Patent ID: 12241515

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

InFIG.1toFIG.5, a torque limiter1is shown in a schematic sectional view. The torque limiter1has a front cover disc5(as shown on the left) and a rear cover disc6(as shown on the right of the front cover disc5). The cover discs5,6are connected in a torque-transmitting manner to a radially outer connector10, for example with a machine connection, here by means of a flywheel29. On the axially inward-facing inner side of the respective cover disc5,6, i.e., the surfaces of the two cover discs5,6facing one another, are each in contact with a friction lining8,9, namely the front cover disc5with the front friction lining8and the rear cover disc6with the rear friction lining9. A central disc7is arranged between the two friction linings8,9and the friction linings8,9are in torque-transmitting contact with the central disc7. The central disc7is connected on the radially inner side to a radially inner connector11(formed here by or with a torsional vibration damper21, for example a hub with internal teeth), here (optionally) directly to a front side plate30and indirectly to a rear side plate31of a torsional vibration damper21. A damper spring32of the torsional vibration damper21is further shown in part.

In the shown embodiment of the torque limiter1inFIG.1, the central disc7has an integrated spring element12. By means of an axial contact force16, a frictional connection is created between the friction linings8,9and the respective cover disc5,6. The contact force16is generated during assembly of the torque limiter1by positioning the cover discs5,6accordingly. The central disc7is tensioned by the integrated spring element12.

InFIG.2toFIG.5, embodiments of the torque limiter1with a similar structure are shown. The torque limiters1shown there differ from the embodiment according toFIG.1with regard to the spring element, the connection of the friction linings8,9and/or in that the support discs are still provided (cf. corresponding figure).

FIG.2shows a torque limiter1a, similar to torque limiter1ofFIG.1with two additional support discs17,18. A front support disc17(as shown on the left) is arranged between the front friction lining8aand the central disc7, and a rear support disc18(as shown on the right) is arranged between the central disc7and the rear friction lining9a. The support discs17,18improve the contact pressure distribution and/or protect the integrated spring element12a. In one embodiment, the spring element12ais integrated into the central disc7. In an alternative or additional embodiment, the front support disc17includes or forms a front spring element13and/or the rear support disc18includes or forms a rear spring element14. In this case, such a support disc17,18is corrugated, for example.

FIG.3shows a torque limiter1bsimilar to torque limiter1ofFIG.1, with the friction linings8b,9briveted to the central disc7.

FIG.4of a torque limiter1csimilar to torque limiter1ofFIG.1, in which a disc spring15is provided. The disc spring15is arranged between the (optional rear) cover disc6cand a (corresponding rear) support disc18c. The (rear) support disc18cis arranged between the rear friction lining9and the disc spring15. Here, it is not excluded that the central disc7includes an integrated spring element (not shown) and/or the support disc18includes a (rear) spring element (not shown). In one embodiment, at least one additional support disc and/or spring element is provided.

InFIG.5, a torque limiter1dis shown in a combination with the embodiments according toFIG.3andFIG.4.

InFIG.6, a single segment of a central disc7is shown in an (axial) plan view. The segment is formed here as a single-piece and includes a portion having a radially outer segment22and a portion having a radially inner segment23. In use in a torque limiter1,1a,1b,1c,1d(cf.FIG.1toFIG.5), the radially outer segment22is arranged to overlap radially with the friction linings8,8a,8b,9,9a,9b, for example the friction linings are riveted to the radially outer segment22. In use in such a torque limiter1, the radially inner segment23is connected, e.g., indirectly, for example by means of a torsional vibration damper21, to the radially inner connector11, for example by means of riveting. The complete central disc7includes a plurality of such or similar segments22,23, which are spaced apart from one another in the direction of rotation3(cf. the embodiment according toFIG.7) and thus form a (multi-piece) ring. Shown here is a section line A A, showing how the sectional view of the radially outer segment22according toFIG.8is oriented.

InFIG.7, the central disc7ais shown as a single-piece ring, e.g., with an integrated spring element12. Central disc7amay replace central disc7in any of torque limiters1,1a,1b,1c,1d, for example. The central disc7ahas a rotational axis2with a direction of rotation3. An outer ring portion19ais located in the radially outer region of the central disc7a, which includes a plurality of radially outer segments22a, similar to radially outer segments22inFIG.6. An inner ring portion20is formed in the radially inner region, which corresponds to the radially inner segment23according toFIG.6, but also ensures the single-piece nature of the central disc7a. The inner ring portion20ensures the connection to the radially inner connector11, for example to one of the side plates30,31. Here, optionally, the region of attachment, for example by riveting, of the inner ring portion20is set apart from the rest of the inner ring portion20, so that this region of attachment is (almost) exempt from corrugation (for example also of the rest of the inner ring portion20) and/or deformation of the central disc7a.

As inFIG.6, a section line A A is shown, showing how the sectional view of the radially outer segment22aaccording toFIG.8is oriented.

InFIG.8, a radially outer segment22of a central disc7, or a radially outer segment22aof a central disc7a, is shown in a sectional view along section line A-A (cf.FIG.6orFIG.7). The radially outer segment22is (optionally) designed here to be corrugated, thus forming the spring element or part of the integrated spring element12,12a,12b. By means of the corrugated shape, the desired contact force16(cf.FIG.1toFIG.5) or a desired spring characteristic is provided and/or the desired contact force16is transmitted uniformly.

FIG.9shows a drive train4arranged in a motor vehicle28with the motor axis33thereof (optionally) transverse to the longitudinal axis34(optionally) in front of the driver's cab35. Here, the torque limiter1is connected on the input side to the machine shaft25of the drive engine24, to the transmission gearing36and then to the differential37. From this drive engine24or via its machine shaft25, torque is delivered to the drive train4. On the output side, the torque limiter1is connected to a purely schematically illustrated output, so that here a left drive wheel26(consumer) and a right drive wheel27(consumer) can be supplied with torque from the drive engine24with a variable transmission ratio. The drive engine24is protected from a torque peak, for example originating from the consumers26,27, by means of the torque limiter1.

In the case of the torque limiter which is proposed here, a consistent coefficient of friction over a long service life can be achieved.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

1,1a,1b,1c,1dTorque limiter2Rotational axis3Direction of rotation4Drive train5Front cover disc6,6a,6cRear cover disc7,7aCentral disc8,8a,8bFront friction lining9,9a,9bRear friction lining10Radially outer connector11Radially inner connector12Integrated spring element13Front spring element14Rear spring element15Disc spring16Contact force17Front support disc18,18cRear support disc19Outer ring portion20Inner ring portion21Torsional vibration damper22,22aRadially outer segment23Radially inner segment24Drive engine25Machine shaft26Left drive wheel27Right drive wheel28Motor vehicle29Flywheel30Front side plate31Rear side plate32Damper spring33Motor axis34Longitudinal axis35Driver's cab36Transmission gearing37Differential