Clutch with a piston that can be pressurised on both sides and a snap closure having a cantilever-type arm

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12540646-B2
Application number	US-202218719446-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2022
Priority date	Dec 13, 2021
Publication date	Feb 3, 2026
Grant date	Feb 3, 2026

Abstract

A clutch for selectively coupling a motor to a motor vehicle drivetrain includes a sliding sleeve, an actuating cap arranged for moving the sliding sleeve, a housing comprising two pressure chambers, and a piston arranged in a pressure-dependent axially movable manner between the two pressure chambers. The actuating cap has a cantilever-like arm with a snap closure at a free end, and the snap closure is arranged to engage on the sliding sleeve. In an example embodiment, the actuating cap has a main body and a slit extending between the cantilever-like arm and the main body, the cantilever-like arm projects from the main body, and the slit is arranged to adjust a stiffness of the cantilever-like arm in an axial direction and a radial direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A clutch for coupling and decoupling a motor from a motor vehicle drive train, comprising a piston which is arranged in a pressure-dependent axially movable manner between two pressure chambers in a housing, wherein the piston is connected to an actuating cap which is prepared for contacting/moving a sliding sleeve, wherein the actuating cap has a section which is designed as a cantilever-like arm and has a snap closure at its free end for engaging on the sliding sleeve, and wherein the cantilever-like arm projecting from a main body of the actuating cap is spaced apart by a slit extending between the cantilever-like arm and the main body, by means of which the elasticity/stiffness in the axial direction and radial direction is selectively adjusted.

2 . The clutch according to claim 1 , wherein the slit extends only partially through the material of the actuating cap in the circumferential direction, but completely through the material of the actuating cap in the radial direction.

3 . The clutch according to claim 1 , wherein a slot is provided in the cantilever-like arm.

4 . The clutch according to claim 3 , wherein the slot runs parallel to the slit.

5 . The clutch according to claim 1 , wherein the cantilever-like arm defines a lever.

6 . The clutch according to claim 1 , wherein the snap closure surrounds a radial projection of the sliding sleeve with axial clearance.

7 . The clutch according to claim 4 , wherein the slot is designed as a rectangular through-opening.

8 . The clutch according to claim 1 , wherein the sliding sleeve is connected to the actuating cap.

9 . A clutch for selectively coupling a motor to a motor vehicle drivetrain, comprising:
a sliding sleeve; an actuating cap arranged for moving the sliding sleeve, the actuating cap comprising a cantilever-like arm with a snap closure at a free end, the snap closure being arranged to engage on the sliding sleeve; a housing comprising two pressure chambers; and a piston arranged in a pressure-dependent axially movable manner between the two pressure chambers, wherein: the actuating cap comprises a main body and a slit extending between the cantilever-like arm and the main body; the cantilever-like arm projects from the main body; and the slit is arranged to adjust a stiffness of the cantilever-like arm in an axial direction and a radial direction.

10 . The clutch of claim 9 , wherein the slit extends:
only partially through the actuating cap in a circumferential direction; and fully through the actuating cap in the radial direction.

11 . The clutch of claim 9 , wherein the cantilever-like arm comprises a slot.

12 . The clutch of claim 11 , wherein the slot runs parallel to the slit.

13 . The clutch of claim 12 , wherein the slot is a rectangular through-opening.

14 . The clutch of claim 9 , wherein the cantilever-like arm is a lever.

15 . The clutch of claim 9 , wherein:
the sliding sleeve comprises a radial projection; and the snap closure surrounds the radial projection with an axial clearance therebetween.

16 . The clutch of claim 9 , wherein the sliding sleeve is connected to the actuating cap.

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Lichtenwald Viktor
• Erdmann Knut

Classifications

• F16D2011/002

  using an external and axially slidable sleeve for coupling the teeth of both coupling components together · CPC title

• F16D11/10

  with clutching members movable only axially · CPC title

• F16D25/083 Primary

  Actuators therefor (F16D25/085 - F16D25/087 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16D23/02

  Arrangements for synchronisation, also for power-operated clutches (shape or mounting of interengaging parts of clutch members to facilitate engagement F16D11/08) · CPC title