A POWERTRAIN MECHANISM HAVING A METAL PLATE TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a powertrain mechanism for providing movement transmission between the engine and the gearbox in vehicles having internal combustion engine.

PRIOR ART

In vehicles having internal combustion engine, there are powertrain mechanisms positioned between the engine output and gear box shaft and providing power transmission to the gear box by means of friction link.

This powertrain mechanism is a system which provides clutching as a result of compressing and rubbing of the friction material, provided in general on a disc, between two metal plates which rotate essentially concentrically. These two metal plates are preferably pressure plate and flywheel. The compression process is realized by Belleville type diaphragm spring or helical springs by means of support from the clutch cover.

As a vehicle, having manual gear box, starts movement from the stop position, clutch is needed for transferring the engine torque to the wheels. Since rubbing materials generate heat in this step, this heat is stored in the form of temperature increase in the flywheel and in the pressure plate. Particularly under high load and under agricultural equipment driving conditions, as a result of repetitive use of the clutch in short durations, there is no sufficient cooling time for dispensing the occurring heat. This temperature increase may lead to breakage in the pressure plate and flywheel and burning in brake linings. As a result of excessive temperature increase, the strength of the materials used in clutch decreases and the friction characteristics change. This is an undesired condition.

In the application with reference TR201609566, an inertia plate is disclosed where the cooling performance is increased thanks to the channels formed therein.

As a result, because of all of the abovementioned problems, an improvement is required in the related technical field. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a powertrain mechanism, for eliminating the above mentioned disadvantages and for bringing new advantages to the related technical field.

An object of the present invention is to provide a powertrain mechanism where the weight is decreased and where the cooling performance is increased. In order to realize all of the abovementioned objects and the objects which are to be deducted from the detailed description below, the present invention is a powertrain mechanism for providing movement transmission between the engine and the gear box in vehicles having internal combustion engine, and having at least one metal plate. Accordingly, said metal plate comprises at least one metal foam part. Thus, the weight of the powertrain mechanism is reduced and the cooling performance is increased.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the metal foam part is aluminum foam.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the metal foam part is provided in the form of an open porous metal foam structure. Thus, air channels are obtained inside the metal foam part. Thus, air circulation and cooling are provided inside the metal plate during rotation, and at the same time, the total surface area of the metal plate is increased and performance of heat transfer by means of convection is increased. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the metal foam part comprises at least one air intake surface. Thus, air intake to the metal foam part is facilitated, and the cooling performance is increased.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the air intake surface is provided in the vicinity of the outer diameter of the metal plate. Thus, air intake-output during rotation of the metal plate is facilitated.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the air intake surface is provided in the vicinity of the inner diameter of the metal plate. Thus, air intake-output during rotation of the metal plate is facilitated.

In a preferred embodiment, the powertrain mechanism comprises a friction clutch. In a preferred embodiment, the powertrain mechanism comprises a friction disc. The friction disc comprises at least one friction lining able to rub onto a frictional surface of a metal plate.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the metal plate is a flywheel. Thus, the cooling performance of the flywheel is increased, and at the same time, the weight of the flywheel is decreased.

Alternatively, the flywheel has a circular body part around an axis of revolution.

Preferably, the body part of the flywheel comprises an inner gap, the metal foam part being located into the inner gap.

Alternatively, the inner gap extends according a geometrical plane which is perpendicular to the axis of revolution.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the flywheel comprises a frictional surface able to be in contact with a friction disc. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the metal plate is a pressure plate. Thus, the cooling performance of the pressure plate is increased, and at the same time, the weight of the pressure plate is decreased.

Alternatively, the pressure plate has a circular body part around an axis of revolution.

Preferably, the body part of the pressure plate comprises an inner gap, the metal foam part being located into the inner gap.

Alternatively, the inner gap extends according a geometrical plane which is perpendicular to the axis of revolution.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pressure plate comprises a frictional surface able to be in contact with a friction disc.

A further object of the invention is to propose a friction clutch comprising at least a cover, a diaphragm spring and a pressure plate as defined above, said pressure plate comprising a frictional surface able to be in contact with a friction disc.

This friction clutch according to the further object of the invention has the advantage of increasing the heat convection surface inside of the pressure plate without changing the external envelope of the friction clutch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In Figure 1 , a representative cross sectional view of an exemplary powertrain mechanism of the prior art is given. In Figure 2a and 2b, a representative isometric view of the flywheel defined as metal plate in the subject matter powertrain mechanism and a representative cross sectional view of this view are given.

In Figure 3a and 3b, a representative frontal view and a representative cross sectional view of the flywheel defined as metal plate in the subject matter powertrain mechanism are given.

In Figure 4, a representative isometric view of the pressure plate defined as metal plate in the subject matter powertrain mechanism is given.

In Figure 5a and 5b, a representative frontal view and a representative cross sectional view of the pressure plate defined as metal plate in the subject matter powertrain mechanism are given.

In Figure 6a and 6b, a representative side view and a representative cross sectional view of the pressure plate defined as metal plate in the subject matter powertrain mechanism are given. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the subject matter powertrain mechanism 10 is explained with references to examples without forming any restrictive effect only in order to make the subject more understandable.

In Figure 1 , a representative cross sectional view of an exemplary powertrain mechanism of the prior art is given. Accordingly, the powertrain mechanism 10 disclosed in the prior art and in the subject matter invention essentially has at least two metal plates 20 provided concentrically. A friction disc 30 is provided between said metal plates 20, and friction lining is provided on the friction disc 30. The friction disc 30 is compressed between metal plates 20, and movement transmission is provided.

As illustrated in Figure 1 , the powertrain mechanism 10 comprises a friction clutch 40, friction disc 30 and a flywheel 20a. The friction clutch 40 comprising a cover 41 , a diaphragm spring 42 and a pressure plate 20b. As can be seen in figures between Figure 2a and 6b, the metal plates 20 has a body 21 and an inner gap 22 provided inside said body 21 . There is a metal foam part 23 which at least partially fills in said inner gap 22. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the metal foam part 23 is provided in the form of an open porous metal foam structure (open cell). Thus, pluralities of air channels (not illustrated in the figure) are obtained in the metal foam part 23.

Thanks to the metal foam part 23 provided inside the metal plate 20, the weight of the metal plate 20 is reduced. At the same time, thanks to the metal foam part 23, the cooling performance of the metal plate 20 is increased. In more details, thanks to the open porous metal foam structure of the metal foam part 23, air circulation is provided therein and cooling thereof is facilitated. Moreover, thanks to the open porous metal foam structure, the surface area of the metal plate 20 is increased and heat transfer by means of convection is provided in a more effective manner.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the metal foam part 23 is opened to the outer surface of the metal plate 20. In other words, it is possible to access the metal foam part 23 from the outer surface of the metal plate 20. The part of the metal foam part 23 which is on the outer surface of the metal plate 20 is defined as an air intake surface 231. The air, arriving at the air intake surface 231 , can enter into the air channels formed inside the metal foam part 23. Thus, air intake into the metal foam part 23 is facilitated and air circulation is increased. In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the air intake surface 231 is provided in the vicinity of the outer diameter of the metal plate 20. Thus, air intake-output during rotation of the metal plate 20 is facilitated. In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the air intake surface 231 is provided in the vicinity of the inner diameter of the metal plate 20. Thus, air intake-output during rotation of the metal plate 20 is facilitated. In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the metal foam part 23 is made of aluminum foam. Thanks to the metal form part 23, the metal plate 20 gains vibration dampening property. Thus, a part of the vibrations occurring during movement transmission is dampened. Moreover, the noise occurring together with vibration is also reduced.

Thanks to the metal foam part 23 provided at the metal plate 20, the total weight of the metal plate 20 and thus of the vehicle whereon the powertrain mechanism 10 is to be positioned is reduced. Thus, the carbon emission of the vehicle is reduced. As can be seen in Figure 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b, in a possible embodiment of the present invention, the metal plate 20 is a flywheel 20a. Thus, the flywheel 20a is cooled in an effective manner.

As illustrated in Figure 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b, the flywheel 20a has a circular body part around an axis of revolution. The flywheel 20a comprises a frictional surface able to be in contact with the friction disc 30 and the frictional surface is perpendicular to the axis of revolution.

The flywheel 20a has a inner gap 22 .The inner gap 22 extends according a geometrical plane which is perpendicular to the axis of revolution. The inner gap 22 has an annular form. There is a metal foam part 23 which at least partially fills in said inner gap 22 of the flywheel 20a. The metal foam part 23 is made of aluminum foam.

As can be seen in Figure 4, 5a, 5b, 6a and 6b, in another possible embodiment of the present invention, the metal plate 20b is a pressure plate 20b. Thus, the pressure plate 20b is cooled in an effective manner.

As illustrated in Figure 4, 5a, 5b, 6a and 6b, the pressure plate 20b has a circular body part around an axis of revolution. The pressure plate 20b comprises a frictional surface able to be in contact with the friction disc 30 and the frictional surface is perpendicular to the axis of revolution.

The pressure plate 20b has an inner gap 22 .The inner gap 22 extends according a geometrical plane which is perpendicular to the axis of revolution. The inner gap 22 has an annular form.

There is a metal foam part 23 which at least partially fills in said inner gap 22 of the pressure plate 20b. The metal foam part 23 is made of aluminum foam. The protection scope of the present invention is set forth in the annexed Claims and cannot be restricted to the illustrative disclosures given above, under the detailed description. It is because a person skilled in the relevant art can obviously produce similar embodiments under the light of the foregoing disclosures, without departing from the main principles of the present invention. REFERENCE NUMBERS 0 Powertrain mechanism

20 Metal plate

20a Flywheel

20b Pressure plate

21 Body

22 Inner gap

23 Metal foam part 231 Air intake surface 30 Friction disc

40 Friction clutch

41 Cover

42 Diaphragm spring