Patent ID: 6092637
Filing Date: 2000-07-25
Classification: F16D,F16J

Abstract:
A hydraulically operated clutch assembly for a motor vehicle, said clutch assembly comprising:a flywheel defining an axis of rotation and an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation;a clutch disc;a pressure plate for applying an axially directed force to said clutch disc, with respect to the axis of rotation of said flywheel, to engage said clutch disc with said flywheel;said clutch disc being disposed between said flywheel and said pressure plate;said clutch disc comprising a friction lining for contacting said pressure plate and said flywheel during engagement of said clutch disc with said flywheel;an actuator to hydraulically actuate said clutch disc;said hydraulic actuator comprising:a cylinder, said cylinder comprising an outer cylinder wall and an inner cylinder wall;said cylinder having a longitudinal axis;said outer cylinder wall being disposed further away from the longitudinal axis than said inner cylinder wall;said outer cylinder wall being disposed coaxial along the longitudinal axis with said inner cylinder wall;an annular chamber, said annular chamber being disposed between and defined by said outer cylinder wall and said inner cylinder wall, at least a portion of said annular chamber being configured to hold hydraulic fluid therein;an outlet for providing hydraulic fluid into and out of said annular chamber;a pedal for applying pressure to the hydraulic fluid within said chamber to operate said pressure plate to apply said axially directed force, at least a portion of said pedal being disposed in a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle;said annular piston being disposed to slide axially substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis;a sealing structure being disposed to seal said annular chamber, said sealing structure being disposed adjacent said annular piston;said sealing structure being disposed between said outer cylinder wall and said inner cylinder wall within said annular chamber;said sealing structure being disposed to slide axially substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis;said sealing structure comprising:an elastomeric body;sealing lips disposed on said elastomeric body;said sealing lips consisting of a sole outer sealing lip and a sole inner sealing lip;said sole outer sealing lip being disposed adjacent said outer cylinder wall, said sole outer sealing lip being disposed to seal said annular chamber at said outer cylinder wall;said sole inner sealing lip being disposed adjacent said inner cylinder wall, said sole inner sealing lip being disposed to seal said annular chamber at said inner cylinder wall;each said lip being disposed to protrude substantially from said elastomeric body;each said lip comprising a root portion and an end portion;said root portion being attached to said elastomeric body;said end portion being disposed opposite said root portion and comprising a sealing surface;said end portion having a distal end disposed away from said root portion;said sealing surface being disposed solely at said distal end of said end portion;said elastomeric body and said sole outer sealing lip and said sole inner sealing lip together comprising a continuous, one-piece elastomeric structure;said sole inner sealing lip comprising a first substantially conical surface and a second substantially conical surface disposed between said root portion and said end portion;said first conical surface being disposed opposite from said second conical surface;said sole inner sealing lip having a thickness;said thickness of said sole inner sealing lip comprising the distance between said first conical surface and said second conical surface;said thickness of said sole inner sealing lip being substantially similar from said root portion to said end portion;said elastomeric body comprising a first surface disposed adjacent said first conical surface;said elastomeric body comprising a second surface disposed adjacent said second conical surface;said first surface and said second surface each being configured to flare out away from said first conical surface and said second conical surface at said root portion, forming a flare-out portion;said flare-out portion of said elastomeric body having a width comprising the distance between the first surface and the second surface, which width is substantially greater than the thickness of said sole inner sealing lip;said sole outer sealing lip comprising a third substantially conical surface and a fourth substantially conical surface disposed between said root portion and said end portion of said sole outer sealing lip;said third conical surface being disposed opposite from said fourth conical surface of said sole outer sealing lip;said sole outer sealing lip having a thickness;said thickness of said sole outer sealing lip comprising the distance between said first conical surface and said second conical surface of said sole outer sealing lip;said thickness of said sole outer sealing lip being substantially similar from said root portion to said end portion of said sole outer sealing lip;said elastomeric body comprising a first surface disposed adjacent said third conical surface of said sole outer sealing lip;said elastomeric body comprising a fourth surface disposed adjacent said fourth conical surface of said sole outer sealing lip;said third surface and said fourth surface each being configured to flare out away from said third conical surface and said fourth conical surface at said root portion of said sole outer sealing lip, forming a second flare-out portion;said second flare-out portion of said elastomeric body having a width comprising the distance between the third surface and the fourth surface, which width is substantially greater than the thickness of said sole outer sealing lip;said sealing structure having a longitudinal axis;all portions of said sole outer sealing lip being axially offset from all portions of said sole inner sealing lip; andsaid axial offset being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; anda pressure medium connection for connecting said outlet for providing hydraulic fluid to said annular chamber.