Patent ID: 7878714

Claim:
A clutch release bearing device comprising: an inner non-rotating ring made by pressing of a metal sheet or a tube having an annular raceway for a row of rolling elements and an extension facing inwards in the form of a radial portion having a bore defining a first circular central opening, said radial portion being configured to couple with a radial surface of an operating element; an outer rotating ring made by pressing of a metal sheet or of a tube having an annular raceway for said row of rolling elements and a radial portion facing inwards configured to couple with a surface of a diaphragm of the clutch device and defining a second circular central opening; an elastic sleeve element including a sheet metal brace, a body of synthetic material with a plurality of splines extending radially inwards, configured to couple with an outer surface of said operating element; and a sealing portion with a sealing lip that seals at least a portion of said second circular central opening by contacting an inwardly facing end surface of said radial portion of the outer rotating ring; said sheet metal brace comprising a first axial portion contacting said bore of said radial portion of said inner non-rotating ring, a radial portion extending from an end of the first axial portion and contacting said radial portion of said inner non-rotating ring, and a second axial portion extending from said radial portion and extending through at least a portion of the body of synthetic material; wherein said elastic sleeve element is made of a single piece comprised of said sheet metal brace, said body of synthetic material overmolded on said brace, and said sealing portion; and said single piece fitting entirely between a radial plane of contact of the diaphragm of the clutch device with the said outer rotating ring and a radial plane passing through the center of the rolling elements.