WEAR-COMPENSATING CLUTCH

[01 ] The invention is related to a wear compensation mechanism in the clutch cover assembly which is primarily aiming to keep clutch pedal load, clutch clamp load and clutch setup height at a constant value or in a defined range.

[02] Clutch pedal load, clutch clamp load and clutch setup height varies in case wearing occurs in the clutch disc facings if clutch cover assembly does not possess a compensation mechanism to keep diaphragm spring (8) working position same as its initial position before the wearing occurred. Clutch pedal load gradually increases as long as diaphragm spring (8) working position changes due to wearing of clutch disc facings and it can reach a load level troubling driver comfort while the decline of clutch clamp load causes to loss in torque transfer capacity of clutch kit. Clutch cover assembly has to be replaced when its clamp load drops below minimum clamp load level needed for engaging.

[03] Clutch disc facings are worn mainly owing to engaging process and consequently their thicknesses decrease. Pressure plate (2) moves with the same amount of total decrement in facings' thickness towards to clutch disc and this movement alters the working position of diaphragm spring (8) which leads to change clutch clamp load, clutch pedal load and clutch setup height. By the movement of wear compensation plate (4), the invented mechanism compensates the total amount of facings' wear to keep the diaphragm spring (8) to maintain its initial working position even if wearing occurs. Clutch clamp load and clutch setup height remains stable, additionally, driver comfort is ensured by the invention as the clutch pedal load remains constant even if facings continue to wear. The mechanism compensates facings' wear thus clutch cover assembly also has a longer service life with the same technical characteristics as its initial situation.

[04] The wear sensor (5) or sensors are directly or indirectly mounted on the pressure plate (2) and initially, it touches or will touch to clutch cover sensor lug (6) or lugs or any internal or external part or any type of lug from flywheel or clutch cover (1 ) or the other parts of clutch cover assembly and it touches or will touch to the wear sensor adjusting plate (3) and wear compensation plate (4) as well. If the thickness of facing is decreased or the thickness value is less than what it needs to be, the pressure plate (2) moves towards the clutch disc and the wear sensor (5) or sensors also move with the pressure plate (2) while their contact surface (19) is on or will be on clutch cover sensor lug (6) or lugs or any internal or external part or any type of lug from flywheel or clutch cover (1 ) or the other parts of clutch cover assembly, thus, the setup distance (18) between wear sensor contact surface (19) and its mounting surface (20) increases as much as the total decrement in facing's thickness.

[05] This action creates a gap distance equal to the total wearing amount, between the wear sensor contact surface (19) and wear compensation plate (4) surface and between the wear sensor contact surface (19) and wear sensor adjusting plate (3) surface. In this new position or if a gap exists, wear sensor adjusting plate (3) moves by the starting behaviour of engine speed or stopping behaviour of engine speed or the oscillations in engine speed which are forcing the wear sensor adjusting plate (3) to relatively rotate around pressure plate (2) by their screw threads-1 (15) in order to adjust or fix wear sensor (5) or sensors to the new setup distance (18).

[06] The wear sensor adjusting plate (3) moves with relative rotation around the pressure plate (2) on their screw threads-1 (15) until re-setting contact with the wear sensor or sensors contact surface (19) to stop relative rotation. With this re-contact, wear sensor (5) or sensors is adjusted in the new setup distance (18) position by the wear sensor adjusting plate (3). The wear sensor (5) or sensors can be replaced by the other types of digital or analog or mechanic sensors to detect the amount of wearing. Screw threads-1 (15) on wear sensor adjusting plate (3) and pressure plate (2), screw threads-2 (16) on wear compensation plate (4) and pressure plate (2) can be replaced by other type plates having different shapes or forms such as inclined or declined surfaced plates as an alternative solution aside from screw threads to guide or drive or trigger the movement. The stepper-1 (9) provides one way rotation for wear sensor adjusting plate (3) by preventing the movement in the opposite direction via cooperating with step cavity- 1 (1 1 ) and step teeth-1 (13). One way rotation of wear sensor adjusting plate (3) can be ensured by different mechanisms.

[07] Wear compensation plate (4) does not rotate and maintains its position while being under diaphragm spring (8) force. When the diaphragm spring (8) is moved by clutch bearing, pressure plate (2) is lifted by straps (17) until lift of wear sensor adjusting plate (3) or pressure plate (2) directly or indirectly stopped by cover stopper lug (7) or lugs or any internal or external part or any type of lug from flywheel or clutch cover (1 ) or the other parts of clutch cover assembly. The diaphragm spring (8) continues its stroke- movement while the lift of pressure plate (2) directly or indirectly is stopped. This creates a gap distance between diaphragm spring (8) and wear compensation plate (4) and the force applied by the diaphragm spring (8) on the wear compensation plate (4) disappears.

[08] The wear compensation plate (4) moves by the starting behaviour of engine speed or stopping behaviour of engine speed or the oscillations in engine speed which are forcing the wear compensation plate (4) to rotate and it moves by relatively rotating around the pressure plate (2) by their screw threads-2 (16) until re-setting contact with the wear sensor contact surface (19) to stop relative rotation.

[09] The stepper-2 (10) provide one way rotation for wear compensation plate (4) by preventing the movement in the opposite direction via cooperating with step cavity-2 (12) and step teeth-2 (14). One way rotation of wear compensation plate (4) can be ensured by different mechanisms.

[10] Explanations of Figures

[1 1 ] Figure 1 . Wear-Compensating Clutch

[12] Figure 2. Wear-Compensating Clutch Section View

[13] Figure 3. Stepping-1 Section View

[14] Figure 4. Stepping-2 Section View

[15] Figure 5. Pressure Plate View

[16] Figure 6. Wear Sensor Section View

[17] Index Explanations Indicated in Figures

[18] (1 ) Clutch Cover

[19] (2) Pressure Plate

[20] (3) Wear Sensor Adjusting Plate

[21 ] (4) Wear Compensation Plate

[22] (5) Wear Sensor

[23] (6) Cover Sensor Lug

[24] (7) Cover Stopper Lug

[25] (8) Diaphragm Spring

[26] (9) Stepper-1

[27] (10) Stepper-2

[28] (1 1 ) Step Cavity- 1

[29] (12) Step Cavity-2

[30] (13) Step Teeth-1

[31 ] (14) Step Teeth-2

[32] (15) Screw Threads-1

[33] (16) Screw Threads-2

[34] (17) Strap

[35] (18) Setup Distance

[36] (19) Wear Sensor Contact Surface

[37] (20) Mounting Surface