Patent ID: 8172062

Claim:
A device for actuating a friction clutch having automatic adjustment, which device comprises: an axially-movable actuation component, whose axial actuation movement is transmitted through an adjustment device to an axially movable force transmitting component, by means of which force transmitting component the actuation movement of the actuation component for engaging and disengaging the clutch is transmitted to an axially movable pressing component, wherein the adjustment device includes a sensing component which is biased in a circumferential adjustment movement direction, which sensing component compensates for clearance that occurs due to clutch disk lining wear when the clutch is engaged, wherein the sensing component is disposed between the force transmitting component and an axially-acting spring element carried by the force transmitting component, and which adjustment device further includes an adjustment component which is biased in a circumferential adjustment movement direction, which adjustment component compensates for the clearance which occurs in the movement transmitted between the actuation component and the force transmitting component when the clutch is disengaged and after the clearance has been sensed, wherein the sensing component is not moved circumferentially during initial clutch actuation movement transmitted from the actuation component to the force transmitting component, wherein during continued clutch engagement movement after initial clutch actuation movement the sensing component is spaced from the spring element and from a first stop carried by a clutch housing, and wherein a sensing clearance results between the sensing component and the spring element as the clutch is engaged and clutch disk lining wear exists, wherein the spring element contacts a second stop carried by the force transmitting component and which second stop is spaced axially from the first stop as the clutch is being engaged and clutch disk lining wear exists, wherein the spring element is spaced axially from the sensing component to allow circumferential movement of the sensing component before the fully engaged state of the clutch is reached.