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Title:
AN INTERMEDIATE PRESSURE PLATE WITH INCREASED COOLING PERFORMANCE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2018/011216
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an intermediate pressure plate (10) having a body part (20) and a hub part (30) provided on the side of the center of said body part (20) such that the thickness of said hub part (30) is smaller than the thickness of the body part (20) in order to be used in double clutch device positioned between the engine outlet and the transmission shaft in vehicles having internal combustion engine. As an improvement, the subject matter intermediate pressure plate (10) comprises at least one channel (24) connected to the hub part (30) of the body part (20) inside the body part (20) and extending from an inner wall (23) towards an outer wall (23) and at least one connection channel (32) extending towards the channel (24) from at least one opening (31 ) extending in the direction of the thickness of the hub part (30).

Inventors:
CAKMAK TOLGA (TR)
PEHLIVAN AHMET KORAY (TR)
DOLE ARNAUD (FR)
LEVILLAIN ANTHONY (FR)
REGULSKI BERNARD (FR)
Application Number:
PCT/EP2017/067417
Publication Date:
January 18, 2018
Filing Date:
July 11, 2017
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
VALEO OTOMOTIV SANAYI VE TICARET A S (TR)
International Classes:
F16D13/70; F16D13/72; F16D21/06
Foreign References:
KR101613021B12016-04-18
DE102014221702A12016-04-28
DE102013215589A12015-02-12
CN204755644U2015-11-11
US4576266A1986-03-18
US20140014460A12014-01-16
US20150300420A12015-10-22
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Claims:
CLAIMS

An intermediate pressure plate (10) having a body part (20) and a hub part (30) provided on the side of the center of said body part (20) such that the thickness of said hub part (30) is smaller than the thickness of the body part (20), in order to be used in double clutch device positioned between the engine outlet and the transmission shaft in vehicles having internal combustion engine characterized by comprising at least one channel (24) connected to the hub part (30) of the body part

(20) inside the body part (20) and extending from an inner wall (23) towards an outer wall (23) and at least one connection channel (32) extending towards the channel (24) from at least one opening (31 ) extending in the direction of the thickness of the hub part (30).

An intermediate pressure plate (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the channel (24) is provided in a non-linear form.

An intermediate pressure plate (10) according to claim 2, wherein the channel (24) is provided in an arc form.

An intermediate pressure plate (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein pluralities of channels (24) are provided in the body part (20) such that a determined distance is provided in between.

An intermediate pressure plate (10) according to claim 4, wherein each channel (24) comprises one each symmetry channels (25) provided in the symmetry of the symmetry axes (a) which pass through the center of the body part (20) and which separate the body part (20) to four regions.

An intermediate pressure plate (10) according to claim 1 , wherein pluralities of openings (31 ) are provided such that a determined distance is provided in between.

An intermediate pressure plate (10) according to claim 1 , wherein two lateral faces

(21 ) are provided whereon friction occurs.

8. A double clutch device comprising :

- an intermediate pressure plate (10) according to any one of the preceding claims; - a first pressure plate which slides axially relative to the intermediate pressure plate (10);

- a first friction disc which is designed to be clamped against the intermediate pressure plate (10) by sliding of the first pressure plate;

- a second pressure plate which slides axially relative to the intermediate pressure plate (10);

- a second friction disc which is designed to be clamped against the intermediate pressure plate (10) by sliding of the second pressure plate;

wherein the first friction disc and the second friction disc are arranged on both sides of the intermediate pressure plate (10).

Description:
SPECIFICATION

AN INTERMEDIATE PRESSURE PLATE WITH INCREASED COOLING PERFORMANCE TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an intermediate pressure plate used in frictional clutches positioned between the engine outlet and the transmission shaft and providing power transfer by means of friction link in vehicles having internal combustion engine.

PRIOR ART

In vehicles having internal combustion engine, there are frictional clutches positioned between the engine outlet and the transmission shaft and providing power transfer by means of friction link. Some of these clutches has double disc. In clutches having double disc, an intermediate pressure plate is provided between the two discs. Those clutches are called "double clutch device".

Frictional clutches are heated due to frictions during use. This heating leads to reduction in the strength of the parts, shortening of the lifetimes, reduction in the performances, and changing of the friction characteristics on the rubbing surfaces.

In applications with reference numbers US2014014460 and US2015300420, clutches are disclosed having double disc.

As a result, because of all of the abovementioned problems, an improvement is required in the related technical field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pressure plate, for eliminating the above mentioned disadvantages and for bringing new advantages to the related technical field.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an intermediate pressure plate whose heat dissipation ability is increased. In order to realize all of the abovementioned objects and the objects which are to be deducted from the detailed description below, the present invention is an intermediate pressure plate in order to be used in double clutch device positioned between the engine outlet and the transmission shaft in vehicles having internal combustion engine and having a body part and a hub part provided on the side of the center of said body part such that the thickness of said hub part is smaller than the thickness of the body part. Accordingly, the subject matter intermediate pressure plate comprises at least one channel connected to the hub part of the body part inside the body part and extending from an inner wall towards an outer wall and at least one connection channel extending towards the channel from at least one opening extending in the direction of the thickness of the hub part. Thus, during the rotation of the intermediate pressure plate, air inlet is provided into the intermediate pressure plate, and the intermediate pressure plate is cooled by means of the convectional heat transfer method.

The invention can exhibit one or another of the characteristics described below, combined with one another or taken independently of one another :

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the channel is provided in a non-linear form. Moreover, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the channel is provided in an arc form. Advantageously, the axis of the arc form is arranged radially offset in relation to the axis of revolution of the intermediate pressure plate.

Thus, by increasing the length of the channel, the heat transfer area and the heat transfer performance are increased. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, pluralities of channels are provided in the body part such that a determined distance is provided in between. Thus, the channels are increased in number and the heat transfer area is increased without changing the weight center of the intermediate pressure plate. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each channel comprises one each symmetry channels provided in the symmetry of the symmetry axes which pass through the center of the body part and which separate the body part to four regions. Thus, the cover can be cooled during rotation in both directions. Moreover, changing of the weight center is prevented thanks to symmetry. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, pluralities of openings are provided such that a determined distance is provided in between. Thus, during the rotation of the intermediate pressure plate, equal air input is provided to all channels and symmetry channels. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, two lateral faces are provided whereon friction occurs. Advantageously, the two lateral faces are ordered to rub onto friction discs.

A further object of the invention is to propose a double clutch device comprising : - an intermediate pressure plate as defined above;

- a first pressure plate which slides axially relative to the intermediate pressure plate;

- a first friction disc which is designed to be clamped against the intermediate pressure plate by sliding of the first pressure plate;

- a second pressure plate which slides axially relative to the intermediate pressure plate;

- a second friction disc which is designed to be clamped against the intermediate pressure plate by sliding of the second pressure plate.

Advantageously, the first friction disc and the second friction disc are arranged on both side of the intermediate pressure plate.

This double clutch device according to the further object of the invention has the advantage of increasing the heat convection surface inside of the intermediate pressure plate without changing the external envelope of the double clutch device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In Figure 1 , a representative isometric view of the subject matter intermediate pressure plate is given.

In Figure 2, a representative cross-sectional view of the subject matter intermediate pressure plate is given.

In Figure 3, a representative cross-sectional view of the double clutch device whereon the subject matter intermediate pressure plate is positioned is given.

REFERENCE NUMBERS 10 Intermediate pressure plate

20 Body part

21 Lateral face

22 Outer wall

23 Inner wall

24 Channel

25 Symmetry channel

26 Column

30 Hub part

31 Opening

32 Connection channel

33 Inner gap

40 Connection flap

41 Connection hole a Symmetry axis

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the subject matter intermediate pressure plate is explained with references to examples without forming any restrictive effect only in order to make the subject more understandable.

Figure 3 represents an embodiment of a double clutch device which is designed in particular to equip a vehicle having an internal combustion engine. The double clutch device has an axis "X" of rotation with a longitudinal orientation.

The double clutch device is designed to couple temporarily a drive shaft (not represented) which is usually arranged longitudinally at the front of the double clutch device, and in this on the right in figure 3, with two driven shafts, respectively a first shaft and a second shaft (not represented).

The double clutch device comprises a first clutch "E1 " and a second clutch "E2" which are designed to couple one of the driven shafts temporarily to the drive shaft, and are controlled selectively such as to permit respectively the passage to speed ratios with different parities. The first clutch "E1 " comprises a first annular pressure plate which is fitted integrally in rotation with an intermediate pressure plate 10, around the axis "X" of rotation.

The first clutch Έ1 " comprises a first coaxial friction disc which is interposed axially between the intermediate pressure plate 10 and the first pressure plate. The first friction disc comprises on its two surfaces an annular friction lining which is arranged axially opposite the first pressure plate and the intermediate pressure plate 10.

The second clutch "E2" comprises a second annular pressure plate which is fitted integrally in rotation with an intermediate pressure plate 10, around the axis "X" of rotation.

The second clutch "E2" comprises a second coaxial friction disc which is interposed axially between the intermediate pressure plate 10 and the second pressure plate. The second friction disc comprises on its two surfaces an annular friction lining which is arranged axially opposite the second pressure plate and the intermediate pressure plate 10.

The first friction disc and the second friction disc are arranged on both sides of the intermediate pressure plate 10.

The subject matter intermediate pressure plate 10 has a circular body part 20. The two lateral faces 21 of the body part 20 are the surfaces where friction occurs. There are connection flaps 40 extending outwardly from an outer wall 22 of the body part 20. Pluralities of connection flaps 40 are provided around the body part 20. There is at least one each connection holes 41 provided on the connection flaps 40.

The two lateral faces 21 rub onto the friction linings of first and second friction discs.

A hub part 30 is provided at the center of the body part 20. An inner gap 33 is provided at the center of the hub part 20. The inner gap 33 is provided in a circular form. The thickness of the hub part 33 is provided to be less than the thickness of the body part 20. The part where the hub part 33 and the body part 20 join is defined as an inner wall 23 of the body part 20.

With reference to Figure 2, at least one channel 24 is provided inside the body part 20. The channel 24 extends from the inner wall 23 towards the outer wall 22. In order to increase the length of the channel 24, the channel 24 extends from the inner wall 23 towards the outer wall 22 in a manner drawing a curve. Pluralities of channels 24 are provided around the center of the body part 20. In other words, pluralities of channels 24 are provided on the body part 20 within a predetermined arrangement such that there is a specific distance in between. With reference to Figure 2, Cartesian coordinate axes, passing through the center of the body part 20 and separating the body part 20 into four regions, are defined as symmetry axes a. One each symmetry channels 25 are provided which are symmetric of each channel 24 with respect to said symmetry axes a. In other words, while the channels 24 extend in a manner drawing an arc in clockwise direction, the symmetry channels 25 extend in a manner drawing an arc extending in the counter-clockwise direction. Due to said structure, the channels 24 and the symmetry channels 25 intersect with each other. The parts which remain outside of the channels 24 and the symmetry channels 25 are defined as column 26. The columns 26 are shaped depending on the form of the channels 24 and the symmetry channels 25. In a possible embodiment of the invention, the columns 26 are in general provided in the form of an equilateral-quadrangle. Accordingly, at the columns 26, a corner of the equilateral-quadrangle faces towards the inner wall 23 and another corner of the equilateral-quadrangle faces towards the outer wall 22.

At least one opening 31 is provided on the hub part 30. Pluralities of openings 31 are provided around the center of the hub part 30. The opening 31 extends in the direction of the thickness of the hub part 30. Thus, air passage from one side of the hub part 30 towards the other side of the hub part 30 becomes possible. At least one connection channel 32 is provided inside the hub part 30. One end of the connection channel 32 is opened to the opening 31 , and the other end of the connection channel 32 is opened to the channel 24 and to the symmetry channels 25 provided on the body part 20. According to this structure, at the hub part 30, the air, entering through the opening 31 , can pass through the connection channels 32 and afterwards, through the channels 24 and symmetry channels 25 and air can exit through the outer wall 22. Thanks to the channels 24 provided in pluralities of numbers, and thanks to the symmetry channels 25, the heat convection area is increased. During the rotation of the cover 10, the air, entering into the channels 24 and into the symmetry channels 25, provides decreasing the temperature of the cover 10. Since the channels 24 and the symmetry channels 25 are symmetric, heat transfer can occur in the same manner in an independent manner from the rotation direction of the cover 10. On the other hand, the edges of the columns 26 provide partial diverging of the air entering into the channel 24 and into the symmetry channel 25 and provide guidance of the air towards the adjacent channel 24 or towards the symmetry channel 25. Thanks to this, convectional heat transfer is increased by means of air circulation inside the channels 24 and inside the symmetry channels 25.

Since the heat is removed from the intermediate pressure plate 10, the increase of the temperature on the powertrain unit is prevented. Thanks to the invention, the intermediate pressure plate 10 is prevented from reaching high temperatures and thus, the cracks and breakages which may occur at excessive temperatures and the deteriorations which may occur in the clutch material are prevented. Besides, the mass of the intermediate pressure plate has been reduced. Thanks to the reduced mass, the carbon dioxide emission of the vehicle is reduced.

The protection scope of the present invention is set forth in the annexed Claims and cannot be restricted to the illustrative disclosures given above, under the detailed description. It is because a person skilled in the relevant art can obviously produce similar embodiments under the light of the foregoing disclosures, without departing from the main principles of the present invention.