Claims:We claim:
1. A multi-plate clutch system (1000) comprising:
• an outer clutch basket (100) and an inner clutch basket (120),
• a plurality of friction plates (10),
• a plurality of clutch plates (60) which are superposed alternately with the said friction plates (10),
• a friction material (20) on each of the said friction plate (10),
• a pressure-receiving plate (40) fixed to the clutch outer end,
wherein said friction plate (10) comprises oil connecting paths (30) in it.
2. The multi-plate clutch system (1000) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the oil connecting path (30) is placed in between said friction material (20) on the said friction plate (10).
3. The multi-plate clutch system (1000) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the oil connecting path (30) is a hole.
4. The multi-plate clutch system (1000) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the oil connecting path (30) is a slot.
5. The multi-plate clutch system (1000) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the number and the size of the said oil connecting paths (30) are dependent on the clutch capacity.
6. The multi-plate clutch system (1000) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the oil connecting paths (30) on the friction plate (10) are as cast oil connecting paths.
7. The multi-plate clutch system (1000) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the oil connecting paths (30) in the friction plate (10) are drilled oil connecting paths.
, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multi-plate wet clutch system to be used in two wheelers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a friction clutch system with oil connecting paths in the friction plates of the clutch arrangement to be used in wet multi plate friction clutch system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A clutch is a component of a vehicle which does the work of engaging and disengaging the power of the engine to the gearbox. A multi-plate clutch is a type of clutch in which the multiple plates with an alteration of clutch and friction plates are used. A multi-plate clutch wet clutch is one that is immersed in hydraulic fluid. This immersion of clutch plates helps reduces wear and tear and the cooling action of oil helps in better dissipation of heat energy. The multi-plate wet clutch mechanism is widely used in two-wheelers and three wheelers.
Drag torque in clutch is the torque generated due to the relative motion of the clutch plates and the friction plates when the lubrication fluid flows through them even after disengagement of the clutch. In effort to reduce the drag torque in the multi plate hydraulic friction clutch arrangement, there has been various developments which includes oil connecting path such as holes in friction material, clutch plates, or in both friction material and friction plate. This drag torque generated results in the loss in power in transmission. It also makes the gear shifting difficult, hence affecting the performance. Again, if the drag torque is too less, that results in difficulty for engagement of the gear. Thus an optimum level of drag torque is desired.
To attain reduced drag torque after the disengagement of the clutch, various ways have been adopted in the past. One such prior art WOUS94016304 titled “Clutch Plate” exists where the clutch plate is characterized by one or more oblong holes. These holes reduces drag torque by providing an oil passage through which, fluid can flow to fill the space between the clutch plates when the clutch assembly is disengaged. Thus the surface tension between the fluid layer and plates is reduced thereby reducing drag torque. But the holes in the clutch plates further result in the wear off of the friction materials due to multiple point of contact for erosion.
The prior art WODE17100012 titled “Frictional Piece” has through holes in the friction material as well as in the friction plate, which helps in reducing the undesired drag moments. The through holes help in reducing the undesired parasitic drag loss. But the holes in the friction materials eventually result in wear off of the friction material and thereby reduced efficiency of the clutch arrangement.
KR1020170066115 titled “Friction Plate” discloses fan-shaped oil grooves in the friction plate which are wider towards the inner circumference. These grooves can efficiently discharge the lubricating oil towards the outer circumference by centrifugal force and thus reducing the drag torque. The problem lies in reducing the drag torque, as the grooves cannot completely break the oil layer and thereby the drag torque reduction is limited.
The present invention intends to overcome limitations of prior art, provides an advancement over the prior art and discloses a solution wherein drag torque can be effectively reduced to be within permissible limit.
Some of the objectives of the present disclosure are described below:
The first objective of the current invention is to provide a clutch system having increased shelf life against wear-and-tear of friction material between the clutch plate and friction plate.
The second objective of the current invention is to reduce the drag torque in the wet multi plate clutch system.
The third objective of the current invention is to provide rider comfort by facilitating smooth gearshift by a precise control over drag.
The fourth objective of the current invention is to provide increased life to the friction materials used in the friction plates.
The fifth objective of the present invention is to provide increased performance of the wet multi plate clutch arrangement.
The six objective of the present invention is to aid in heat dissipation and thereby achieve improved performance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, to achieve the above objectives, a multi-plate wet clutch system (1000) is provided which comprises an outer clutch basket (100) and an inner clutch basket (120), a plurality of friction plates (10), a plurality of clutch plates (60) which are superposed alternately to the friction plates (10), a friction material (20) on each of the friction plate (10), a pressure-receiving plate (40) fixed to the clutch outer end, wherein the friction plate (10) has oil connecting paths (30) in it. The oil connecting paths can be holes or slots. The oil connecting paths or holes are positioned on the friction plate (10) such that their placement is in between said friction material (20).
Although the subject matter has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. As such, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiment contained therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the accompanying drawings and their description stated below, which are merely illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the invention and do not limit in any way the nature and scope of the invention.
Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of a multi-plate wet clutch system in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2a illustrates front view of the first embodiment of a friction plate of the invention with oil connecting paths in the friction plate.
Figure 2b illustrates detail E which is the enlarged view of the oil connecting path of the first embodiment.
Figure 3a illustrates front view of the second embodiment of a friction plate of the invention with oil connecting paths in the friction plate.
Figure 3b illustrates detail K which is the enlarged view of the oil connecting path of the second embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which do not limit the scope and ambit of the invention. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of a multi-plate wet clutch system (1000). The multi-plate wet clutch (1000) system comprises an outer clutch basket (100) and an inner clutch basket (120) which is assembled within the interior of the outer clutch basket (100). The power from engine of a two wheeler or a three wheeler (not shown in the diagram) is received from the gear assembly (110) and is transferred to the outer clutch basket (100). This power gets transferred to the gear box (not shown in the diagram) via a number of clutch plates (60) and friction plates (10). A plurality of friction plates (10) are superposed alternately to the clutch plates (60) which are assembled on top of the pressure receiving plate (40). The friction plates (10) each has friction materials (20) stuck to both side of its surface thereof. The hub clutch (50) which has the holder plate (90) with the compression springs (70) in between is connected to the pressure receiving plate (40) with the fastening bolts (80). When the clutch is actuated, the pressure holder plate (90) receives the pressure and thereafter disengages the plurality of clutch plate (60) and friction plate (10) and thus interrupts the transmission of engine power.
Figure 2a is the front view of the first embodiment (1000A) of the given invention. The figure 2a illustrates the friction plate (10) which is alternately arranged with the clutch plate (60) (as shown in figure 1 in the inner clutch basket. The friction plates (10) have predefined arrangements of friction material (20) attached on top of the plate. In the present embodiment, three of oil connecting paths (30) are provided on the friction plates (10) which are placed in between the friction material (20). The oil connecting paths (30) are made before affixing the friction materials (20) on the friction plate (10). The number of oil connecting paths (30) depend on the clutch capacity. These oil connecting paths (30) helps breaking the oil film in the multi plate wet clutch system (1000) and thereby reducing the excessive drag torque to the permissible limit. The oil connecting paths (30) can be holes or slots. The oil connecting paths or holes are positioned on the friction plate (10) such that their placement is in between said friction material (20). This positioning of oil connecting paths or holes on the friction plate helps in avoiding any damage to the friction material and as a result, its lifespan increases significantly.
Figure 2b illustrates detail E which is the enlarged view of the oil connecting path (30) of the first embodiment. The oil connecting paths (30) can be made as cast oil connecting path (30) during the time of casting of the friction plates (10) or can also be made by drilling.

Figure 3a is the front view of the second embodiment (1000B) of the given invention. The figure 3a illustrates the friction plate (10) which is alternately arranged with the clutch plate (60) (as shown in figure 1) in the inner clutch basket. The friction plates (10) have predefined arrangement of friction material (20) attached on top of the plate. In the second embodiment, five oil connecting paths (30) are provided on the friction plates (10) which are placed in between the friction material (20). The oil connecting paths (30) are made before affixing the friction materials (20) on the friction plate (10). The number oil connecting paths (30) and also the positioning of the oil connecting paths (30) and its size depend on the clutch capacity. These oil connecting paths (30) helps breaking the oil film in the multi plate wet clutch system (1000) and thereby achieving the desired reduced amount of drag torque.
Figure 3b illustrates detail K which is the enlarged view of the oil connecting path (30) of the first embodiment. The oil connecting paths (30) can be made as cast oil connecting path (30) during the time of casting of the friction plates (10) or can also be made by drilling.
The technical advancements offered by the present disclosure include:
? The present invention results in the reduced drag torque.
? Due to the presence of oil connecting paths in between friction materials in the friction plate, there is minimal chance of wear and tear of the friction material.
? The invention also results in the smooth gear shift and thereby improves experience for the rider.
? Due to the number of oil connecting paths in the friction plate, there is effective heat dissipation and thereby improved performance of the clutch system.
? Due to the formation of oil connecting paths before sticking the friction materials on the friction plates, the chances of metal chips getting into the oil medium is negligible and thereby it reduces the wear and tear of the friction material.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the specific features of the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that many additional features can be added and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiment without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.
List of Reference Numeral
10-Friction Plate
20-Friction Material
30-Oil connecting paths in friction plate
40-Pressure Receiving plate
50-Hub Clutch
60-Clutch plate
70-Compression spring
80-Fastening Bolt
90-Holder plate
100-Outer Clutch Basket
110-Gear Assembly
120-Inner Clutch Basket
130-Spline