EP-4737754-A1 - TORQUE LIMITER, DRIVE ASSEMBLY AND VEHICLE

EP4737754A1EP 4737754 A1EP4737754 A1EP 4737754A1EP-4737754-A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a torque limiter, comprising: a flywheel; a first axial load-bearing portion; a second axial load-bearing portion, which is fixed relative to the first axial load-bearing portion in an axial direction and is spaced therefrom by a certain distance; a torque input plate, which is fixed relative to the flywheel in a circumferential direction and drives the flywheel to rotate integrally about a rotation axis; and a driven plate configured to output torque. The torque input plate and the driven plate are axially arranged between the first and second axial load-bearing portions, with the torque input plate closer to the first axial load-bearing portion and the driven plate closer to the second axial load-bearing portion. The torque input plate and the driven plate abut against each other with a certain axial force, and the driven plate is driven to rotate about a rotation axis by means of friction between the two. The present disclosure further relates to a drive assembly comprising such a torque limiter and a vehicle comprising the drive assembly.

Inventors

HE, YUXI

Assignees

Nanjing Valeo Clutch Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20240614

Claims (20)

A torque limiter (100), characterized in that the torque limiter (100) comprises: a flywheel (60); a first axial load-bearing portion; a second axial load-bearing portion, which is fixed relative to the first axial load-bearing portion in an axial direction and is spaced therefrom by a certain distance; a torque input plate (10), which is fixed relative to the flywheel (60) in a circumferential direction and drives the flywheel (60) to rotate integrally about a rotation axis (X); and a driven plate (20), configured to output torque, wherein the torque input plate (10) and the driven plate (20) are axially arranged between the first axial load-bearing portion and the second axial load-bearing portion, with the torque input plate (10) being arranged closer to the first axial load-bearing portion, and the driven plate (20) being arranged closer to the second axial load-bearing portion, and wherein the torque input plate (10) and the driven plate (20) abut against each other with a certain axial force, and the torque input plate (10) drives the driven plate (20) to rotate about the rotation axis (X) by means of friction between the torque input plate (10) and the driven plate (20).
The torque limiter (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that : the torque limiter (100) further comprises an elastic member (30) axially arranged between the first axial load-bearing portion and the second axial load-bearing portion, and the elastic member (30) biases one of the torque input plate (10) and the driven plate (20) toward the other of the torque input plate (10) and the driven plate (20).
The torque limiter (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that : the torque input plate (10) comprises a plurality of transmission teeth (11) extending radially outward or axially from an outer periphery thereof, and the torque input plate (10) drives the flywheel (60) through the transmission teeth (11).
The torque limiter (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that : the torque input plate (10) comprises an inner plate (10a) and an outer plate (10b) fastened together, the outer plate (10b) is located on a radially outer side of the inner plate (10a), and the transmission teeth (11) are located at an outer periphery of the outer plate (10b).
The torque limiter (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that : the elastic member (30) is arranged between the first axial load-bearing portion and the torque input plate (10); or the elastic member (30) is arranged between the driven plate (20) and the second axial load-bearing portion.
The torque limiter (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that : the torque limiter (100) further comprises a friction lining (21) arranged on at least one of two axial sides adjacent to the driven plate (20).
The torque limiter (100) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that : the torque limiter (100) further comprises an intermediate plate (40), and the intermediate plate (40) comprises: a first ring (41), wherein the first ring (41) is fastened to the flywheel (60), and a plurality of connecting strips (43), wherein the connecting strips (43) are integrally formed with the first ring (41), wherein at least a portion of the connecting strip (43) extends axially, and the transmission teeth (11) of the torque input plate (10) are able to be inserted between two adjacent connecting strips (43).
The torque limiter (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that : the first ring (41) comprises a ring body (41a) and a plurality of first teeth (44), and each first tooth (44) is arranged in a circumferential direction between two adjacent connecting strips (43).
The torque limiter (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that : the ring body (41a) is fastened to the flywheel (60), and the first teeth (44) are arranged on an inner periphery of the ring body (41a) and form one of the first axial load-bearing portion or the second axial load-bearing portion of the torque limiter (100).
The torque limiter (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that : the first teeth (44) are arranged on an outer periphery of the ring body (41a) and fastened to the flywheel (60), and the ring body (41a) forms one of the first axial load-bearing portion or the second axial load-bearing portion of the torque limiter (100).
The torque limiter (100) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that : the first teeth (44) are spaced from the ring body (41a) in an axial direction by a certain distance, and are connected to the ring body (41a) through bent portions (45).
The torque limiter (100) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that : the intermediate plate (40) further comprises a second ring (42), the second ring (42) is spaced from the first ring (41) in an axial direction by a certain distance and integrally formed with the connecting strips (43), and the second ring (42) forms the other of the first axial load-bearing portion and the second axial load-bearing portion of the torque limiter (100).
The torque limiter (100) according to claim 10, characterized in that : the connecting strip (43) comprises a radial extension section, the radial extension section is spaced from the first ring (41) in an axial direction by a certain distance, and the radial extension section forms the other of the first axial load-bearing portion and the second axial load-bearing portion of the torque limiter (100).
The torque limiter (100) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that : the flywheel (60) comprises a body portion (61) and a flange portion (62) extending radially inward from the body portion (61), and the flange portion (62) forms one of the first axial load-bearing portion or the second axial load-bearing portion of the torque limiter (100).
The torque limiter (100) according to claim 14, characterized in that : the flywheel (60) further comprises a support protrusion (63) extending radially inward from the body portion (61), the support protrusion (63) is spaced from the flange portion (62) in an axial direction by a certain distance, and the support protrusion (63) forms the other of the first axial load-bearing portion or the second axial load-bearing portion of the torque limiter (100).
The torque limiter (100) according to claim 14, characterized in that : the torque limiter (100) further comprises a carrier plate (50) fastened together with the flywheel (60), the carrier plate (50) is spaced from the flange portion (62) in an axial direction by a certain distance, and the carrier plate (50) forms the other of the first axial load-bearing portion or the second axial load-bearing portion of the torque limiter (100).
The torque limiter (100) according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that : the flywheel (60) comprises connecting holes (64) arranged on the flange portion (62), and the transmission teeth (11) extend axially from the outer periphery of the torque input plate (10) and are able to be inserted into the connecting holes (64), so that the torque input plate (10) is fixed relative to the flywheel (60) in a circumferential direction.
The torque limiter (100) according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that : the flywheel (60) comprises connecting grooves (65) arranged on an inner periphery of the body portion (61), and the transmission teeth (11) extend radially from the outer periphery of the torque input plate (10) and are able to be inserted into the connecting groove (65), so that the torque input plate (10) is fixed relative to the flywheel (60) in a circumferential direction.
The torque limiter (100) according to claim 15, characterized in that : at least one of the plurality of support protrusions (63) is provided with an anti-rotation groove (66).
The torque limiter (100) according to claim 19, characterized in that : the elastic member (30) has a plurality of outer peripheral teeth (31), each outer peripheral tooth (31) is supported by one support protrusion (63), and one outer peripheral tooth (31) among the outer peripheral teeth (31) presses against a bottom surface of the anti-rotation groove (66).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a torque limiter. In particular, the torque limiter comprises a flywheel integrated therein. The present disclosure further relates to a drive assembly comprising such a torque limiter and a vehicle comprising the drive assembly. BACKGROUND The torque produced by the engine of a motor vehicle is usually inconstant and fluctuates frequently. Such inconstant torque may be transmitted to the gearbox, causing the gearbox to vibrate and thus generating particularly undesirable noise or impacts, etc. The provision of a torque fluctuation absorbing mechanism in the drivetrain of a vehicle, to reduce the adverse effects of vibration and improve vehicle driving comfort, is already known. The torque fluctuation absorbing mechanism may allow fluctuations in the torque generated by the vehicle engine to be limited and absorbed. It is known that the torque fluctuation absorbing mechanism may comprise a torsional vibration damper and a torque limiter. A torsional vibration damper usually absorbs and reduces torque fluctuations by a spring structure, while a torque limiter can limit a torque fluctuation that exceeds the maximum torque allowed by the torsional vibration damper. Specifically, when a torque fluctuation exceeds the maximum allowable torque, the torque limiter slides, thereby limiting the transmitted torque. In the prior art, a flywheel fixed to a crankshaft of the vehicle engine is an upstream component of the torque limiter in the vehicle drivetrain. The torque limiter is fixed to and driven by the flywheel. The flywheel and the torque limiter are of a separate structure. During installation, the flywheel is first fixed to the engine crankshaft by bolts or other fasteners, and then the torque limiter is fixed to the flywheel by bolts. This separate configuration of the flywheel and torque limiter requires two separate steps for installation of the flywheel and torque limiter, increasing the assembly process. Furthermore, this separate configuration increases the number of parts in the torque limiter, leading to the increase of material costs. Therefore, existing torque limiters and flywheels have the disadvantages of having a large number of parts, high cost, and complicated assembly. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present disclosure is intended to solve the above problems existing in the existing torque limiters and flywheels, and an objective thereof is to provide a torque limiter which comprises a flywheel integrated therein, has a compact and robust configuration, and can be manufactured and assembled in a simple and cost-saving manner. The objective is achieved by a torque limiter according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, comprising: a flywheel; a first axial load-bearing portion; a second axial load-bearing portion, which is fixed relative to the first axial load-bearing portion in an axial direction and is spaced therefrom by a certain distance; a torque input plate, which is fixed relative to the flywheel in a circumferential direction and drives the flywheel to rotate integrally about a rotation axis; and a driven plate configured to output torque. The torque input plate and the driven plate are axially arranged between the first axial load-bearing portion and the second axial load-bearing portion, with the torque input plate being arranged closer to the first axial load-bearing portion, and the driven plate being arranged closer to the second axial load-bearing portion. The torque input plate and the driven plate abut against each other with a certain axial force, and the torque input plate drives the driven plate to rotate about the rotation axis by means of friction between the torque input plate and the driven plate. The torque limiter according to the present disclosure comprises a flywheel integrated therein, so that the flywheel can be simultaneously mounted in a single assembly operation of mounting the torque limiter, thereby eliminating one assembly step. In the present disclosure, the flywheel is driven by the torque input plate of the torque limiter. In the prior art, the flywheel is directly driven by the engine crankshaft, and the torque limiter is then driven by the flywheel. The drive assembly according to the present disclosure has a power transmission path that differs from that of the prior art. The torque input plate of the torque limiter further drives the driven plate configured to output the torque by means of friction. Relative sliding can occur between the torque input plate and the driven plate to limit the torque transmitted. The torque input plate simultaneously drives both the flywheel and the driven plate, thereby reducing the number of components in the drive assembly. The drive assembly according to the present disclosure may also have one or more of the following features, alone or in combination. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the torque limiter further comprises an elasti