We claim
[Claim 1] Pressure plate (3) for a friction clutch mechanism (1), in a ring-like reshaped
sheet metal plate of axis of revolution (X), characterized in that, the pressure plate
(3) comprises in cross section:
5 - a cooling flange (6) fold in an axial direction from a radially inner edge (31) of the
sheet metal plate ; - a fulcrum flange (7) fold in an axial direction from a radially outer
edge (32) of the sheet metal plate; and
- a base (5) joining the two flanges (6, 7), and which furthermore has a friction
surface (50) configured for the friction-locked transmission to a friction clutch disc (8)
10 of the friction clutch mechanism, the fulcrum flange (7) is folded in order to being at
an angle of inclination (β0) with respect to the base; wherein the fulcrum flange (7)
has a reinforcing reshape (17) to join the base (5), in order to hold both height and
angle of inclination (β0) of the fulcrum flange with respect to the base, the reinforcing
reshape (17) being realized by a double folding (171, 172) of the fulcrum flange.
[Claim 2] Pressure plate (3) according to claim 1, wherein the double folding (171,
172) is made in the opposite direction of the friction surface, and wherein the
cooling flange (6) is angularly continuous or discontinuous around the axis of
revolution (X), the cooling flange (6) is composed of a series of hot air deflectors (60)
angularly distributed around the axis of revolution (X), according to a regular or
20 uniform distribution,
preferably hot air deflectors (60) being the same shape (600) and which being
distributed into three angular sectors (Sx) of the same number,
in particular hot air deflectors (60) being apart from each other, or hot air deflectors
(60) being connected to each other by an cooling closed rim (66).
[Claim 3] Pressure plate (3) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reinforcing reshape
(17) is angularly discontinuous around the axis of revolution (X), and
wherein the fulcrum flange (7) has a series of cams (70) angularly distributed around
the axis of revolution (X), according to a regular or uniform distribution,
preferably cams (70) of different shapes (70C, 70P) and which are distributed into
30 three angular sectors (Sx) of the same number.
[Claim 4] Pressure plate (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the
reinforcing reshape (17) of the fulcrum flange is made by :
- an first so-called external folding (171) of the fulcrum flange, which ensures a
stiffener (170) with the base by being realize radially on the outside of the fulcrum
flange, the first external folding (171) defines an outer diameter (dF1) of the
reinforcing reshape ; and
5 - an second so-called internal folding (172) of the fulcrum flange, which ensures both
height and angle of inclination (β0) of the fulcrum flange by being realize radially on
the inside of the fulcrum flange, following the first external folding (171), the second
internal folding (172) defines an inner diameter (dF2) of the reinforcing reshape.
[Claim 5] Pressure plate (3) according to the preceding claim, wherein
10 - the first external folding (171) defines a final first angle (β1) with respect to the base,
which is equal to or less than 90 degrees, for example 40 degrees, and/or
- the second internal folding (172) defines a final second angle (β2) with respect to
the base, which is between 65 and 135 degrees.
[Claim 6] Pressure plate (3) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein
15 - the fulcrum flange (7) has a free end (709) which defines a fulcrum contact diameter
(dF0) of the sheet metal plate, the fulcrum contact diameter (dF0) of the sheet metal
plate is equal to or less than the outer diameter (dF1) of the reinforcing reshape; and/
or
- the radially inner edge (31) of the sheet metal plate has a series of ear areas (39)
20 configured to be connected to the cover, for example by several straps (23).
[Claim 7] Pressure plate (3) according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the reinforcing
reshape (17) is configured so that the fulcrum flange (7) is inclined towards the outer
edge (32) of the sheet metal plate, in particular the reinforcing reshape has an
external bulge formed as a curved outer surface (175C).
25 [Claim 8] Pressure plate (3) according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the reinforcing
reshape (17) is configured so that the fulcrum flange (7) is inclined towards the
radially inner edge of the sheet metal plate, in particular the reinforcing reshape has
an plan outer surface (175P) orthogonal to the base (5).
[Claim 9] Pressure plate (3) according to claims 6 and 7, wherein the fulcrum contact
30 diameter (dF0) is beyond the inner diameter (dF2) of the reinforcing reshape.
[Claim 10] Pressure plate (3) according to claims 7 and 8, wherein the fulcrum contact
diameter (dF0) is below the inner diameter (dF2) of the reinforcing reshape.
[Claim 11] Friction clutch mechanism (1) of axis of revolution (X), comprising:
- a cover (2) which comprises additional bearing lugs (2B) made of a piece with the
5 cover ; - a pressure plate (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, which is
housed in the cover (2);
- a diaphragm (4) being elastic and being able to be deformed between a clutched
position and a declutch position, which is housed in the cover (2) and in contact on a
primary bearing surface (2B) of the cover and supported by the bearing lugs (50) of
10 the cover, the diaphragm (4) being able to cooperate with the pressure plate (3) by
pressing the fulcrum flange (7) of said pressure plate;
- a plurality of elastic articulation members (23) disposed circumferentially on the
bottom of the cover (2) and supporting the diaphragm (4) in declutch position, which
exerting a clamping force whose effect is to press the diaphragm (4) against the
15 primary bearing surface (2B) of the cover;
- a friction clutch disc (8) being able to cooperate with the friction surface (50) of said
pressure plate in a clutch position, for the friction-locked transmission of the friction
clutch mechanism to a friction clutch disc (8).
[Claim 12] Method for manufacturing a pressure plate (3) with a reinforcing reshape
20 (17), for friction clutch mechanism (1) in a ring-like reshaped sheet metal plate,
comprising the following steps:
a) laying flat of a sheet metal plate of axis of revolution (X), and preferably: - cutting
an irregular contour to form a radially inner edge of the sheet metal plate, and/or
- cutting an irregular contour to form a radially outer edge of the sheet metal plate.
25 b) first folding (171) from a radially outer edge (32) of the sheet metal plate according
to a certain first process angle (β1), in order to define the base (5) and the
intermediate angular form of a fulcrum flange (7); then,
c) second folding (172) from the first folding (171) according to a certain second
process angle (β2), in order to achieve the definitive angular form of the fulcrum
30 flange (7) and an angle of inclination (β0) of the fulcrum flange (7) with respect to the base (5); the steps of the first and the second foldings (171, 172) achieving a
reinforcing reshape (17) in order to hold the definitive angular form of the fulcrum
flange with respect to the base.
[Claim 13] Method for manufacturing a pressure plate (3) according to the preceding
5 claim, comprising at least one of those additional steps :
a') folding from a radially inner edge of the sheet metal plate, according to a certain
angle (δ0) for example of 90 degrees, in order to form the cooling flange (6);
b’) first folding of the step b) with notch cut the radially outer edge of the sheet metal
plate, in order to improve the flat area at the friction face of the pressure plate;
10 c’) keeping extra volume of material in forming and forcing the material to flow
through the outer radius region of the first folding;
[Claim 14] Method for manufacturing a pressure plate (3) according to claim 2 or 13
wherein in the step b), the intermediate angular form of a fulcrum flange (7) defines in
cross section a circular mounting area (C) of center the axis (X), wherein in step c):
15 - the second folding (172) is folded to extend inside of the circular mounting area (C),
preferably the angle (β2) of the second folding (172) being less than 45 degrees ; or
- the second folding (172) is folded to extend outside of the circular mounting area
(C), preferably the angle (β2) of the second folding (172) being greater than or equal
to 55 degrees.