Dry Multi-Plate Clutch Venting for Abrasion Dust Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hybrid drive power transmission systems face issues with abrasion dust accumulation due to the lack of discharge openings in sealed spaces, leading to poor engagement and release of dry multi-plate clutches, as the abrasion dust cannot be radially discharged.
Innovation Solution
A drive power transmission system with a dry clutch featuring a cover member having an external air intake hole radially inward and an external air discharge hole radially outward, utilizing centrifugal pressure to create a pressure differential that facilitates the axial and radial air flow for abrasion dust discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the dry clutch is housed in a sealed space without discharge openings, then the clutch is protected from external contamination, but abrasion dust accumulates between friction surfaces causing poor engagement and release
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful abrasion dust from the sealed space by providing discharge openings in the cover member. The openings allow abrasion dust to be removed from the clutch assembly, preventing accumulation between friction surfaces while maintaining the sealed protective environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member is designed with differentiated local qualities: most of the cover maintains sealing properties, while specific localized regions contain discharge openings. This allows the cover to simultaneously provide protection and enable dust removal at critical locations without compromising overall sealing.
2Productivity
If the clutch assembly is compactly arranged with motor and transmission, then space utilization is improved, but no space remains to provide radial discharge openings for abrasion dust
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from radial discharge (which would require outward-opening openings) to axial discharge by orienting discharge openings in the axial direction. This dimensional change allows dust removal functionality to be integrated into the compact clutch assembly without requiring additional radial space, as the openings utilize the axial dimension already present in the clutch structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member serves multiple functions: it seals the clutch assembly, provides structural support, and incorporates discharge openings for abrasion dust removal. By integrating these functions into a single component, the design achieves compact space utilization without adding separate discharge mechanisms that would increase device complexity.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If axial air flow is introduced through the clutch assembly, then abrasion dust can be carried outwards, but the sealed space configuration must be modified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the discharge opening functionality with the cover member structure itself. The cover member is designed to include axial discharge openings as an integrated feature, combining the sealing function and dust removal function in a single component rather than adding separate discharge mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The axial air flow pattern is utilized to carry abrasion dust from the friction surfaces directly through the discharge openings in the cover member. The natural air flow generated by clutch operation and pressure differential serves the dual purpose of cooling and dust removal, with the cover member's openings positioned to take advantage of this self-generated flow pattern.
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
Effectively discharges abrasion dust generated between clutch plates by carrying it through axial and radial air flows, improving the engagement and release performance of the dry multi-plate clutch by maintaining a cleaner friction surface.
Implementation Method 1
As a result of the effect of centrifugal pressure from rotation about the clutch rotational axis, the radially inward pressure of the dry clutch is lower than atmosphere pressure (negative pressure), and the radially outward pressure of the dry clutch is higher than atmospheric pressure (positive pressure)
Data Source
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AI summary
Abrasion dust that is generated between clutch plates that are pressed together via a friction facing is carried in an axial air flow and is externally discharged. In a hybrid drive power transmission system, a dry multi-plate clutch 7 that is disposed in a sealed space and disconnects the transmitting of drive power comprises a drive plate 71, a driven plate 72, a friction facing 73, and a front cover 60. The drive plate 71 is joined by splines to a clutch hub 3. The driven plate 72 is joined by splines to a clutch drum 6. The front cover 60 has an external air intake hole 66 that takes external air into the sealed space and an external air discharge hole 67 that discharges a flow of air from the sealed space. In the front cover 60 that is disposed on a side face of the clutch, the external air intake hole 66 that passes through axially is provided at a radially inward location relative to the two clutch plates 71, 72, and an external air discharge hole 67 that passes through axially is provided at a radially outward location relative to the two clutch plates 71, 72.