Latch assembly including diaphragm spring and thrust bearing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016131202-A1
Application number	US-201414534388-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 6, 2014
Priority date	Nov 6, 2014
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A latch subassembly for a motor vehicle drive train is provided. The latch subassembly includes a bearing arrangement including at least one thrust bearing. The latch subassembly also includes a diaphragm spring. The diaphragm spring includes a first end for axially mounting in a housing and a second end held by the at least one thrust bearing, the second end being axially movable between a first position and a second position within the bearing arrangement. A disconnect assembly and a method of forming a disconnect assembly are also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A latch subassembly for a motor vehicle drive train comprising:
a bearing arrangement including at least one thrust bearing; and a diaphragm spring, the diaphragm spring including a first end for axially mounting in a housing and a second end held by the at least one thrust bearing, the second end being axially movable between a first position and a second position within the bearing arrangement.

2 . The bearing arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one bearing includes a first ring having a first contact face for contacting a first axial surface of the diaphragm spring and a second ring including a second contact face for contacting a second axial surface of the diaphragm spring, the second contact face facing the first contact face, the diaphragm spring pivoting about the first and second contact faces while moving between the first and second positions.

3 . The bearing arrangement as recited in claim 2 wherein the first and second rings define a sliding space axially therebetween radially inside of the first and second contact faces, an inner radial edge of the diaphragm spring sliding axially within the sliding space as the diaphragm spring pivots about the first and second contact faces.

4 . The bearing arrangement as recited in claim 3 wherein the second ring is formed as a washer axially against the first ring.

5 . The bearing arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one thrust bearing includes a first thrust bearing, the first thrust bearing including a first race ring forming a thrust surface for contacting a first axial surface of an axially movable clutch part, the first thrust bearing including a second race ring for contacting the second end of the diaphragm spring, the first thrust bearing including rollers axially between the first and second race rings.

6 . The bearing arrangement as recited in claim 5 wherein the first thrust bearing includes a first cage, the first ring including a first axially extending collar axially overlapping the cage, the second ring including a second axially extending collar extending along an inner circumferential surface of the first axially extending collar.

7 . The bearing arrangement as recited in claim 5 wherein the at least one thrust bearing includes a second thrust bearing, the second thrust bearing including a third race ring forming a second thrust surface for contacting a second axial surface of the axially movable clutch part, the second thrust bearing including a fourth race ring for contacting the second end of the diaphragm spring, the second thrust bearing including rollers axially between the third and fourth race rings.

8 . A disconnect assembly for a motor vehicle drive train comprising:
a housing; a first shaft within the housing supporting a first clutch part; a second shaft within the housing supporting a second clutch part, the second clutch part being axially movable; a diaphragm spring including a first end fixed to housing and a second end coupled to the second clutch part, the diaphragm spring configured to hold the second clutch part in a first position in which the second clutch part engages the first clutch part and a second position in which the second clutch part is spaced away from the first clutch part.

9 . The disconnect assembly as recited in claim 8 further comprising at least one thrust bearing coupling the diaphragm spring to the second clutch part.

10 . The clutch as recited in claim 9 wherein the bearing arrangement includes a first ring for contacting a first axial surface of the diaphragm spring and a second ring for contacting a second axial surface of the diaphragm spring.

11 . The disconnect assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein the first ring includes a first contact face and the second ring includes a second contact face facing the first contact face, the diaphragm spring pivoting about the first and second contact faces while moving between the first and second positions.

12 . The disconnect assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein the first and second rings define a sliding space axially therebetween radially inside of the first and second contact faces, an inner radial edge of the diaphragm spring sliding axially within the sliding space as the diaphragm spring pivots about the first and second contact face.

13 . The disconnect assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein the at least one thrust bearing includes a first thrust bearing and a second thrust bearing, the first thrust bearing including the first ring and the second thrust bearing including the second ring.

14 . The disconnect assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein the first ring forms a first inner race of the first thrust bearing and the second ring forms a second inner race of the second thrust bearing.

15 . A method of forming a disconnect assembly for a motor vehicle drive train comprising:
forming a thrust bearing; and coupling an end of a diaphragm spring to thrust bearing by sandwiching the end axially between a race of the thrust bearing and a further part.

16 . The method as recited in claim 15 further comprising fixing another end of the diaphragm spring to a housing such that the diaphragm spring is configured to hold the thrust bearing in a first axial position and a second axial position.

17 . The method as recited in claim 16 further comprising fixing the thrust bearing to an axially movable clutch part.

18 . The method as recited in claim 17 wherein the further part is a race of a second thrust bearing.

19 . The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the race of the thrust bearing includes a first contact face and the further part includes a second contact face facing the first contact face, the diaphragm spring pivoting about the first and second contact faces while moving between the first and second axial positions.

20 . The method as recited in claim 19 wherein the race of the thrust bearing and the further part define a sliding space axially therebetween, an inner radial edge of the diaphragm spring sliding axially within the sliding space as the diaphragm spring pivots between the first and second axial positions.

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Gmbh

Inventors

• Lee Brian
• Bitar Justin

Classifications

• F16D2125/582

  Flexible element, e.g. spring, other than the main force generating element · CPC title

• F16C2361/43

  Clutches, e.g. disengaging bearing · CPC title

• F16C19/30

  for axial load mainly · CPC title

• F16D23/145 Primary

  Arrangements for the connection between the thrust-ring and the diaphragm · CPC title

• F16D13/30

  in which the clutching pressure is produced by springs only · CPC title