FR3082580A1 - CRANKCASE ELEMENT FOR A FLYWHEEL OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

Housing element for flywheel, comprising external (11) and internal (10) walls delimiting a cavity (12) capable of being filled with water and each comprising a water drainage hole (13, 14). In addition, the external wall (11) comprises a water discharge passage (15) between said cavity (12) and the exterior and in that it comprises a closure means (16) placed in the cavity (12) between the water drain hole (13) of the inner wall (10) and the water drain hole (14) of the outer wall (11), the sealing means (16) being capable of closing the water drainage hole (13) of the internal wall (10) when the cavity (12) is filled and capable of closing the water drainage hole (14) of the wall external (11) according to the filling of the cavity (12).

Description

Housing element for a flywheel of a motor vehicle

The present invention relates, in general, to a clutch device of a motor vehicle, and relates, in particular to a flywheel of a clutch device.

More specifically, the invention relates to a casing element for an engine flywheel.

In order to ensure transmission between the engine and the gearbox, motor vehicles are fitted with a clutch device. The clutch device comprises in particular a flywheel constituting one of the friction faces of a clutch disc.

There are for example the rigid flywheel and the dual-mass flywheel. The dual-mass flywheel, otherwise known as a "double shock-absorbing flywheel", is formed by two masses connected by springs. The specific configuration of the double shock-absorbing flywheel makes it possible to regulate and stabilize the rotation of the engine in order to reduce the jolts caused by the transmission.

For the functioning of its springs, the dual-mass flywheel requires the presence of grease. Indeed, without grease, the springs are liable to rupture and / or to make noise.

The dual-mass flywheel rotates in a volume delimited by a casing generally formed by at least two distinct casing elements arranged opposite and partially in contact.

FIG. 1 represents a casing element 1 for a dual-mass flywheel according to the prior art. The housing element 1 is configured to come into contact with at least one second housing element, not shown.

The casing element 1 comprises a double wall: an internal wall 2 and an external wall 3, delimiting a cavity 4.

The contact between the two casing elements is only partial so that several spaces remain between the two casing elements, making the casing for flywheel 5 not leaktight.

Consequently, the external wall 2 and the internal wall 3 are each provided with a water evacuation hole, respectively 6 and 7, in order to evacuate the small quantities of water penetrating into the internal volume delimited by the elements. crankcase.

However, when the motor vehicle for example crosses a ford, a large amount of water enters the casing through the spaces which remain between the casing elements as well as through the water drainage holes 6 and 7.

Before being slowly discharged by gravity through the water drain holes 6 and 7, water stagnates at the level of the flywheel, which has the effect of removing the grease present on the springs of the flywheel.

The present invention therefore relates to a casing element for an engine flywheel capable of limiting the entry of water inside a casing and promoting the rapid evacuation of a large amount of water which, however, has penetrated into the casing.

A casing element for an engine flywheel is then proposed, comprising internal and external walls delimiting a cavity capable of being filled with water and each comprising a water drainage hole.

In addition, the external wall comprises a water evacuation passage between said cavity and the exterior and in that it comprises a closure means placed in the cavity between the water evacuation hole of the wall. internal and the water evacuation hole of the external wall, the sealing means being able to close the water evacuation hole of the internal wall when the cavity is filled and capable of closing the water d evacuation of water from the external wall according to the filling of the cavity.

Preferably, the water evacuation hole of the outer wall and the inner wall are arranged opposite.

Advantageously, the water evacuation hole of the external wall and said water evacuation passage are adjacent.

Even more advantageously, the cavity can be in fluid communication with a cavity or a plurality of cavity (s) adjacent to said cavity.

According to one embodiment, the internal wall may include a plurality of water drainage holes configured to be arranged above the water level of the cavity when the cavity is filled.

Preferably, the casing element comprises a second cavity delimited by the external and internal walls and comprising a water evacuation passage towards the outside.

The invention also relates to a clutch device comprising a flywheel.

In addition, the flywheel is arranged in a casing comprising a casing element as previously described.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a clutch device.

The clutch device comprises a flywheel arranged in a casing comprising a casing element as previously described.

Other objects, advantages and characteristics will emerge from the description which follows, given by way of purely illustrative example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows a housing element 1 for flywheel according to the prior art;

- Figure 2 illustrates a housing element according to a first embodiment of the invention and comprising a cavity and a closure means;

- Figure 3 is a detailed view of the sealing means of the housing element illustrated in Figure 2 when the cavity is empty;

- Figure 4 is a detailed view of the sealing means of the housing element illustrated in Figure 2 when the cavity is filled with water;

- Figure 5 is a detailed view of the cavity and the sealing means of the housing element illustrated in Figure 2 when the cavity is partially empty;

- Figure 6 illustrates a housing element according to a second embodiment of the invention; and

- Figure 7 illustrates a housing element according to a third embodiment of the invention.

Figures 1 to 7 illustrate three embodiments of a casing element for an engine flywheel of a motor vehicle, according to the invention.

It should be noted that, in the figures, the structural and / or functional elements common to the different embodiments can have the same references. Thus, unless otherwise stated, such elements have identical structural, dimensional and material properties.

FIG. 2 illustrates a casing element 8 for a flywheel 9 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The casing element 8 comprises a double wall: an internal wall 10 and an external wall 11 defining a cavity 12 capable of being filled with water.

Advantageously, the casing element 8 is circular and configured so that the cavity 12 is disposed facing the ground when the motor vehicle in which the casing element 8 is disposed is in a driving situation.

The internal and external walls 10 and 11 each comprise a water drainage hole, respectively 13 and 14.

The outer wall 11 further comprises a water discharge passage 15 between said cavity 12 and the exterior.

In addition, the casing element 8 comprises a sealing means 16 placed in the cavity 12 between the water evacuation hole 13 of the internal wall 10 and the water evacuation hole 14 of the external wall. 11.

The closure means 16 is capable of closing the water evacuation hole 13 of the internal wall 10 when the cavity 12 is filled and capable of closing the water evacuation hole 14 of the external wall 11 according to the filling of the cavity 12.

In the example illustrated, the closure means 16 is a hollow cylindrical plug, capable of floating on water, and the height of which is less than the height of the cavity 12 so that it can move between the holes d discharge of water 14 and 13 from the external wall 11 and from the internal wall 10.

A guide pin 16a, 16b is provided on each of the bases of the closure means 16 so as to guide its movement between the water discharge holes 14 and 13.

The sealing means 16 shown being cylindrical, the water discharge holes 14 and 13 of the outer wall 11 and the inner wall 10 are, in the example illustrated, arranged opposite. In addition, the water discharge passage 15 and the water discharge hole 14 of the external wall 11 are preferably adjacent. Such a configuration making it possible to optimize and accelerate the evacuation of the water.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are detailed views of the closure means 16 and its position according to the filling of the cavity 12, respectively empty, filled and partially empty.

In Figure 3, the cavity 12 is empty. Under the action of the force of gravity, the closure means 16 is disposed against and closes the water evacuation hole 14 of the external wall 11. The cavity 12 is in fluid communication with the interior of the casing element 8 via the water discharge hole 13 and in fluid communication with the outside via the water discharge passage 15.

When a source of water is directed towards the casing element 8, for example when the motor vehicle fords a passage, water penetrates into the cavity 12 which forms a buffer zone. The shutter means 16 illustrated, capable of floating on water, is driven by the water filling the cavity 12. The value of the Archimedes' thrust acting on the shutter means 16 compensates for the value of the force of gravity so that the closure means 16, driven by the water, moves towards the water evacuation hole 13 of the internal wall 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, when the cavity 12 is filled with water, the water evacuation hole 14 is released from the closure means 16 and the closure means 16 closes the evacuation hole d water 14 preventing water from entering the interior of the casing element 8 and accessing the flywheel. The cavity 12 is no longer in fluid communication with the interior of the casing element 8.

When the source of water is no longer directed towards the casing element 8, for example when the motor vehicle deviates from the fording, the water is evacuated towards the exterior via the passage water evacuation 15 and the cavity 12 is emptied. The closure means 16 again moves towards the water evacuation hole 14 of the external wall 11, re-establishing the fluid communication between the interior of the casing element 8 and the cavity 12 via the water evacuation hole 13 of the internal wall 10 and the fluid communication between the cavity 12 and the outside via the water evacuation passage 15.

There may be openings between the housing element 8 and one or more adjacent housing elements which form the flywheel housing, so that water may also be present inside the housing element. casing 8. As shown in FIG. 5 illustrating the partially empty cavity 12, this water is evacuated towards the outside via the water evacuation hole 13 of the internal wall 10 and the passage of water drainage 15.

FIG. 6 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention. A casing element 17 preferably comprises a fluid communication between the cavity 12 and adjacent cavities 18, 19, 20 and 21, so as to increase the buffer zone formed in the first embodiment by the cavity 12.

In addition, the internal wall 10 advantageously comprises a plurality of additional water discharge holes 22, 23 and 24, configured to be arranged above the water level of the cavity 12 when the cavity 12 is filled. The water present inside the casing element 17 is evacuated more quickly towards the buffer zone formed, in this example, by the cavity 12 and the adjacent cavities 18, 19, 20 and 21.

In order to promote and accelerate the evacuation of water, a casing element 25 may comprise a second cavity 26, independent of the cavity 12, that is to say which is not in fluid communication with the cavity 12 .

In the example illustrated, the second cavity 26 is delimited by the external and internal walls 11 and 10, and advantageously comprises a water evacuation passage from the interior of the casing element to the exterior such that the housing element 25 according to a third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7. The water evacuation passage from the second cavity 26 shown is formed by a water evacuation hole 27 in the internal wall 10 and a water discharge hole 28 in the outer wall 11 opening onto the second cavity 26.

Preferably, the position, and in particular the height, of the second cavity 26 is chosen so that the water from a fording 5 cannot enter the casing element 25 via the evacuation passage d water from the second cavity 26. In other words, the second cavity 26 is arranged so that the water level of a ford is lower than the height of the second cavity 26.

In the example illustrated, the cavity 12 and the second cavity 26 10 not being in fluid communication, the water coming from a fording entering the cavity 12 cannot reach the second cavity 26.

Furthermore, when a flywheel arranged in the casing element 25 rotates, the water present is stirred and reaches the water evacuation hole 27 then the second cavity 26, and can be evacuated, by gravity, through the water drain hole 28.

Of course, provision may be made for the casing element to be suitable for any other type of casing than a casing for an engine flywheel.

Claims (9)

1. Housing element for flywheel, comprising external (11) and internal (10) walls defining a cavity (12) capable of being filled with water and each comprising a water drainage hole (13, 14 ), characterized in that the external wall (11) comprises a water evacuation passage (15) between said cavity (12) and the outside and in that it comprises a sealing means (16) placed in the cavity (12) between the water drainage hole (13) of the internal wall (10) and the water drainage hole (14) of the external wall (11), the sealing means (16) being able to close the water drainage hole (13) of the internal wall (10) when the cavity (12) is filled and able to close the water drainage hole (14) of the outer wall (11) according to the filling of the cavity (12). 2. Housing element according to claim 1, characterized in that the water evacuation hole (14) of the external wall (11) and the water evacuation hole (13) of the internal wall (10 ) are arranged opposite. 3. Housing element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the water drainage hole (14) of the external wall (11) and said water drainage passage (15) are adjacent. 4. Housing element according to any one of claims, characterized in that the cavity (12) is in fluid communication with one or a plurality of cavity (s) adjacent (s) (18, 19, 20, 21) to said cavity (12). 5. Housing element according to any one of claims, characterized in that the internal wall (10) comprises a plurality of water discharge holes (22, 23, 24) configured to be arranged above the level water from the cavity (12) when the cavity (12) is filled. 6. Housing element according to any one of claims, characterized in that it comprises a second cavity (26) delimited by the external and internal walls (11, 10) and comprising a water discharge passage to the 'outside. 7. Clutch device comprising a flywheel (9), characterized in that the flywheel (9) is arranged in a casing 5 comprising a housing element (8; 17; 25) according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 8. Motor vehicle comprising a clutch device, characterized in that the clutch device comprises a flywheel arranged in a casing comprising a casing element (8; 10 17; 25) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.