Double Clutch Diaphragm Spring Positioning to Prevent Uneven Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional double clutch assemblies experience uneven wear of the disk due to eccentric contact between the pressure plate and the disk assembly, caused by distortion of the diaphragm spring's axis center during contraction and restoration, leading to misalignment and reduced concentricity.
Innovation Solution
A double clutch assembly with a position restriction structure that includes a body part, mounting part, first protrusion, and second protrusion, fixed to the auxiliary cover casing, which restricts the radial and rotational movement of the diaphragm spring, maintaining its concentricity with the hub center by expanding the contact area through surface contact in both directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the diaphragm spring is allowed to contract and restore freely, then the clutch operation is smooth, but the axis center becomes distorted and concentricity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
A position restriction structure is introduced as an intermediary component between the diaphragm spring and the auxiliary cover casing. This structure includes protrusions that engage with grooves on the diaphragm spring's inner peripheral surface, acting as a mediator that guides and constrains the spring's movement to maintain concentricity while allowing necessary contraction and restoration during clutch operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The position restriction structure is pre-installed on the auxiliary cover casing before the diaphragm spring is assembled. The protrusions are positioned in advance to align with the grooves on the diaphragm spring, ensuring that when the spring is installed, its concentricity is automatically established and maintained throughout the contraction and restoration cycles.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the diaphragm spring moves radially and rotationally, then the clutch can adapt to load variations, but uneven wear occurs on the disk
Solution Approach 1:
The position restriction structure serves as an intermediary guidance mechanism that allows the diaphragm spring to move radially for load adaptation while preventing excessive rotational movement. The protrusions engage with grooves that permit radial expansion and contraction but constrain rotational displacement, thereby enabling clutch adaptability while preventing the eccentric contact that causes disk uneven wear.
3Manufacturing precision
If the contact area with the diaphragm spring is expanded, then concentricity is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The position restriction structure is segmented into multiple simple protrusions distributed around the auxiliary cover casing. Each protrusion engages with corresponding grooves on the diaphragm spring, creating multiple contact points that collectively maintain concentricity. This segmentation approach achieves precise alignment without requiring a single complex restriction mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The position restriction structure performs multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains concentricity, guides radial movement, prevents excessive rotation, and provides support during clutch operation. By integrating these functions into a single simple structure with protrusions and grooves, the design avoids the need for separate components for each function, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention includes a position restriction structure disposed in a space between an auxiliary cover casing and a diaphragm spring and having a body part fixed to the auxiliary cover casing, a mounting part extending in a circumferential direction from the body part and coupled to the auxiliary cover casing, a first protrusion protruding in an axial direction from the body part toward an incision groove of the diaphragm spring and inserted into the incision groove to restrict movement in the radial direction and a second protrusion protruding in the axial direction from the body part toward the incision groove of the diaphragm spring and inserted into the incision groove to restrict movement in the rotational direction. The position restriction structure is installed on the auxiliary cover casing and restrains the movement in the radial and rotational directions of the diaphragm spring.