a driven component of the clutch in question
Implementation Method 3
clutches are used, for example, in which oil circulates inside a housing, which dissipates the heat generated on the friction surfaces
Implementation Method 4
oil circulates inside a housing, which dissipates the heat generated on the friction surfaces
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a clutch arrangement (100), for example for a drive train of a vehicle, which comprises, according to one embodiment, a first frictional surface (230) and a second frictional surface (240) that are arranged such that they can be moved relative to one another along a rotational clutch arrangement (100) axis (300) and are designed to be able to be brought into a frictional engagement with one another, the first frictional surface (230) or the second frictional surface (240) being arranged on a component (280). In addition, said arrangement comprises a pressure element (620) which is designed, upon actuation, to create or separate said frictional engagement by applying a force along the rotational axis (300), said pressure element (620) comprising a spring structure (695) that is designed and arranged to at least partially apply the force onto the component (280) by means of a change in shape, and said pressure element (620) additionally comprising a pressure structure (715) that is designed to limit a change in the shape of the spring structure (695).