Abstract: A clutch assembly, particularly for a friction clutch of a motor vehicle, with at least one clutch housing in which is arranged a diaphragm spring that acts on a pressure plate and is secured to the clutch housing by a holding ring with retaining tabs distributed over a circumference at a distance axially from the holding ring. The retaining tabs define an axial stop. A spring element is arranged between two adjacent structural component parts of the clutch assembly that are arranged between the holding ring and the axial stop of the retaining tabs that exerts an axial spring force on the adjacent structural component parts. The spring element is arranged on at least one retaining tab and has at least two edge-side support regions that extend in direction of the adjacent retaining tabs and at least partially contact one structural component part and at least one axial raised portion arranged between the support regions that at least partially contacts the other structural component part.

Abstract: A dual clutch and a method for controlling the same in a drive train of a motor vehicle which has two friction clutches that transmit a torque from an internal combustion engine to respective transmission input shafts of a dual clutch transmission and which have a common counterpressure plate firmly connected to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and two contact plates that are fixed in terms of rotation relative to the counterpressure plate and can be moved axially by respective lever springs supported on a housing part firmly connected to the counterpressure plate. To limit the axial installation space for the dual clutch, the lever springs for actuating the friction clutches are actuated radially on the inside in the same direction by respective actuating systems in the case of a change from one friction clutch to the other of a torque to be transmitted via the friction clutches.

Abstract: A clutch apparatus is equipped with two clutch structures having a clutch drum therein. A driven plate and a piston are provided in the clutch drum of each clutch structure, and a primary coned disc spring and a secondary coned disc spring, which are ring-shaped, are provided between the driven plate and the piston. A flat portion is formed on an inner peripheral portion of a convex surface of the primary coned disc spring, and the flat portion can come into contact with a counter member first when a load is applied. A load in a flat condition due to elastic deformation is adjusted by the flat portion so as to be a desirable value. Blanks and of the primary coned disc spring and the secondary coned disc spring can be obtained from one sheet of material having the same thickness. In this case, the flat portion is formed by press forming on an inner peripheral portion of the blank in view of the shape thereof after bending forming is performed.

Abstract: A clutch unit having a pressure plate via which, as a result of axial displacement, a clutch disc which bears friction linings can be pressed against a pressure plate to form a frictionally engaging connection, wherein the axial displacement of the pressure plate can be effected by means of an axial displacement of a lever spring plate which has a circular outer circumference and which bears against one or more protuberances arranged annularly on a surface, which faces toward the lever spring plate of the pressure plate so as to be spaced apart radially from the outer edge thereof, and wherein the pressure plate has, radially at the outside on that side thereof which faces towards the lever spring plate, an annular, axially projecting edge. At least three radial projections which are spaced apart in the circumferential direction are arranged on the radially inner wall of the axially projecting edge.

Abstract: A clutch 44 has a clutch boss 441, a clutch housing 442, a friction plate 64, a clutch plate 65, and a pressure plate 450. The clutch boss 441 is attached to the main shaft 41 so as to be integrally rotated therewith. The clutch housing 442 encloses the periphery of the clutch boss 441 and is attached to the main shaft 41 so as to be rotated with respect to the main shaft 41. The friction plate 64 has a plate main body and a friction material and rotates together with the clutch housing 442. The clutch plate 65 faces the plate main body via the friction material and rotates together with the clutch boss 441. The pressure plate 450 rotates together with one of the clutch boss 441 the clutch housing 442 which is engaged with the friction plate 64.

Abstract: A transmission configured for receiving power from an engine is provided with a normally-closed clutch in order to permit operation in modes requiring closure of the clutch even when hydraulic power from a pump powered by the engine or by rotation of a transmission member is not available, or is not of a sufficient pressure.

Abstract: A starting clutch, particularly for racing and sports vehicles, has clutch plates, of which at least one is non-rotatably coupled with a clutch cage of the starting clutch and at least one is non-rotatably coupled with a clutch hub of the starting clutch. A set of springs composed of at least two diaphragm-spring-type spring elements presses the clutch plates together when the starting clutch is closed and permits a torque transfer from the clutch cage to the clutch hub and vice-versa. Viewed from the clutch plates, the first or second spring element has at least a first elevation on its side facing the respective second or first spring element, which elevation presses against the respective second or first spring element when the starting clutch is closed.

Abstract: A transmission configured for receiving power from an engine is provided with a normally-closed clutch in order to permit operation in modes requiring closure of the clutch even when hydraulic power from a pump powered by the engine or by rotation of a transmission member is not available, or is not of a sufficient pressure.

Abstract: A clutch unit including a housing fixed to a flywheel, in which two axially displaceable pressure plates are housed fixed to the housing to form a first and a second clutch, each provided with a clutch disk, whereby the clutches may be independently operated by means of lever arrangements, mounted to pivot on the housing, whereby each lever arrangement is connected to a pressure plate for opening and closing the corresponding clutch.

Abstract: A multi-spring system pressure plate member is provided for a spring biased clutch. The pressure plate member has a spring side and an opposed clutch side. The spring side of the pressure plate member includes spring confinement members for at least two clutch spring systems. The spring confinement members serve to hold spring members on said spring side in operative association with said pressure plate member. The spring confining members are provided to confine at least a diaphragm spring element and a compression coil spring element. The pressure plate member is configured to accept without modification either a diaphragm spring element or a set of compression coil spring elements. The clutch can be converted from one spring system to another by simply changing the spring elements.

Abstract: A wave washer is interposed on an inner peripheral groove via a snap ring. The wave washer urges a radiation direction outer end of a bottom plate member against a wall surface side of the inner peripheral groove in a direction of an axis.

Abstract: A multiple disc clutch including a clutch outer and a clutch inner, for enabling a gentle releasing/engaging operation. The multiple disc clutch includes a clutch inner having a clutch center and a clutch piston, and outer and inner friction discs being alternately arranged between the clutch center and the clutch piston. A clutch spring performs energization to narrow an interval between the clutch center and the clutch piston. A clutch release mechanism reduces friction force between the outer and inner friction discs and releases an engaged state of the clutch by widening the interval between the clutch center and the clutch piston. A release spring is provided between the clutch piston and the clutch release mechanism.

Abstract: A centrifugal clutch includes a housing which is rotatable about an axis, the housing having a plurality of first supporting areas which each extend radially with respect to the axis; a pressing plate which is axially movable with respect to the housing and is coupled to the housing for rotation about the axis; and a supporting element which is axially movable with respect to the housing, the supporting element having a plurality of second supporting areas which each extend radially with respect to the axis, each second support area being separated from a respective first support area by an axial distance which decreases with radial distance from the axis. A plurality of centrifugal members are supported between respective pairs of first and second support areas, each the centrifugal member being radially displaceable by centrifugal force along the respective pair of support areas to exert force along a force transmission path between the supporting element and the pressing plate.

Abstract: A start-up clutch assembly (10) for translating torque between a prime mover and a transmission includes a drive member (16) and a clutch pack (30) is supported between the drive (16) and driven members (24). The clutch pack (30) is operable to move between a closed pack mode and an open pack mode to connect and disconnect the drive and driven members (16, 24) to selectively transfer and interrupt torque translation therebetween. A torque apply piston assembly (54) is operable to move between a disengaged position to connect and disconnect the drive and driven members and to provide a constant biasing force so that the clutch pack (30) normally operates in the closed pack mode to translate torque between the drive and driven members (16, 24).

Abstract: A dual clutch transmission unit for a motor vehicle is adapted to transmit the movement to an automatic gear change provided with two ranks of gears; the transmission unit has a rotary movement input member adapted to be driven in rotation by the engine of the motor vehicle and two output shafts which are adapted to be rigidly connected to respective input shafts of the gear change and bear respective clutch devices which are adapted to receive the movement from the rotary member and are each associated with a relative rank of gears of the gear change; one of the clutch devices is disengaged and the other is engaged in sequence by an actuator device provided with a single actuator and a movement sleeve coaxial with one another.

Abstract: A fluid transmitting system includes a lock-up clutch whose clutch piston is disposed between a side cover connected to a pump impeller and a turbine runner. A Belleville spring for biasing the clutch piston to a clutch turning-on direction is mounted to a piston hub of the clutch piston slidably carried on a turbine hub so that the deformation attitude thereof is changed freely. A limiting means is provided between the clutch piston and the turbine runner for limiting the amount of retraction of the clutch piston to a constant value thereby preventing excessive deformation of the Belleville spring, when the clutch piston is retracted in a clutch turning-off direction. Thus, the Belleville spring for biasing the clutch piston of the lock-up clutch in the clutch turning-on direction can exhibit an intrinsic spring characteristic, and moreover the durability of the Belleville spring can be enhanced.

Abstract: A pressure plate is held in a housing so as to be movable in direction of an axis of rotation (A) and is acted upon or can be acted upon by an energy accumulator. The pressure plate is coupled with the housing by at least one coupling arrangement which acts upon the pressure plate axially during torque transmission. The thrust plate assembly further comprises a lifting force generating arrangement for generating a lifting force for the pressure plate.

Abstract: A detent type torque overload clutch has a regressive disc spring that exerts a lower engagement force in the disengaged position than in the engaged position. The force exerted by the spring initially increases to a maximum upon compression from the engagement preload on the spring, and then decreases upon further compression as the disengaged position of the detents is approached. In the disengaged position, the spring moves past flat to a concave shape in which the re-engagement force is small so that re-engagement can only occur at small relative speeds and torques.

Abstract: A double clutch assembly comprising a first clutch area for the optional production of a torque-transmitting connection between a drive element and a first driven element, a second clutch area for the optional production of a torque-transmitting connection between the drive element and a second driven element, and a common engaging/disengaging mechanism, by means of which the first clutch area and the second clutch area can be actuated to produce or to nullify the torque-transmitting condition.

Abstract: A twin clutch has two clutch discs, each arranged on one of two coaxial shafts, having a clutch cage, which surrounds the clutch discs in the manner of an annulus, and having pressure plates which are held in a rotationally fixed manner therein and are arranged axially in such a way that they can be displaced separately axially between the clutch discs and can be pressed against the clutch discs by a diaphragm-spring arrangement arranged axially between them and can be disengaged from the respective clutch disc by means of separate release members. The diaphragm-spring arrangement includes at least two diaphragm springs of essentially the same type arranged in series, giving a broad actuating range with a constant spring force. When the release members are unactuated, the diaphragm-spring arrangement operates in this actuating range irrespective of clutch wear, it being possible to transmit approximately half of a maximum torque to be transmitted at each clutch.

Abstract: A friction coupling for use in particular in the drive train of a motor vehicle includes a clutch casing, a pressure plate which is guided in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to the clutch casing, at least one clutch disk and a spring device containing about 40-60% nickel. A method for coating a nickel-base material, in particular the above mentioned spring element for friction clutches, wherein at least part of the surface of the spring device contains boride, and also a method for producing such a spring device which includes a heat treatment are also disclosed.