In a motor vehicle with a clutch that is operable in an automated mode, parts ( 204 ) of the clutch-actuator and/or the control device of the actuator system are integrated in a carrier element ( 202 ) that is installed in an intermediate area between the clutch bell housing ( 203 ) and the transmission housing ( 201 ).
1. A motor vehicle comprising an engine with an engine block; a clutch with a clutch-actuator device including at least one element from the group of hydraulic, mechanical and electronic elements, the clutch actuator device including a clutch-release device with at least one clutch-release drive source; a transmission adjacent to the clutch; a transmission housing surrounding the transmission; a clutch bell housing surrounding the clutch; a control device; and a slab-shaped carrier element in which at least portions of at least one of the clutch-actuator device and the control device are integrated so as to form a modular unit and thereby conserve space as well as facilitate assembly and testing; wherein the transmission housing is connected to the clutch bell housing and the latter is, in turn, connected directly to the engine block; the control device is operable to control at least the clutch in an automated mode; and said carrier element is arranged in an intermediate area between the clutch bell housing and the transmission housing.
2. The motor vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the clutch-release drive source is integrated in the carrier element.
3. The motor vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the clutch release device is integrated in the carrier element.
4. The motor vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the clutch actuator device comprises hydraulic conduits and hydraulic elements and at least part of said hydraulic conduits and elements are integrated in the carrier element.
5. The motor vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the hydraulic elements comprise at least one of a hydraulic valve and a hydraulic cylinder.
6. The motor vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the carrier element functions as a rear wall that closes off the clutch bell housing towards the transmission.
7. The motor vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the clutch bell housing comprises a rear housing wall and the carrier element is arranged to lie against the rear housing wall.
8. The motor vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the carrier element is made as a casting.
9. The motor vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the casting is from the group consisting of steel castings, iron castings and tempered castings.
10. The motor vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the actuator device has parts that are integrally molded into the casting.
11. The motor vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the carrier device with the integrally molded-in parts forms an assembly unit.
12. The motor vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the assembly unit is preassembled.
13. The motor vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the assembly unit is tested before being installed.
14. The motor vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the clutch bell housing and the transmission housing are made as separate components and the carrier element forms a connection between the clutch bell housing and the transmission housing.
15. The motor vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the clutch bell housing and the transmission housing are connected as a housing unit and the carrier element is arranged inside said housing unit in a transition area between the clutch bell housing and the transmission housing.