Patent ID: 8162120
Filing Date: 2012-04-24
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
1. A friction clutch for use in a drive train, said clutch comprising: a pressure plate that is non-rotatable with respect to a clutch housing and is axially displaceable relative to the clutch housing, a disc spring provided between the housing and the pressure plate for exerting an axial force on the pressure plate, an adjusting device acting between the housing and the disc spring for compensation at least of friction lining wear of a clutch plate that interacts with the pressure plate of the friction clutch when it is mounted in the drive train, wherein the disc spring can be pivoted relative to an annular support carried by the housing to exert a force via a spring group axially toward the annular support, wherein the spring group causing the axial force on the disc spring includes at least the following spring elements, a plurality of circumferentially arranged leaf springs each having a pair of ends and connected on one end with the housing and on another end with the pressure plate, and wherein in the mounted state of the friction clutch the leaf springs provide a preload that urges the pressure plate axially toward the disc spring, wherein upon an increase in friction lining wear, axial force exerted by the leaf springs on the pressure plate increases, a sensor spring that is elastically operatively biased between the housing and the disc spring, wherein the sensor spring exerts an axial force toward the annular support, at least one additional spring elastically operatively biased between the housing and the disc spring, wherein the additional spring exerts on the disc spring an axial force toward the annular support, and wherein the additional spring has an increasing force characteristic when pivoting the disc spring to disengage the friction clutch and when there exists an increase in friction lining wear.