This application claims priority to British Patent Application No. 0919246.9, filed Nov. 3, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The technical field relates to a clutch actuation arrangement, and more particularly to a double clutch actuation arrangement.
A double clutch transmission of a vehicle generally has a first clutch actuator for actuating a first clutch and a second clutch actuator for actuating a second clutch. The clutch actuators act on their respective clutch release bearings. A conventional double clutch transmission provides two input shafts that can be connected to the motor of a vehicle by corresponding clutches.
For double clutch transmissions, dry or wet clutches are used. In dry clutches, the generated heat is dissipated via steal masses whereas in wet clutches a special cooling medium is employed.
To actuate the double clutch, the respective coupling actuators must act on the respective coaxial clutch release bearings. The design of the coupling arrangement must furthermore satisfy spatial constraints such as the limitation to fit into the space between motor and gearbox.
A double clutch actuation arrangement is provided that includes, but is not limited to a first lever for actuating a first actuating element for a first clutch friction element, a second lever for actuating a second actuating element for a second clutch friction element. A pivot axis of the first lever and a pivot axis of the second lever are located at the same side of the first actuating element and the second actuating element, and in that the first lever is provided with a first lever actuation area for a first actuator device. The first actuating element being situated in an area between the first lever actuation area and the pivot axis of the first lever.
A powertrain assembly is also provided that includes, but is not limited to an engine and a gearbox with a first input shaft and a second input shaft. The powertrain assembly further includes, but is not limited to a double-clutch assembly as previous set forth in the preceding paragraph, a first clutch connecting the engine with the first input shaft and a second clutch connecting the engine with the second input shaft. The power train assembly also includes, but is not limited to a first actuator device for a first clutch, and the first actuator device includes, but is not limited to the first lever and the first clutch release bearing. The powertrain assembly further includes, but is not limited to a second actuator device for a second clutch, and the second actuator device includes, but is not limited to the second lever and the second clutch release bearing.
A vehicle is also provided with the powertrain as set forth in the preceding paragraph.
The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and:
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or summary or the following detailed description. Also, in the following description, details are provided to describe the embodiments. It shall be apparent to one skilled in the art, however, that the embodiments may be practiced without such details.
Similarly, a heel end 6 of the inner lever 3 is mounted onto the bolt 5. The heel end 6 of the inner lever 3 is mounted below the heel end 4 of the outer lever 2 such that the inner lever can pivot around an inner lever pivot axis 17 which is parallel to the outer lever pivot axis 14. The bolt 5 has a round knuckle on which the inner lever 3 can pivot. On the top of the heel end 6 of the inner lever 3 a round knuckle is provided on which the outer lever 2 can pivot. In
An actuation joint 15 at the upper side of the outer lever 2 is connected to an annular element 16. Similarly, an actuation joint of the inner lever 3 is connected to a tubular element 18. Both of the levers 2, 3 are hollow such that a guiding tube 12 fits through hollow portions of the levers 2, 3. The tubular element 18 is arranged around the guiding tube 12 such that the tubular element can slide up and down along the axis of the guiding tube 12. A bottom plate 13 is provided at the bottom of the guiding tube 12. The bottom plate 13 is fixed to a gearbox case 34. The annular element 16 is arranged around the tubular element 18 such that the annular element can slide up and down along the axis of the tubular element 18.
Furthermore, an annular groove 19 on the outer surface of the annular element 16 is provided for taking up an outer clutch release bearing 11. Similarly, an annular groove 20 at the outer surface of a top section 21 of the tubular element 18 is provided for taking up an inner clutch release bearing 7.
The guiding tube 12, the tubular element 18 and the annular element 16 are arranged concentrically around the common axis of a solid input shaft and a hollow input shaft of a gearbox, which are not shown. Furthermore, the bolt 5 is arranged parallel to the common axis of the solid input shaft and the hollow input shaft. A lower end of the bolt 5 is fastened to the gearbox case 34 by means of a threaded screw connection.
The toe ends of the levers 2, 3 have a concave form 22, 23 on their bottom sides, respectively. Ends of pressure actuators 24, 26, as for example the ends of piston rods, are fitted into the concave forms 22, 23 to provide a pressure force from below. A first pressure plate, which is not shown, is fixed to the annular groove 20 of the top section 21 of the tubular element 18. A second pressure plate, which is not shown, is fixed to the annular groove 19 of the annular element 16.
Likewise,
In an alternative embodiment, the tubular element 18 may glide on the inside of a guiding tube. Further alternatives are possible. For example, the annular element 16 may glide on a second guiding tube. Furthermore, the annular element 16 or the tubular element 18 may glide on the inside or on the outside of the second guiding tube. Instead of the guiding tube 12, other guiding means may be provided.
In a further embodiment only one of the levers 2, 3 pivots on a knuckle and is actuated from its toe end, while the other lever 2, 3 is actuated from its heel end. The actuation from the heel end can be provided by mounting the heel end of the lever 2, 3 on an actuation rod that is provided in direction of the pivot axis of the lever 2, 3. The lever 2, 3 can be actuated by turning the actuation rod. Instead of knuckles, rods or other means may be provided which allow the levers 2, 3 to pivot at their heel ends.
A double clutch actuation arrangement is provided in accordance with embodiments. The double clutch actuation arrangement has a first lever in form of an inner lever 3 for actuating a first actuating element in form of the tubular element 18 which actuates the inner clutch release bearing 7. Furthermore, a second lever is provided in form of the outer lever 2 for actuating a second actuating element in form of the annular element 16 which actuates the outer clutch release bearing 11.
A pivot axis of the first lever and a pivot axis of the second lever is located at the same side of the first actuating element and of the second actuating element, namely at the same side of the tubular element 18 and of the annular element 16. Furthermore, the first lever is provided with a first lever actuation area in form of the toe end area of the inner lever 3 for a first actuator device, for example a piston. The first actuating element in form of the tubular element 18 is situated in an area between the first lever actuation area and the pivot axis of the first lever.
The second actuating element in form of the annular element 16 is situated in an area between the second lever actuation area and the pivot axis of the second lever. The second lever is provided with a second lever actuation area for a second actuator device in form of an outer lever toe end.
A double clutch assembly is also provided that comprises the above-mentioned double clutch actuation arrangement. Clutch release bearings 7, 11 are shown in
The functioning of the double clutch actuation arrangement 1 will be explained with reference to
To disengage an input shaft from the hollow input shaft, a pressure force of the piston to the concave from 23 of the inner lever 3 is lowered. A spring force of the first pressure plate presses down the tubular element 18 and the tubular element 18 slides on the guiding tube 12 from its upper position 32 to its lower position 33. Thereby, the inner lever 3 is pushed back from its upper position 32 to its lower position 33.
To engage an input shaft to the solid input shaft, the concave form 22 of the outer lever 2 is pushed upwards by a second piston. The inner lever 2 pivots on the knuckle of the bolt 5 and moves upwards against the annular element 16. As the second piston moves upwards, the outer lever 2 moves from its lower position 31 to its upper position 30. Thereby, the outer lever 2 pushes the annular element 16 from its lower position 31 to its upper position 30. The annular element 16 slides on the tubular part from its lower position 31 to its upper position 30, a centre portion of a second pressure plate which is fixed to the annular grove 19 of the annular element 16 is moved inwards and the second pressure plate is bent. The spring force of the bent second pressure plate engages a clutch of the solid input shaft.
To disengage an input shaft from the solid input shaft, a pressure force of the second piston to the concave from 22 of the outer lever 2 is lowered. A spring force of the second pressure plate presses down the annular element 16 and the annular element 16 slides down on the tubular element 18 from its upper position 30 to its lower position 31. Thereby, the outer lever 2 is pushed back from its upper position 30 to its lower position 31.
The arrangement of an inner lever within an outer lever makes efficient use of the limited space between a motor and a gearbox. The length of the lever arms of the levers 2, 3 can be designed to provide a desired amplification of an input force.
The lever arms 2, 3 move in approximately the same direction as the annular element 16 and the tubular element 18, respectively. In turn, the annular element 16 and the tubular element 18 move parallel to the hollow input shaft and the solid input shaft of the dual clutch. Therefore, the construction can be made more stable and/or more efficient as compared to a construction in which the motion of mechanical parts changes direction.
The actuation arrangement according to the application needs only one part, a lever, to transfer the input force of a piston or a clutch cable to a motion parallel to a shaft. Therefore, the construction can be made more compact, more efficient and more stable than a construction with multiple parts.
Although the above description contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but merely providing illustration of the foreseeable embodiments. Especially the above stated advantages of the embodiments should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but merely to explain possible achievements if the described embodiments are put into practice. In addition, while at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing summary and detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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0919246.9 | Nov 2009 | GB | national |