Patent ID: 6942084

Claim:
A release mechanism for actuating a friction clutch between an internal combustion engine and a transmission of a motor vehicle, the release mechanism being designed for concentric assembly on a guide sleeve mounted on a transmission shaft in order to bear against a release spring of the friction clutch, the guide sleeve and the friction clutch each having a respective center axis, the release mechanism comprising: a clutch release bearing comprising an inner ring, an outer ring, and a sliding sleeve connected with one of the inner ring and outer ring for axial movement with respect to the guide sleeve; a first device for compensating for at least one of a tilt between the center axes and wobbling eccentricity of the release spring, said first device comprising a radially inward facing convex spherical surface on said sliding sleeve, said spherical surface contacting the guide sleeve; and a second device for compensating for offset between the center axes, the second device comprising a sliding surface disposed in a plane perpendicular to the center axis of the guide sleeve between the clutch release bearing and the sliding sleeve so that the release bearing can slide on the sliding surface out of a co-axial position with the center axis of the guide sleeve by a limited amount with respect to the sliding sleeve.