Patent ID: 8590686
Filing Date: 2013-11-26
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
1. A friction clutch comprising: a clutch housing arrangement; a pressure plate coupled to the clutch housing arrangement so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to the clutch housing arrangement and so as to be movable in direction of an axis of rotation; an integrated hydraulic clutch release device that is supported axially at the clutch housing arrangement by a first rolling bearing arrangement and comprising a clutch release ring; a spring arrangement configured to act on the pressure plate in a direction of clutch engagement, wherein, in order to disengage the friction clutch, the spring arrangement is pulled away from the pressure plate axially at its inner radial area by the clutch release ring, and wherein the clutch release device comprises a second rolling bearing arrangement arranged radially outside the clutch release ring and is axially displaceable with respect to the first rolling bearing arrangement, a sealed pressure fluid chamber into which pressure fluid can be admitted formed between the first and second rolling bearing arrangements, the pressure fluid chamber is defined on a radially inner side by a one-piece outer ring of the second rolling bearing arrangement which forms a ring piston, wherein the clutch release device further comprises a non-rotating housing having stationary sealing elements arranged in grooves of the non-rotating housing that determine an outer radius and an inner radius of a surface of the fluid pressure chamber acted upon by pressure, and wherein the outer ring of the second rolling bearing arrangement has two outer circumferential surfaces offset by a radial step and sealingly guided at the sealing elements so as to be axially displaceable, wherein a seal surface of the outer ring of the second rolling bearing arrangement extends axially beyond the non-rotating housing when the clutch is fully disengaged, wherein a cover-like flexible element contacts the non-rotating housing and the outer ring of the second rolling bearing arrangement to protect the seal surface.