IP Library Granted Patent US 7,438,170
Granted Patent B2
US 7,438,170 · App. 11/315,658 · Granted Oct 21, 2008

Clutch release arrangement

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,438,170
App. No.
11/315,658
Granted
Oct 21, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A clutch release arrangement ( 1 ) for a clutch release (pressure plate) ( 6 ) used in vehicles is provided. The clutch release arrangement ( 1 ) includes a control lever ( 2 ), which forms one unit together with a housing ( 3 ) and also a clutch release bearing ( 4 ). The housing ( 3 ) is supported directly on the control lever ( 2 ) by contact surfaces ( 8 a , 8 b or 18 a , 18 b ) of different lengths, which allow height compensation “s” at assembly.

Claims (25)

1. Clutch release arrangement for a clutch release ( 6 ) used in vehicles, comprising a hollow cylindrical and axially displaceable housing ( 3 ), which surrounds and is spaced apart from a drive shaft and which contacts a control lever ( 2 ) via contact surfaces ( 8 a , 8 b ; 18 a , 18 b ) and is mounted on the control lever ( 2 ) with a positive fit and with play, the housing ( 3 ) includes a clutch release bearing ( 4 ) on an end facing away from the control lever ( 2 ) and wrench engaging portions with two different wrench widths “sw 1 ”, “sw 2 ” in a region of an outer surface ( 27 ) which are defined for receiving tools, the control lever ( 2 ) forms a receptacle ( 11 ), in which the housing ( 3 ) can be fixed in at least two different installation positions, which provide a different overall height resulting in a height compensation “s” defined by the at least two different installation positions for the clutch release arrangement ( 1 ), and the contact surfaces ( 8 a , 8 b ; 18 a , 18 b ) are arranged in pairs and offset by 90° on the housing to provide the two installation positions, by which the housing ( 3 ) is supported on the control lever ( 2 ).

2. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the contact surfaces ( 8 a , 8 b ; 18 a , 18 b ) are formed as axial projections ( 9 a , 9 b ; 19 a , 19 b ) on the housing which interact with the control lever ( 2 ).

3. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the housing ( 3 ) includes convex or crowned shaped projections ( 9 a , 9 b ; 19 a , 19 b ) on the contact surfaces ( 8 a , 8 b ; 18 a , 18 b ), which form contact zones ( 7 ) that contact a counter surface ( 10 ) of the control lever ( 2 ).

4. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the housing ( 3 ) includes projections ( 9 a , 9 b ; 19 a , 19 b ) on the contact surfaces ( 8 a , 8 b ; 18 a , 18 b ) which are formed flat or straight.

5. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein all of the contact surfaces ( 8 a , 8 b ; 18 a , 18 b ) are formed on a reinforcement ( 26 ) that is a separate component located on the housing ( 3 ).

6. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein two parallel flat sections ( 12 a , 12 b ) are provided on an outer surface ( 27 ) of the housing ( 3 ) which engage in the receptacle ( 11 ) of the control lever ( 2 ) with the outer contours of the outer surface ( 27 ) being engaged with a positive fit in the installation position.

7. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising a visual display ( 16 ) for each of the installation positions of the housing ( 3 ) for preventing incorrect assembly.

8. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 7 , wherein the visual display ( 16 ) comprises a barcode.

9. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 7 , wherein the visual display ( 16 ) becomes visible in an installed state of the housing ( 3 ) after successful completion.

10. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 7 , wherein the visual display ( 16 ) comprises recessed or raised characters.

11. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein a shaped matching rib ( 25 ) having a desired rupture point is located on the housing to provide a position-oriented installation of the housing ( 3 ).

12. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the housing ( 3 ) includes the contact surfaces ( 8 a , 8 b ; 18 a , 18 b ), which are arranged in pairs and offset by 90° and include flat sections ( 12 a , 12 b , 22 a , 22 b ) which have different wrench widths.

13. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the housing ( 3 ) includes the contact surfaces ( 8 a , 8 b , 18 a , 18 b ) which are arranged in pairs that have different overall heights and are offset by 90° and which have flat sections ( 12 a , 12 b , 22 a , 22 b ) which have different wrench widths.

14. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 5 , wherein at least one of the paired contact surfaces is allocated to the housing ( 3 ) as a separate component and connected to the housing with a positive and/or non-positive fit.

15. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 5 , wherein the reinforcement ( 26 ) is manufactured as a multi-component layer directly during production of the housing by multi-component injection molding and is connected to a base housing part of the housing with a positive and/or non-positive fit.

16. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein different ones of the contact points of the housing feature different paired material colorings or have different colors for identification.

17. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the wrench engaging portions are on the contact surfaces ( 8 a , 8 b ; 18 a , 18 b ).

18. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 10 , wherein the recessed or raised characters include ribs or fonts.

19. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 5 , wherein different ones of the contact points of the reinforcement feature different paired material colorings or have different colors for identification.

20. Clutch release arrangement for a clutch release ( 6 ) used in vehicles, comprising a hollow cylindrical and axially displaceable housing ( 3 ), which surrounds and is spaced apart from a drive shaft which contacts a control lever ( 2 ) via contact surfaces ( 8 a , 8 b ; 18 a , 18 b ) and includes a snap-on connection ( 13 ) between the housing ( 3 ) and the control lever ( 2 ), and is mounted on the control lever ( 2 ) with a positive fit and with play, the housing ( 3 ) includes a clutch release bearing ( 4 ) on an end facing away from the control lever ( 2 ), the control lever ( 2 ) forms a receptacle ( 11 ), in which the housing ( 3 ) can be fixed in at least two different installation positions, which provide a different overall height resulting in a height compensation “s” defined by the at least two different installation positions for the clutch release arrangement ( 1 ), and the contact surfaces ( 8 a , 8 b ; 18 a , 18 b ) are arranged in pairs and offset by 90° on the housing to provide the two installation positions, by which the housing ( 3 ) is supported on the control lever ( 2 ).

21. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 20 , wherein the housing ( 3 ) is made from plastic with integral contact surfaces ( 8 a , 8 b ; 18 a , 18 b ).

22. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 20 , wherein the housing includes projections ( 9 a , 9 b ; 19 a , 19 b ) with a wear-reducing and/or friction-reducing coating at least on an end or on the contact surface ( 8 a , 8 b ; 18 a , 18 b ).

23. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 20 , wherein the snap-on connection ( 13 ) includes openings or notches formed as retaining cams ( 14 ), which engage in a corresponding recess with a positive fit or snap onto a wall ( 15 ) of the control lever ( 2 ).

24. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 20 , wherein the control lever ( 2 ) is formed from sheet steel, which is produced without cutting through deep-drawing.

25. Clutch release arrangement according to claim 20 , wherein all of the components of the clutch release arrangement ( 1 ), the housing ( 3 ), the control lever ( 2 ), and also the clutch release bearing ( 4 ) are joined captively into one unit.

Assignments (7)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PROPERTY NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 037732 FRAME 0347. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE APP. NO. 14/553248 SHOULD BE APP. NO. 14/553258. Recorded Oct 11, 2016
From: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 040404/0530 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 5, 2016
From: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG; SCHAEFFLER VERWALTUNGS 5 GMBH
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 037732/0228 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 5, 2016
From: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 037732/0347 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 9, 2012
From: SCHAEFFLER KG
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 027830/0135 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 9, 2012
From: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 027830/0143 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 7, 2006
From: INA-SCHAEFFLER KG
To: SCHAEFFLER KG
Reel/Frame 018606/0477 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 11, 2006
From: MAIER, MARKUS; KLOPFER, BERNHARD; WINKELMANN, LUDWIG
To: INA-SCHAEFFLER KG
Reel/Frame 017470/0510 →