Hydraulically actuated double clutch

Abstract

A clutch apparatus including a first bearing connected to a front side of the clutch apparatus, and a second bearing connected to a cover for the clutch apparatus. The first bearing is arranged to be piloted on a front cover for a transmission and the second bearing is arranged to be piloted on a case for the transmission. A clutch apparatus including first and second plates, and a first sealing element disposed between the first and second plates and forming a seal between the first and second plates. The first and second plates form at least a portion of a first sealed fluid chamber in the clutch apparatus. A clutch apparatus including a clutch housing with a plurality of splines proximate an axial end, and a clutch cover with a plurality of radial extensions rotationally engaged with the plurality of splines. A method of assembling a clutch apparatus.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a present invention double clutch with four clutch plates;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a present invention double clutch with six clutch plates;

FIGS. 3A through 3D are details of area 3 shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are details of area 3 shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4C is a partial back view of a separator plate;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a present invention double clutch;

FIG. 6 is a back perspective exploded view of the double clutch shown in FIG. 5; and,

FIG. 7 is a front perspective exploded view of the double clutch shown in FIG. 5.

Claims

1. A clutch apparatus, comprising: a first bearing connected to a front side of said clutch apparatus; and,a second bearing connected to a cover for said clutch apparatus, wherein said first bearing is arranged to be piloted on a front cover for a transmission and said second bearing is arranged to be piloted on a case for said transmission.

2. The clutch apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second bearings are arranged to center said clutch apparatus with respect to a longitudinal axis for said transmission.

3. The clutch apparatus of claim 1 wherein said front side further comprises a first housing and said clutch apparatus further comprising first and second clutches with first and second clutch carriers, respectively, wherein said second clutch further comprises a second housing, said transmission further comprises first and second input shafts arranged to be rotationally connected to said first and second clutches, respectively, and centered with respect to a longitudinal axis for said transmission, and said first and second input shafts are arranged to center said first and second clutch carriers, respectively, with respect to said first and second housings, respectively.

4. The clutch apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a fluid manifold and at least one bearing rotationally connected to said manifold and arranged to center said manifold, wherein said at least one bearing is disposed radially outside said manifold.

5. The clutch apparatus of claim 1 wherein said front side further comprises an input hub arranged to be engaged with a flywheel having a dampening element and connected to an engine and wherein said engagement of said input hub and said flywheel is arranged to compensate for misalignment between said transmission and said engine.

6. A clutch apparatus, comprising: first and second radially disposed elements; anda first sealing element disposed between said first and second radially disposed elements and forming a seal between said first and second radially disposed elements, wherein said first and second radially disposed elements form at least a portion of a first sealed fluid chamber in said clutch apparatus.

7. The clutch apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a clutch and wherein said first radially disposed element is a cover for said clutch, said second radially disposed element is a piston plate for said clutch, and said first sealed chamber is arranged to control displacement of said piston plate.

8. The clutch apparatus of claim 6 further comprising: a third radially disposed element and a second sealing element disposed between said first and third radially disposed elements and forming a seal between said first and third radially disposed elements, wherein said first and third radially disposed elements form at least a portion of a second sealed fluid chamber in said clutch.

9. The clutch apparatus of claim 8 further comprising first and second clutches and wherein said first radially disposed element is a cover for said first clutch, said third radially disposed element is a piston plate for said second clutch, and said second sealed chamber is arranged to control displacement of said piston plate.

10. The clutch apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first and second sealed fluid chambers are arranged to minimize a difference in dynamic pressure across said first radially disposed element.

11. The clutch apparatus of claim 8 further comprising: a fourth radially disposed element and a third sealing element disposed between said third and fourth radially disposed elements and forming a seal between said third and fourth radially disposed elements, wherein said third and fourth radially disposed elements form at least a portion of a third sealed fluid chamber in said clutch.

12. The clutch apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a clutch and wherein said fourth radially disposed element is a cover for said clutch, said third radially disposed element is a piston plate for said clutch, and said third sealed chamber is arranged to control displacement of said piston plate.

13. The clutch apparatus of claim 11 wherein said second and third sealed fluid chambers are arranged to minimize a difference in dynamic pressure across said third radially disposed element.

14. The clutch apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a fifth radially disposed element and a fourth sealing element disposed between said second and fifth radially disposed elements and forming a seal between said second and fifth radially disposed elements, wherein said second and fifth radially disposed elements form at least a portion of a fourth sealed fluid chamber in said clutch.

15. The clutch apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a clutch and wherein said second radially disposed element is a piston plate for said clutch and said fourth sealed chamber is arranged to control displacement of said piston plate.

16. The clutch apparatus of claim 14 wherein said first and fourth sealed fluid chambers are arranged to minimize a difference in dynamic pressure across said second radially disposed element.

17. The clutch apparatus of claim 14 wherein said fifth radially disposed element comprises an opening in fluid communication with said first and fourth chambers and wherein a size and radial location of said opening are selected to control fluid pressure on said second radially disposed element.

18. A clutch apparatus, comprising: a first clutch housing with a first plurality of splines proximate an axial end; and,a first clutch cover with a first plurality of radial extensions rotationally engaged with said first plurality of splines.

19. The clutch apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a clutch and a first fluid chamber at least partially enclosed by said first clutch cover, wherein said clutch comprises said first clutch housing and clutch cover, wherein in a closed position, said clutch exerts a first force on said first housing and fluid in said first fluid chamber exerts a second force on said first cover and wherein said first and second forces are in communication across said connection of said first housing and cover.

20. The clutch apparatus of claim 19 wherein said first and second forces are substantially in balance across said first housing and cover.

21. The clutch apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a torque transmission path between said first housing and said first cover through said first plurality of splines and said first plurality of radial extensions.

22. The clutch apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a rotatable element and a second clutch cover, wherein said first and second clutch covers are rotationally connected to said rotatable element.

23. The clutch apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a second clutch housing with a second plurality of splines proximate an axial end, wherein said second clutch cover comprises a second plurality of radial extensions rotationally engaged with said second plurality of splines.

24. The clutch apparatus of claim 23 further comprising a torque transmission path between said second housing and cover through said second plurality of splines and said second plurality radial extensions.

25. The clutch apparatus of claim 18 wherein at least one spline in said first plurality of splines further comprises an axial slot open at said axial end for said first housing, wherein said first cover includes an annular segment forming an outer circumference of said first cover, wherein said annular segment is connected to said first cover by at least one radial section, and wherein said at least one radial section is disposed is said at least one axial slot.

26. The clutch apparatus of claim 25 wherein said first plurality of splines comprises an outer circumference and said annular segment comprises an inner circumference in contact with said outer circumference.

27. The clutch apparatus of claim 18 wherein at least one spline in said first plurality of splines further comprises first and second radial indents and wherein at least one radial extension in said first plurality of radial extensions is disposed axially between said first and second radial indents.

28. The clutch apparatus of claim 18 wherein one of said first housing and cover is arranged to receive torque and to transfer said torque to the other of said housing and cover through said plurality of splines.

29. A clutch apparatus, comprising: a housing for a clutch, said housing with an axial end;a cover for said clutch, said cover connected to said housing at said axial end; and,a fluid chamber at least partially enclosed by said cover, wherein in a closed position, said clutch exerts a first force on said housing and fluid in said fluid chamber exerts a second force on said cover and wherein said first and second forces are in communication across said connection of said housing and cover.

30. The clutch apparatus of claim 29 wherein said first and second forces are substantially in balance across said housing and cover.

31. The clutch apparatus of claim 29 wherein said housing comprises a plurality of splines proximate said axial end and said cover comprises a plurality of radial extensions rotationally engaged with said plurality of splines.

32. A clutch apparatus, comprising: a first housing for a first clutch;a second housing for a second clutch, said first housing connected to said second housing;a rotatable element, wherein said first housing is connected to said rotatable element; and,a fluid chamber for said second clutch, wherein in a closed position for said second clutch said second clutch exerts a first force in a first direction on said second housing and said second housing transfers said first force to said first housing, and fluid in said fluid chamber exerts a second force, in a second direction opposite said first direction, on said first housing through said rotatable element.

33. The clutch apparatus of claim 32 wherein said first housing transfers said first force to said rotatable element and said first and second forces are in balance across said rotatable element.

34. The clutch apparatus of claim 32 further comprising a snap ring connected to said second housing and in contact with an outer surface of said first housing.

35. The clutch apparatus of claim 32 wherein said rotatable element is a fluid manifold.

36. A clutch apparatus, comprising: a first hub connected to a first clutch carrier, having a radial extension, and arranged for rotational connection to a transmission input shaft, wherein said input shaft is arranged to engage said radial extension;a second hub connected to a second clutch carrier;an input hub arranged for rotational connection to an engine; andfirst, second, and third bearings, wherein said first bearing is axially disposed between said first and second hubs, said second bearing is axially disposed between said input hub and said second hub, and said third bearing is connected to said input hub and arranged to contact a transmission cover and wherein a torque path is formed from said shaft through said radial extension, said first hub, said first bearing, said second hub, said second bearing, said input hub, and said third bearing to said transmission cover.

37. The clutch apparatus of claim 36 wherein said radial extension is a snap ring connected to said first hub.

38. A method of assembling a clutch apparatus, comprising the steps of: axially inserting a radial extension for a clutch cover through a recess formed by a first spline in a clutch housing; and,forming a first radial indent in said first spline, said first indent axially aligned with said first radial extension.

39. The method recited in claim 38 further comprising forming a second radial indent in said first spline and wherein axially inserting a radial extension further comprises engaging said second indent with said radial extension.

40. The method recited in claim 39 further comprising forming a hole between said second radial indent and an end of said housing prior to forming said first radial indent.

41. The method recited in claim 38 further comprising forming a chamfer in a radial end of said radial extension and wherein forming a first radial indent in said first spline further comprises urging said first radial indent against said chamfer.

42. The method recited in claim 38 wherein said housing is configured to transmit torque in a direction and said method further comprising rotating said housing in said direction until said first radial extension contacts said housing.

43. A clutch apparatus, comprising: a first housing for a first clutch, said first housing with a plurality of openings;a second housing for a second clutch, said second housing with a plurality of axial extensions disposed in said plurality of openings, wherein one of said first and second housings is arranged to receive torque and transmit said torque to the other of said first and second housings through said plurality of axial extensions.