Title of Invention

A CLUTCH DRIVEN DISK

Abstract A driven disk 10 is disclosed that includes an inner hub 22 and an outer hub 23 secured to at least one cover plate 25. The driven disk 10 includes a predamper 50 having a driving element and a driven element. The driving element includes the cover plate 25 and the driven element includes a predamper driven plate 52 fixed to the inner hub 22. The cover plate 25 includes a number of apertures 56 and the predamper driven plate 52 includes a number of sockets 62 at least partially aligned with the apertures 56 in the cover plate 25. An energy storage member 54 is disposed within the apertures 56 in the cover plate 25 and the sockets 62 in the predamper driven plate 52 for absorbing torque as a function of relative rotation between the inner hub 22 and the outer hub 23.
Full Text CLUTCH DRIVEN DISK WITH PREDAMPER
Background of the Invention
Field of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates in general to friction clutches and in particular to
predampers for clutch driven disks.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] Clutches are well known devices used to selectively connect a source of
rotational power to a driven mechanism. For instance, in a vehicle drive-train system,
a clutch is used to drivingly connect an engine to a transmission. When the engine is
drivingly connected with the transmission by the clutch, vibrations are transmitted
through the clutch and into the transmission and other drive-train components,
producing undesirable operating conditions, such as gear rattle.
[0003] Clutches generally include a clutch hub engaged for rotation with a
transmission input shaft and a clutch disk selectively engaged for rotation with the
engine flywheel. To reduce the transmission of vibrations, clutches typically employ
a plurality of compression damping springs between the clutch hub and the clutch
disc. These springs are typically disposed in spring pockets circumferentially located
around the clutch hub. Compression of the damping springs is limited by stops
disposed between the hub and the clutch disk, limiting relative rotation therebetween.
The damping springs provide some degree of isolation between the engine and
transmission to reduce the transmission of vibration due to engine firing pulses and
other engine speed fluctuations. However, vibrations can still be transmitted through
the damping springs to produce gear rattle.
[0004] One solution to further reducing the transmission of vibrations has been to
split the hub into an inner hub directly connected to the transmission input shaft and
an outer hub connected to the clutch disc through the damping springs. The inner hub
and outer hub are configured to provide a predetermined amount of rotative lash
between the two parts. A predamper is placed between the inner hub and the outer
hub. The predamper has springs of particular rates and preload characteristics
selected to further damp out vibrations that can induce gear rattle.
[0005] One known predamper configuration includes driving and driven elements;
wherein the driven element is rotatably fixed to the inner hub and the driving element
is rotatably fixed to the outer hub with a plurality of compression predamper springs
disposed therebetween. The predamper springs are generally much smaller than, and
of a much lower spring rate than, the damping springs disposed between the outer hub
and the clutch disc and typically require end caps that facilitate the retention of
predamper springs within the predamper. While this design has proven functionally
successful, the additional components undesirably increase the axial length of the
clutch package and inhibit the ability to incorporate a hysteresis component into the
predamper for further torsional damping.
Summary of the Invention
[0006] A driven disk is disclosed that includes a rotatable disk assembly including
a disk plate. The driven disk also includes a hub assembly having an inner hub and an
outer hub rotatable relative to the inner hub and secured to at least one cover plate.
The hub assembly is rotatable relative to the disk assembly. The driven disk also
includes a predamper having a driving element and a driven element. The driving
element includes the cover plate and the driven element includes a predamper driven
plate fixed to the inner hub. The cover plate includes a number of apertures and the
predamper driven plate includes a number of sockets at least partially aligned with the
apertures in the cover plate. An energy storage member is disposed within the sockets
in the cover plate and the predamper driven plate. The energy storage member
absorbs torque as a function of relative rotation between the inner hub and the outer
hub. Among other things, the predamper of the present invention reduces the axial
width of the driven disk, particularly when compared to the prior art, and allows the
optional incorporation of a hysteresis component into the predamper if desired.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0007] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a front view of a driven disk according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the driven disk of FIG. 1 taken along
section 2-2, revealing the operative elements of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a hub assembly according to an embodiment
of the invention; and
[0011] FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the driven disk shown in FIG.
2.
Detailed Description
[0012] Referring now to the drawings, the preferred illustrative embodiments of
the present invention are shown in detail. Although the drawings represent some
preferred embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to
scale and certain features may be exaggerated to better illustrate and explain the
present invention. Further, the embodiments set forth herein are not intended to be
exhaustive or otherwise limit or restrict the invention to the precise forms and
configurations shown in the drawings and disclosed in the following detailed
description.
[0013] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a driven disk 10 according to an
embodiment of the present invention is shown. Driven disk 10 includes a rotatable
disk assembly 12 having a disk plate 14 that includes a plurality of apertures 16. A
number of friction pads 18 are attached to disk plate 14 for frictional engagement
between a clutch pressure plate and a driving member, such as an engine flywheel. A
hub assembly 20 includes an inner hub 22 having spines for slidable engagement with
a transmission input shaft (not shown), and an outer hub 23 secured to a pair of spring
cover plates 24 and 25. First and second spring cover plates 24, 25 are fixedly
attached to outer hub 23 by a plurality of fasteners 21, such as rivets.
[0014] Spring cover plates 24, 25 each include a plurality of sockets 26 disposed
therein, which are at least partially aligned with apertures 16 in disk plate 14. Sockets
26 may include or may be at least partially defined by an aperture as shown the
illustrated embodiment. An energy storage member 28 is disposed within each of the
correspondingly aligned apertures 16 and sockets 26 within disk plate 14 and each
spring cover plate 24, 25, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, disk assembly
12 is rotatable relative to hub assembly 20.
[0015] Inner hub 22, along with driven disk 10, has an axis of rotation (A-A) and
external teeth 29 defining axially extending gaps therebetween (see, e.g., FIG. 3).
Outer hub 23 is disposed over inner hub 22 and has internal teeth 30 disposed in the
axially extending gaps between external teeth 29 of inner hub 22. The internal teeth
30 of outer hub 23 are smaller than the axially extending gaps, enabling a
predetermined amount of relative rotation between inner hub 22 and outer hub 23.
[0016] At least one reinforcing plate 31, as shown in FIG. 2, is disposed between
disk plate 14 and spring cover plate 25. In a particular embodiment, driven disk 10
includes a disk plate 14 fixedly attached to a first reinforcing plate 31A and a second
reinforcing plate 3 IB by a plurality of rivets 32 positioned radially outward of first
and second spring cover plates 24 and 25. Reinforcing plates 31A and 3 IB include a
plurality of apertures 34 and 36, respectively, at least partially aligned with apertures
16 in disk plate 14.
[0017] Optionally, driven disk 10 may further include at least one lateral plate 40.
In an embodiment, a lateral plate is disposed adjacent each of first and second spring
cover plates 24, 25 (see, e.g., FIG. 4). The optional lateral plates 40 are also fixedly
attached to outer hub 23 by fasteners 21 and include a plurality of apertures 42 at least
partially aligned with apertures 16 in disk plate 14.
[0018] Driven disk 10 also includes a predamper 50 having a predamper driving
element and a predamper driven element. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4,
predamper 50 includes a predamper driven plate 52, which functions as the predamper
driven element, and a plurality of energy storage members 54. Second spring cover
plate 25 includes a plurality of apertures 56 sized to receive energy storage members
54. When so configured, second cover plate 25 functions as the predamper driving
element, eliminating the need for a separate predamper driving plate as required in the
prior art. Predamper driven plate 52 is rotatably connected to the predamper driving
element (i.e., second spring cover plate 25) by second energy storage members 54.
[0019] The annular predamper driven plate 52 is rotatably fixed to inner hub 22.
In a particular configuration, predamper driven plate 52 includes a number of
inwardly radially extending internal teeth received in corresponding axially extending
gaps on inner hub 22, preventing rotation of predamper driven plate 52 relative to
inner hub 22. Predamper driven plate 52 also includes a planar base portion 60
disposed against second spring cover plate 25. A series of sockets 62 are disposed
through planar base portion 60 in near radial and circumferential alignment with
apertures 56 on second spring cover plate 25 to accommodate energy storage
members 54. Sockets 62 may include or may be at least partially defined by an
aperture as shown in FIG. 4. A series of holes 64 are dispose through planar base
portion 60 radially inward of sockets 62 (see, e.g., FIG. 1); however, a single annular
aperture is also possible in place of holes 64. The second series of holes 64, or
annular aperture if so configured, are sized to accommodate fasteners 21, particularly
movement of fasteners 21 relative to predamper driven plate 52. In an embodiment, a
snap ring 66, which is secured in a groove in inner hub 22, axially retains predamper
driven plate 52 on inner hub 22.
[0020] First energy storage members 28 are disposed within sockets 26 and
apertures 16, 34, 36, 42 for absorbing torque as a function of relative rotation between
hub assembly 20 and disk assembly 12. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, a
section of second spring cover plate 25 has been removed to reveal energy storage
members 28 as a plurality of coil springs, specifically a plurality of outer coil springs
70 and inner coil springs 72. Outer coil springs 70 are operatively disposed between
the disk assembly 12 and the hub assembly 20. More specifically, outer coil springs
70 contact disk plate 14 and reinforcing plates 31 A, 3IB at a first end and first spring
cover plate 24 and second spring cover plate 25 at a second end. When so configured,
inner coil springs 72 contact lateral plates 40 at a first end and disk plate 14 and
reinforcing plates 31 at a second end. As disk assembly 12 rotates relative to hub
assembly 20, torque is absorbed as a function of relative rotation between disk
assembly 12 and hub assembly 20. Thus, driven disk 10 of the present invention
damps torsional vibrations in a driveline as a result of the relative rotation between
disk assembly 12 and hub assembly 20. More specifically, as a torsional vibration is
introduced to driven disk 10, hub assembly 20 rotates with respect to disk assembly
12, whereby torque spikes are dissipated in the form of heat resulting from friction as
the coil springs 70, 72 are compressed and then expand back to their initial state.
[0021] Similarly, energy storage members 54 are disposed within apertures 56
and sockets 62 for absorbing torque as a function of relative rotation between outer
hub 23 and inner hub 22. In a particular configuration, energy storage members are
coil springs that are generally smaller than, and of lower spring rate than, coil springs
70, 72. As a torsional vibration is introduced to driven disk 10, the predamper driving
element (i.e., second spring cover plate 25) and outer hub 23 may rotate relative to
predamper driven plate 52 and inner hub 22, whereby torque spikes are dissipated in
the form of heat resulting from friction as the coil springs (energy storage members
54) are compressed and then expand back to their initial state.
[0022] Torsional damping is achieved within the present invention by providing
an energy storage component (i.e., energy storage members 28, 54). However, an
optional hysteresis component may also be including in driven disk 10 to provide
supplemental torsional damping. In an embodiment, an optional hysteresis, or
frictional component 80, is provided between predamper driven plate 52 and the
predamper driving element (i.e., second spring cover plate 25). The hysteresis
component 80 may be a friction pack or other device that increases the surface-to-
surface coefficient of friction between the predamper driven plate 52 and second
spring cover plate 25. A portion of predamper driven plate 52 may be axially offset
relative to planar base portion 60 to accommodate hysteresis component 80. As the
load along the axis of rotation A-A increases between the hub assembly 20 and the
disk assembly 12, the resulting friction force is increased.
[0023] The present invention has been particularly shown and described with
reference to the foregoing embodiments, which are merely illustrative of the best
modes for carrying out the invention. It should be understood by those skilled in the
art that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may
be employed in practicing the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention as defined in the following claims. It is intended that the following
claims define the scope of the invention and that the method and apparatus within the
scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby. This description of
the invention should be understood to include all novel and non-obvious combinations
of elements described herein, and claims may be presented in this or a later
application to any novel and non-obvious combination of these elements. Moreover,
the foregoing embodiments are illustrative, and no single feature or element is
essential to all possible combinations that may be claimed in this or a later
application.
WE CLAIM
1. A clutch driven disk, comprising:
a rotatable disk assembly 12 including a disk plate 14;
a hub assembly 20 including an inner hub 22 and an outer hub 23, said outer hub 23
rotatable relative to said inner hub 22 and secured to at least one cover plate 25, said
hub assembly 20 rotatable relative to said disk assembly 12;
a predamper 50 including a driving element and a driven element, said driving
element including said cover plate 25 and said driven element including a predamper
driven plate 52 fixed to said inner hub 22, said cover plate 25 including a number of
apertures 56 and said predamper driven plate 52 including a number of sockets 62 at
least partially aligned with said apertures 56 in said cover plate 25; and
an energy storage member 54 disposed within said apertures 56 in said cover plate 25
and said sockets 62 in said predamper driven plate 52, said second energy storage
member 54 configured for absorbing torque as a function of relative rotation between
said inner hub 22 and said outer hub 23.
2. The clutch driven disk of claim 1, wherein said predamper 50 includes a
hysteresis component 80.
3. The clutch driven disk of claim 2, wherein said hysteresis component 80 is
positioned between said cover plate 25 and said predamper driven plate 52.
4. The clutch driven disk of claim 1, wherein said cover plate 25 is secured to
said outer hub 23 by a plurality of fasteners 21.
5. The clutch driven disk of claim 4, wherein said predamper driven plate 52
includes at least one hole 64 through which a portion of said fasteners 21 project, said
hole 64 sized to allow movement of said fasteners 21 as said outer hub 23 rotates
relative to said inner hub 22.
6. A clutch driven disk 10, comprising:
a rotatable disk assembly 12 including a disk plate 14 having a number of apertures
16, said disk assembly 12 including a number of friction pads 18 attached thereto;
a hub assembly 20 including an inner hub 22 and an outer hub 23, said outer hub 23
rotatable relative to said inner hub 22 and secured to at least one spring cover plate 25
having a number of sockets 26, said hub assembly 20 rotatable relative to said disk
assembly 12;
a first energy storage member 28 disposed within said apertures 16 in said disk
assembly 12 and said sockets 26 in said hub assembly 20, said apertures 16 and said
sockets 26 being at least partially aligned, said energy storage member 28 configured
for absorbing torque as a function of relative rotation between said hub assembly 20
and said disk assembly 12;
a predamper 50 including a driving element and a driven element, said driving
element including said spring cover plate 25 and said driven element including a
predamper driven plate 52 fixed to said inner hub 22, said spring cover plate 25
including a number of apertures 56 and said predamper driven plate 52 including a
number of sockets 62 at least partially aligned with said apertures 56 in said spring
cover plate 25; and
a second energy storage member 54 disposed within said apertures 56in said spring
cover plate 25 and said sockets 62 in said predamper driven plate 52, said second
energy storage member 54 configured for absorbing torque as a function of relative
rotation between said inner hub 22 and said outer hub 23.
7. A clutch driven disk, comprising:
a rotatable disk plate 14 having a number of apertures 16, said disk plate 14 having a
number of friction pads 18 attached thereto;
a hub assembly 20 including an inner hub 22 and an outer hub 23;
a first spring cover plate 24 and a second spring cover plate 25 each coupled to said
outer hub 23 for rotational movement therewith, said spring cover plates 24, 25
having a number of sockets 26;
an energy storage member 28 disposed within each of said apertures 16 in said disk
plate 14 and said sockets 26 in said spring cover plates 24, 25, said apertures 16 and
said sockets 26 being at least partially aligned, said energy storage member 28
configured for absorbing torque as a function of relative rotation between said disk
plate 14 and said hub assembly 20;
a predamper 50 including a driving element and a driven element, said driving
element including said second spring cover plate 25 and said driven element including
a predamper driven plate 52 fixed to said inner hub 22, said second spring cover plate
25 including a number of apertures 56 and said predamper driven plate 52 including a
number of sockets 62 at least partially aligned with said apertures 56 in said second
spring cover plate 25;
a second energy storage member 54 disposed within said apertures 56 in said second
spring cover plate 25 and said sockets 62 in said predamper driven plate 52, said
second energy storage member 54 configured for absorbing torque as a function of
relative rotation between said inner hub 22 and said outer hub 23; and
a hysteresis component 80 positioned between said second spring cover plate 25 and
said predamper driven plate 52.

A driven disk 10 is disclosed that includes an inner hub 22 and an outer hub 23
secured to at least one cover plate 25. The driven disk 10 includes a predamper 50
having a driving element and a driven element. The driving element includes the
cover plate 25 and the driven element includes a predamper driven plate 52 fixed to
the inner hub 22. The cover plate 25 includes a number of apertures 56 and the
predamper driven plate 52 includes a number of sockets 62 at least partially aligned
with the apertures 56 in the cover plate 25. An energy storage member 54 is disposed
within the apertures 56 in the cover plate 25 and the sockets 62 in the predamper
driven plate 52 for absorbing torque as a function of relative rotation between the
inner hub 22 and the outer hub 23.

Documents:

432-KOL-2004-ABSTRACT-1.1.pdf

432-KOL-2004-AMANDED CLAIMS.pdf

432-KOL-2004-ASSIGNMENT 1.1.pdf

432-KOL-2004-CORRESPONDENCE 1.1.pdf

432-KOL-2004-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE)-1.1.pdf

432-KOL-2004-DRAWINGS-1.1.pdf

432-KOL-2004-EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

432-KOL-2004-FORM 1-1.1.pdf

432-KOL-2004-FORM 18.pdf

432-KOL-2004-FORM 2-1.1.pdf

432-KOL-2004-FORM 3 1.2.pdf

432-KOL-2004-FORM 3-1.1.pdf

432-KOL-2004-FORM 5.pdf

432-KOL-2004-GPA.pdf

432-KOL-2004-GRANTED-ABSTRACT.pdf

432-KOL-2004-GRANTED-CLAIMS.pdf

432-KOL-2004-GRANTED-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

432-KOL-2004-GRANTED-DRAWINGS.pdf

432-KOL-2004-GRANTED-FORM 1.pdf

432-KOL-2004-GRANTED-FORM 2.pdf

432-KOL-2004-GRANTED-LETTER PATENT.pdf

432-KOL-2004-GRANTED-SPECIFICATION.pdf

432-KOL-2004-OTHERS-1.1.pdf

432-KOL-2004-OTHERS.pdf

432-KOL-2004-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf

432-KOL-2004-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT 1.1.pdf

432-KOL-2004-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf


Patent Number 249290
Indian Patent Application Number 432/KOL/2004
PG Journal Number 42/2011
Publication Date 21-Oct-2011
Grant Date 17-Oct-2011
Date of Filing 22-Jul-2004
Name of Patentee EATON CORPORATION
Applicant Address EATON CENTER, 1111 SUPERIOR AVENUE, CLEVELAND, OHIO
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 MICHAEL LEE BASSETT 1125 CABRIOLET BLVD. AUBURN, IN 46706
2 HOLLY BROOKE RYNER 401 N. SUMMIT ST. EDON, OH 43518
PCT International Classification Number F16D 3/11
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 10/639,364 2003-08-12 U.S.A.