Increasing stiffness of diaphragm-spring fingers as a part of system approach improvement of friction clutch function

摘要

In contemporary vehicles, friction clutches are exposed to increased engine performances, i.e. increased torque,udparticularly for vehicles equipped with diesel engines. Demands for low mass and low moments of inertia of the movingudparts are more pronounced. Towards the aim of meeting those demands, there is a tendency for manufacturing of clutchudcovers by drawing from a thin tin sheet metal, thus decreasing their axial stiffness, and increasing the path of the releaseudbearing. Such a situation in conditions of increasing vehicle speed endangers the fast and precise work and functionality ofudthe friction clutch. Concomitantly, the effort and the work that the driver needs to make and do during its clutch releaseudincrease. These factors need to be within certain limits.udThis paper provides an analysis of a possible response to this kind of challenges. The focus is pertinent to theudanalytical and experimental analysis of the capacity to decrease backlash in the process of release of the clutch with anudinexpensive technological procedure for profiling the fingers of the diaphragm-spring as a way to increase their stiffness.udThe impact of the analyzed interventions on the dynamic durability of the diaphragm-spring is also assessed through anudadequate experiment.udKEYWORDS: Friction Pad, Diaphragm-Spring, Stiffness of the Fingers, Process of Engagement