Shiftable Friction Clutch with Disk Spring Pressure Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shiftable friction clutches in vehicle technology face challenges in achieving a compact, reliable design with a fluid-tight pressure medium accommodation and a resilient element to counteract pressure medium expansion, particularly with reciprocally moving parts.
Innovation Solution
A shiftable friction clutch with rotatably mounted coupling elements and a variable pressure chamber using a disk spring to engage or disengage, where the disk spring is mounted inside the pressure chamber, allowing for a compact construction and adjustable parameters like material and incisions to optimize spring rate and travel, with conical friction surfaces and a mechanical stop to limit piston displacement and prevent excessive elongation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a resilient element is accommodated within the shifting device, then the clutch can counteract pressure medium expansion, but the device complexity increases due to additional reciprocally moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is integrated directly into the pressure chamber, merging the resilient element function with the pressure containment structure. This eliminates the need for separate resilient element housings and reduces the number of reciprocally moving parts while maintaining the ability to counteract pressure medium expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is positioned inside the pressure chamber, nesting the resilient element within the existing structural boundary. This allows the spring to be accommodated without adding external complexity to the shifting device while still providing the necessary counteraction force.
2Reliability
If a working chamber for pressure medium is made as fluid-tight as possible, then the clutch operates more reliably, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible membrane is used as the sealing element between the pressure chamber and the actuator. This membrane can deform to accommodate manufacturing tolerances and thermal expansions while maintaining fluid-tight sealing, thereby reducing the stringent manufacturing precision requirements compared to rigid sealing solutions.
3Volume of moving object
If the clutch is built as compactly as possible, then the space requirement is reduced, but the accommodation of a fluid-tight pressure chamber becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure chamber is integrated directly into the actuator structure, merging two functional components into a single unified structure. This eliminates the need for separate pressure chamber housings and reduces the overall clutch volume while maintaining fluid-tight containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure chamber is positioned concentrically within the actuator assembly, nesting the fluid containment structure within the existing mechanical framework. This efficient spatial arrangement minimizes the overall clutch dimensions while ensuring proper fluid-tight sealing.
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 results in a compact, reliable, and adaptable clutch design that reduces susceptibility to failure, minimizes out-of-balance mass, and enhances torque transmission resilience against vibrations and shocks, while allowing for efficient engagement and disengagement based on pressure medium force, supporting auxiliary assemblies with reduced mechanical power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The spring is a disk spring... the spring being a disk spring... the spring travel lies within the expansion space of the pressure medium
Implementation Method 2
the piston can be displaced by a pressure increase against the force of the spring, and the clutch can thereby be either engaged or disengaged
Implementation Method 3
two coupling elements which are mounted rotatably about the same axis and are able to be brought into frictional contact with one another in order to transmit a rotary motion... conical friction surfaces come into frictional contact with one another
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a shiftable friction clutch (1a, 1b) for actuation with a pressure medium. Clutches of this type can be used, for example, to drive auxiliary assemblies such as fans (22) in vehicle construction. An especially compact construction is achieved through the use of a disk spring (6). A production method is furthermore proposed.