U.S. patent application number 11/891584 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-20 for synchronizer ring.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sulzer EUROFLAMM Germany GmbH. Invention is credited to Marcus Spreckels.
Application Number | 20080067026 11/891584 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37725363 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080067026 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Spreckels; Marcus |
March 20, 2008 |
Synchronizer ring
Abstract
The invention relates to a synchroniser ring (1) for a
synchronisation device (2) of a shiftable change speed gear
transmission including a conical ring member (3) having an inner
friction surface (4) and an outer installation surface (5) which
each bound the ring member (3) in a radial peripheral direction and
extend conically around an axial synchroniser ring axis (6) of the
synchroniser ring at a predeterminable friction angle (.alpha.).
The ring member (3) is bounded in the axial direction at a largest
conical diameter (d1) by a gear surface (7) with a gear (71)
extending substantially perpendicular to the synchroniser ring axis
(6) and is bounded at a smallest conical diameter (d2) by a hub
surface (8). To fix the synchroniser ring in a cylindrical hollow
space (9) of a synchroniser ring hub (10), a security against
rotation (11) is provided which is integrally connected to the ring
member (3) and extends from the gear surface (7) of the ring body
(3) in the direction toward the hub surface (8). In accordance with
the invention, a guide member (12) is provided for the guidance of
the installation surface (5) at an inner surface (91) of the
cylindrical hollow space (9) of the synchroniser ring hub (10) at
the ring member (3) in a predeterminable region between the gear
surface (7) and the hub surface (8). The invention furthermore
relates to a manual transmission for a vehicle having a
synchroniser ring (1) in accordance with the invention.
Inventors: |
Spreckels; Marcus; (Bremen,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TOWNSEND AND TOWNSEND AND CREW, LLP
TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER, EIGHTH FLOOR
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
94111-3834
US
|
Assignee: |
Sulzer EUROFLAMM Germany
GmbH
Bremen
DE
|
Family ID: |
37725363 |
Appl. No.: |
11/891584 |
Filed: |
August 9, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
192/53.34 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16H 3/38 20130101; F16D
23/025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
192/53.34 |
International
Class: |
F16D 23/06 20060101
F16D023/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 15, 2006 |
EP |
06120716.3 |
Claims
1. A synchroniser ring for a synchronising device (2) of a
shiftable change speed gear transmission including a conical ring
member (3) having an inner friction surface (4) and an outer
installation surface (5) which each bound the ring member (3) in a
radial peripheral direction and extend conically around an axial
synchroniser ring axis (6) of the synchroniser ring at a
predeterminable friction angle (.quadrature.), wherein the ring
member (3) is bounded in the axial direction at a largest conical
diameter (d1) by a gear surface (7) with gear (71) extending
substantially perpendicular to the synchroniser ring axis (6) and
is bounded at a smallest conical diameter (d2) by a hub surface
(8), and to fix the synchroniser ring in a cylindrical hollow space
(9) of a synchroniser ring hub (10), a security against rotation
(11) is provided which is integrally connected to the ring member
(3) and extends from the gear surface (7) of the ring body (3) in
the direction of the hub surface (8), characterised in that a guide
member (12) is provided for the guidance of the installation
surface (5) at an inner surface (91) of the cylindrical hollow
space (9) of the synchroniser ring hub (10) at the ring body (3) in
a predeterminable region between the gear surface (7) and the hub
surface (8).
2. A synchroniser ring in accordance with claim 1, wherein the gear
surface (7) is interrupted by a cut-out (13), in particular by one,
or two, or three, or more than three cut-outs (13), and/or the
security against rotation (11) is connected to the ring member (3)
in the cut-out (13).
3. A synchroniser ring in accordance with claim 1, wherein just as
many securities against rotation (11) are provided as cut-outs (13)
in the gear surface (7), in particular precisely three securities
against rotation (11).
4. A synchroniser ring in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
security against rotation (11) is configured as a security lug
(111) which extends on the side of the ring member (3) remote from
the synchroniser ring axis (6) substantially directed in the same
way toward the installation surface (5).
5. A synchroniser ring in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
security lug (111) is a security lug (1110) having a pocket-like
recess.
6. A synchroniser ring in accordance with claim 1, wherein between
two and nine guide members (12), specifically three guide members
(12), particularly preferably six guide members (12) are provided,
with particularly preferably in each case two guide members (12)
being arranged at substantially the same interval in the peripheral
direction and/or in each case two guide members (12) being arranged
between two securities against rotation (11, 111).
7. A synchroniser ring in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
guide member (12) is configured in the form of an indentation (12)
of the ring member (3) at the installation surface (5), which
indentation (12) extends radially away outwardly from the
synchroniser ring axis (6).
8. A synchroniser ring in accordance with claim 1, wherein a wear
reducing and/or a friction optimised friction means (41), in
particular a friction coating (41), specifically a molybdenum
coating (41) and/or a friction layer (41), in particular a carbon
friction layer (41) and/or another friction means (41) is provided
on the friction surface (4).
9. A synchroniser ring in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
synchroniser ring is a shaped sheet metal part manufactured from a
deep-drawable sheet metal and/or is produced from a steel,
preferably from C55, C80 or C80M steel, in particular from C35 or
C45 steel.
10. A manual transmission for a vehicle, in particular for a
passenger car, a transporter or a truck, having a synchroniser ring
(1) in accordance with claim 1.
Description
[0001] This application claims the priority of European Patent
Application No. 06120716.3, filed Sep. 15, 2006, the disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] The invention relates to a synchroniser ring for a
synchronising device of a shiftable change speed gear transmission
as well as to a manual transmission for a vehicle in accordance
with the preamble of the independent claims 1 and 10.
[0003] In a mechanical, shiftable change speed gear transmission,
e.g. in vehicle transmissions, synchroniser rings serve to
synchronize the relative speeds which occur between the gear wheel
and the gear shaft on a gear change to one another. The
synchronisation is achieved by friction between the corresponding
friction partners. The function of such transmissions and the
process of the synchronisation procedure are known per se and no
longer have to be explained in more detail to the person skilled in
the art here.
[0004] It is known for protection against premature wear and/or to
improve the friction characteristic to provide the friction
surfaces of synchroniser rings with a friction layer, said
synchroniser rings being produced as a rule from a metal or a metal
alloy such as from brass or steel. Very different types of friction
layers are in use in this connection, e.g. thermal injection layers
made of molybdenum, carbon friction layers or friction layers made
from other materials.
[0005] A support for a conical synchroniser ring is described in DE
35 19811 A1 which has an outer sprocket ring divided into three and
is arranged in a cylindrical hollow space of a synchroniser ring
hub, which is also frequently called a synchroniser ring member,
and is anchored substantially rotationally fixedly to the
synchroniser ring hub via abutments which are formed as lobes.
Substantially rotationally fixedly within the context of this
application means that, with the exception of small angle
excursions in the peripheral direction, the synchroniser ring is
rotationally fixedly connected to the synchroniser ring hub.
[0006] DE 198 53 856 A1 describes a further development of the
previously described synchroniser ring, with the synchroniser ring
of DE 198 53 856 A1 being characterised in that its width is
substantially only determined by the required width of its friction
surface. This is achieved in that an abutment, which corresponds to
the lobes in accordance with DE 35 19811 A1 in function, is
arranged at or close to an end portion of the ring member with a
smaller conical diameter and in that the contour of the abutment in
the radial direction projects beyond the contour of the outer
jacket surface of the ring member.
[0007] Both synchroniser rings are admittedly basically properly
secured by the lobes or abutments against a rotation with respect
to the synchroniser ring hub in the operating state, but both lack
a reliable guidance in the radial direction in the cylindrical
hollow space in the synchronous ring hub.
[0008] This means the synchroniser rings known from the prior art
are admittedly secured against a rotation in the peripheral
direction with respect to the synchronous ring hub, but these rings
tend increasedly to uncontrolled movements due to their conical
outer shape which cooperates with a cylindrical inner contact
surface in the cylindrical hollow space of the synchroniser ring
hub, e.g. to small radial excursions or tilt movements which can be
expressed e.g. in unpleasant vibrations, and thus have a negative
effect on the reliability and precision of the synchronisation
process, which can result in an increase in the shifting times, in
faster and increased wear of the friction surface and of the total
synchroniser ring as such, and thus in shorter repair and service
intervals, quite apart from the fact that the shifting and driving
comfort of a motor vehicle is considerably restricted by the poor
guidance of the synchroniser ring in the hollow space of the
synchroniser ring hub and the uncontrolled movements resulting
therefrom. These effects become all the more significant, the more
power or torque has to be shifted by a corresponding
transmission.
[0009] It is therefore the object of the invention to provide an
improved synchroniser ring which is guided better in the
synchronous ring hub and with which no uncontrolled relative
movements occur in the operating state between the synchroniser
ring and the synchroniser ring hub during and/or outside the
synchronisation process.
[0010] The subject matters of the invention satisfying these
objects are characterised by the features of the independent claims
1 and 10.
[0011] The dependent claims relate to particularly advantageous
embodiments of the invention.
[0012] The invention thus relates to a synchroniser ring for a
synchronisation device of a shiftable change speed gear
transmission including a conical ring member having an inner
friction surface and an outer installation surface which each bound
the ring member in a radial peripheral direction and extend
conically around an axial synchroniser ring axis of the
synchroniser ring at a predeterminable friction angle. The ring
member is bounded in the axial direction at a largest conical
diameter by a gear surface with gear extending substantially
perpendicular to the synchroniser ring axis and is bounded at a
smallest conical diameter by a hub surface. To fix the synchroniser
ring in a cylindrical hollow space of a synchroniser ring hub, a
security against rotation is provided which is integrally connected
to the ring member and extends from the gear surface of the ring
body in the direction of the hub surface. In accordance with the
invention, a guide member is provided for the guidance of the
installation surface at an inner surface of the cylindrical hollow
space at the ring member in a predeterminable region between the
gear surface and the hub surface.
[0013] It is essential for the invention that a guide member is
provided for the support or centering and guidance of the
installation surface at an inner surface of the cylindrical hollow
space of the synchroniser ring hub at the ring member in a
predeterminable region between the gear surface and the hub
surface, said guide member preferably being provided in the form of
a plurality of indentations which are distributed over the
installation surface in the peripheral direction.
[0014] Since securities against rotation are also provided,
preferably in the form of security lugs, in addition to the guide
members, a synchroniser ring in accordance with the invention is
simultaneously exceptionally secured by the securities against
rotation against a rotation with respect to the synchroniser ring
hub and is simultaneously reliably guided and centered, in
particular with respect to the radial direction in the cylindrical
hollow space in the synchroniser ring hub.
[0015] This means that a synchroniser ring in accordance with the
invention no longer tends to uncontrolled movements, like the
conical synchroniser rings known from the prior art, e.g. to small
radial excursions or tilt movements which can e.g. be expressed in
unpleasant vibrations, due to its conical outer shape which
cooperates with a cylindrical inner contact surface in the
cylindrical hollow space of the synchroniser ring hub. The
reliability and precision of the synchronisation process is thereby
considerably positively influenced by use of a synchroniser ring in
accordance with the invention, which can contribute to a reduction
in the shifting times, which reduces the wear at the friction
surface and of the whole synchroniser ring as such and which thus
contributes to longer repair and service intervals, quite apart
from the fact that the shifting and driving comfort of a motor
vehicle is considerably increased by the exceptional guidance of
the synchroniser ring in accordance with the invention in the
hollow space of the synchroniser ring hub. These positive effects
become all the more effective, the more power or torque has to be
shifted by a corresponding transmission.
[0016] In a specific embodiment, the gear surface is interrupted by
a cut-out, in particular by one or two, or three, or more than
three cut-outs, and/or the security against rotation is connected
to the ring member in the cut-out.
[0017] Preferably, but not necessarily, just as many securities
against rotation are provided as cut-outs in the gear surface. In
an embodiment particularly important for practice, precisely three
securities against rotation are provided which guarantee a maximum
of security against rotation with a minimal construction
effort.
[0018] The security against rotation can in particular be
configured as a security lug which extends on the side of the ring
member remote from the synchroniser ring axis substantially
directed in the same way toward the installation surface.
[0019] In a very specific embodiment, the security lug can be a
security lug having a pocket-like cut-out, whereby an improved
anchorage of the synchroniser ring in the synchroniser ring hub can
be achieved in the individual case.
[0020] The number of guide members which can be provided at a
synchroniser ring in accordance with the invention preferably lies
between two and nine guide members, specifically three guide
members, with particularly preferably six guide members being
provided, and/or in each case two guide members being arranged at
substantially the same interval in the peripheral direction and/or
in each case two guide members being arranged between two
securities against rotation, whereby a very high degree of radial
guidance can be ensured with a minimal construction effort.
[0021] In an embodiment particularly important for practice, the
guide member is made in the form of an indentation of the ring
member at the installation surface, said indentation extending
radially away outwardly from the synchroniser ring axis.
[0022] Preferably, a wear reducing and/or a friction optimised
friction means, in particular a friction coating, specifically a
molybdenum coating and/or a friction layer, in particular a carbon
friction layer and/or another friction means is provided on or at
the friction surface.
[0023] In construction terms, the synchroniser ring is a shaped
sheet metal part manufactured from a deep-drawable metal sheet
and/or is made from a steel, preferably from C55, C80 or C80M
steel, in particular from C35 or C45 steel.
[0024] The invention further relates to a manual transmission for a
vehicle, in particular for a passenger car, a transporter or a
truck, including a synchroniser ring in accordance with one of the
preceding claims.
[0025] The invention will be explained in more detail in the
following with reference to the schematic drawing. There are
shown:
[0026] FIG. 1 an embodiment of a synchroniser ring in accordance
with the invention in section;
[0027] FIG. 2 a side view of a synchroniser ring in accordance with
FIG. 1 in the installed state;
[0028] FIG. 3 another view in accordance with FIG. 2;
[0029] FIG. 4 a security lug having a pocket-like cut-out.
[0030] FIG. 1 shows, in a schematic representation in section, an
embodiment of a synchroniser ring in accordance with the invention
which is designated as a whole in the following by the reference
numeral 1. The same reference numerals in the different Figures
designate technically equivalent features or relate to features
with a technically equivalent function.
[0031] The synchroniser ring 1 of FIG. 1 includes a conical ring
member 3 having an inner friction surface 4 with a carbon friction
layer 41 and an outer installation surface 5 which respectively
bound the ring member 3 in a radial peripheral direction in a
manner known per se. The outer installation surface 5 and the inner
friction surface 4 extend substantially parallel to one another at
a predeterminable friction angle .alpha., which cannot be seen in
FIG. 1, conically around an axial synchroniser ring axis 6 of the
synchroniser ring 1.
[0032] The ring member 3 is bounded in the axial direction at a
largest conical diameter d1 by a gear surface 7 with gear 71
extending substantially perpendicular to the synchroniser ring axis
6 and is bounded at a smallest conical diameter d2 by a hub surface
8. To fix the synchroniser ring 1 in a cylindrical hollow space 9
of a synchroniser ring hub 10, which is not shown in FIG. 1, a
security against rotation 11 is provided which is integrally
connected to the ring member 3 and extends from the gear surface 7
of the ring member 3 in the direction towards the hub surface 8, a
construction such as is in principle already known from the prior
art. The security against rotation 11 in accordance with FIG. 1 is
a security lug 111 which can be formed, for example, on the
manufacture of the synchroniser ring 1 by bending over a portion
initially projecting radially outwardly from the ring member 3 in
the direction towards the installation surface 5.
[0033] This means the security against rotation 11, which is made
as a security lug 111, extends on the side of the ring member 3
remote from the synchroniser ring axis 6 substantially directed in
the same way to the installation surface 5.
[0034] As will be explained even more precisely later with
reference to the following Figures, the security lug 111 is
configured and is arranged with respect to the installation surface
such that the security lug 111 can be anchored in a corresponding
cut-out 101 of the synchroniser ring hub 10 in the installed
state.
[0035] In accordance with the invention, a guide member 12 is
provided for the guidance of the installation surface 5 at an inner
surface 91 of the cylindrical hollow space 9 of the synchroniser
ring hub 10, which is, as stated, not shown in FIG. 1 because FIG.
1 does not show the synchroniser ring 1 in the installed state, in
a predeterminable region between the gear surface 7 and the hub
surface 8, said guide member being configured in the embodiment of
FIG. 1 of enormous importance for practice in the form of an
indentation 12 of the ring member 3 at the installation surface 5,
with the indentation 12 extending radially away outwardly from the
synchroniser ring axis 6.
[0036] In the installed state of the synchroniser ring 1, the
indentations 12 in accordance with the invention then centre and
guide the synchroniser ring 1 securely and reliably in the
cylindrical hollow space 9 provided in the synchroniser ring hub 10
for the reception of the installation surface 5.
[0037] In FIG. 2, a side view of a synchroniser ring 1 in
accordance with FIG. 1 is shown schematically in the installed
state. The section has been selected along the arrow A in
accordance with FIG. 3 just such that the security lug 111 cannot
be seen.
[0038] The conical ring member 3 with its inner friction surface 4,
which has a carbon friction layer 41 in the present example, and
the outer installation surface 5 extend conically and substantially
parallel to one another at the friction angle .alpha. around the
axial synchroniser ring axis 6 of the synchroniser ring 1.
[0039] The synchroniser ring 1 is supported in a centered fashion
with the installation surface 5 in the hollow space 9 of the
synchroniser ring hub 10 by the guide elements 12 in accordance
with the invention, which are provided as indentations 12.
[0040] The gear surface 7 with gear 71 is located in a manner known
per se outside the synchroniser ring hub 10 such that the gear 71
can enter into rotationally fixed engagement with a further gear
not shown in FIG. 2 of a shiftable change speed gear transmission
likewise not shown.
[0041] In FIG. 3, finally, the synchroniser ring of FIG. 1 can
again be seen from a direction B in accordance with FIG. 2 in a
section along and at the point C, such as is designated more
closely by the arrow C in FIG. 2.
[0042] It can be seen particularly easily in FIG. 3 how the
security against rotation 11, which is integrally connected to the
ring member 3 and extends from the gear surface 7 of the ring
member 3 in the direction towards the hub surface 8 is anchored in
the cut-out 101 of the synchroniser ring hub 10 for the fixing of
the synchroniser ring 1 in the cylindrical hollow space 9 of the
synchroniser ring hub 10 and, as already mentioned, is a security
lug 111. The synchroniser ring 1 is reliably secured against
rotation around the synchroniser ring axis 6, with the exception of
small angles, by the anchorage of the security lug 111 in the
cut-out 101 of the synchroniser ring hub 10. For technical reasons,
however, which are sufficiently known to the person skilled in the
art, small rotational movements of the synchroniser ring 1 are
preferably to be allowed around the synchroniser ring axis 6. This
is achieved in that the cut-outs 101 are somewhat wider in the
peripheral direction than the security lugs 111.
[0043] In FIG. 4, finally, another specific embodiment of the
present invention is shown in a schematic manner, with the security
against rotation 11 being a security lug 111 which is configured as
a security lug 1110 having pocket-like cut-outs such that they can
be anchored in a corresponding cut-out of another synchroniser ring
hub 10, with the cut-outs for the anchorage of the security lugs
1110 of the other synchroniser ring hub 10 then being formed
correspondingly, e.g. in two parts with a centre web, whereby a
better fixing of the synchroniser ring 1 to the synchroniser ring
hub 10 is possible in specific cases.
[0044] It is understood that all the embodiments explicitly
discussed in this application are only to be understood as
exemplary for the invention and in particular all suitable
combinations which can advantageously be used for specific
applications or all further developments obvious to the skilled
person are also covered by the invention.
* * * * *