Patent ID: 6907975
Filing Date: 2005-06-21
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
1. Clutch for a motor vehicle, comprising clutch-engaging means ( 54 ) suitable for exerting an axial gripping force on a friction disc ( 44 ) fixed rotation-wise to a driven shaft ( 50 ), clutch-disengaging means comprising a pneumatic actuating device ( 76 ) supplied with pressurized gas for exerting on the clutch-engaging means a clutch-disengaging force at least equal to a resisting force developed by these clutch-engaging means, means developing, during disengaging of the clutch, a second resisting force (F) opposite to the clutch-disengaging force and being added to the resisting force developed by the clutch-engaging means ( 54 ), the actuating device ( 76 ) comprising a cylinder ( 74 ), a piston ( 80 ) mounted so as to slide in this cylinder and delimiting therein a first chamber ( 84 , 86 ), a supply of pressurized gas opening into this chamber, means of connecting the piston ( 80 ) or the cylinder ( 74 ) to the clutch-disengaging means ( 54 ), means of connecting the cylinder ( 74 ), or the piston ( 80 ) respectively, to a fixed support ( 78 ), and a second chamber ( 86 , 84 ) delimited in the cylinder ( 74 ) by the piston ( 80 ), the means developing said second resisting force being contained in one of the two chambers ( 84 , 86 ), characterized in that the actuating device ( 76 ) carries a clutch release bearing ( 68 ) acting on the clutch-engaging means ( 54 ) and mounted on a movable part ( 74 ) of the actuating device, and in that the actuating device ( 76 ) is axially aligned with the clutch-engaging means ( 54 ) and is mounted between these clutch-engaging means and a fixed support ( 78 ).