Patent ID: 6029792
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A friction clutch comprising:a clutch disk for clamping between two bearing surfaces and having a wear-dependent thickness including an initial thickness;a pressure plate assigned to one of said two bearing surfaces, the pressure plate being axially displaceable and non-rotatably arranged in a clutch housing, the pressure plate capable of receiving a pressure force applied by a diaphragm spring arranged between the clutch housing and the pressure plate, the pressure force being variable over an axial travel of the pressure plate and having an initial value given by an initial engaged position corresponding to said initial thickness of the clutch disk, a wear-dependent value of the pressure force varying from the initial value as a function of wear on the clutch disk;an axially guided release bearing for operating the clutch, anda compensation spring for at least partially influencing the wear-dependent value of the pressure force through a superimposed elastic force transmitted via the release bearing;the pressure plate in said initial engaged position corresponding to a stop position of the compensation spring, the stop position corresponding to a maximum relaxation of the compensation spring in a direction of a displacement of the pressure plate against the clutch disk, the compensation spring, producing from the stop position the superimposed elastic force when the pressure plate is displaced toward the clutch disk.