Pressure plate assembly, clutch disk arrangement, and friction clutch, especially a multi-disk clutch

Abstract

A friction clutch is configured with a pressure plate arrangement having: a housing rotatably fixed to an abutment arrangement for joint rotation about an axis of rotation; a plate arrangement having at least one intermediate plate and a pressure plate, at least one of the intermediate and pressure plates being mounted in the housing and operative to axially move relative thereto and to rotate about the axis of rotation; an energy storage device coupled to the housing and operative to generate a elastic restoring force exerted on the plate arrangement, the energy storage device being coupled to the pressure plate; a releasing spring arrangement located between the housing and plate arrangement and coupled thereto, the releasing spring arrangement being tensioned to generate an elastic restoring force exerted at least on the pressure plate in a second direction opposite to the first direction in response to the elastic restoring force; and a clutch disk arrangement clamped between the abutment arrangement and the at least one intermediate plate, or between the at least one intermediate and pressure plates, or between the at least one and an additional intermediate plates.

1 . A pressure plate assembly for arrangement in a friction clutch including at least one disk and having an abutment arrangement, the pressure plate assembly comprising: 
 a housing rotatably fixed to the abutment arrangement for joint rotation therewith about an axis of rotation;    a plate arrangement having at least one plate rotatably mounted in the housing about the axis of rotation and operative to move axially relative to the housing;    an energy storage device coupled to the housing and to the plate arrangement and operative to generate a contact force exerted on the at least one plate so that the at least one plate is capable of axially displacing relative to the housing;    an intermediate part releasably or permanently connected to the housing; and    a releasing spring arrangement acting between the housing and the plate arrangement or between the intermediate part and the plate arrangement, the releasing spring arrangement being operative to exert an elastic restoring force on the at least one plate counteracting the contact force and radially supporting the least one plate so as to prevent rotation of the at least one plate and the housing relative to one another.    
   
   
       2 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the releasing spring arrangement comprises a plurality of leaf springs, the plurality of leaf springs comprising tangential springs between the plate arrangement and one of the housing or the intermediate part.  
   
   
       3 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one plate of the plate arrangement is a pressure plate attached to one of opposite ends end of at least one first tangential spring of the plurality of springs.  
   
   
       4 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the plate arrangement further comprises an intermediate plate spaced axially between the abutment arrangement and the at least one plate and operative to move axially relative to the housing in response to the contact force generated by the energy storage device, the pressure plate supporting at least one group of leaf springs of the spring releasing arrangement.  
   
   
       5 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the releasing spring arrangement supports the intermediate plate so as to prevent rotation thereof relative to the housing.  
   
   
       6 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of leaf springs of the releasing spring arrangement comprises at least one second group of tangential springs radially supporting the intermediate plate of the plate arrangement so as to prevent relative rotation between the intermediate plate and the housing, one of opposite ends of the at least one second group of tangential springs being braced against the housing or the intermediate part.  
   
   
       7 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the other end of the at least one second group of tangential springs is braced against the intermediate plate so as to prevent the relative rotation between the intermediary plate and the housing.  
   
   
       8 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the releasing spring arrangement comprises at least one third group of tangential spring braced between the intermediate plate and the pressure plate so as to prevent the relative rotation of the intermediate and pressure plates relative to the housing.  
   
   
       9 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plate arrangement comprises an additional plate, the at least one and additional plates being a pressure plate and an intermediary plate, respectively, the releasing spring arrangement being configured to support the pressure and intermediary plates during axial displacement of the plate arrangement so as to prevent tipping of the pressure and intermediary plates relative to the housing.  
   
   
       10 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the releasing spring arrangement is configured so that a portion of a torque is transmitted between the plate arrangement and the abutment arrangement, and between a clutch disc arrangement and the abutment arrangement, the clutch disc arrangement being clamped in the housing between the plate arrangement and the abutment arrangement.  
   
   
       11 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the releasing spring arrangement is configured so that a minimal percentage of the torque is transmitted between the housing and the plate arrangement, the minimal percentage ranging from at least about 25% to at least about 75%.  
   
   
       12 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the releasing spring arrangement is configured to dampen relative displacement between the plate arrangement and the housing.  
   
   
       13 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the releasing spring arrangement comprises a plurality of leaf springs arranged in multiple packages, each package having a group of multiple tangential leaf springs axially layered upon one another so that one end of the tangential leaf springs of each package is connected to the plate arrangement and an opposite end is operatively connected to the housing or the intermediate part.  
   
   
       14 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the group of tangential leaf springs of each package are frictionally engaged to one another so as to dampen relative displacement between the housing and the plate arrangement.  
   
   
       15 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the releasing spring arrangement comprises a plurality of leaf springs arranged in multiple groups or multiple packages, the leaf springs of each group or package being configured to have a uniform effective free bending length.  
   
   
       16 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the leaf springs of the multiple groups or packages are configured with uniform force-distance characteristics.  
   
   
       17 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the plate arrangement comprises an additional plate, the at least one plate and the additional plates being the pressure and intermediary plates, respectively, the multiple groups or multiple packages of the leaf springs being arranged so as to act between the housing or the intermediate part and the intermediate plate and between the intermediate plate and the pressure plate, all of the multiple groups or packages of leaf springs being configured to have a uniform effective free bending lengths.  
   
   
       18 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the leaf springs of the multiple groups or packages are uniformly configured to have the uniform effective free bending lengths.  
   
   
       19 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the leaf springs or leaf spring packages of the multiple groups or packages are configured to have uniform force-distance characteristics.  
   
   
       20 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the releasing spring arrangement comprises a plurality of leaf springs having one end thereof permanently attached to the housing or to the intermediate part and an opposite end riveted to the plate arrangement.  
   
   
       21 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of support sections extending axially between the energy storage and the abutment arrangement and spaced radially outwards from the plate arrangement so as to radially cover the plate arrangement, the plurality of support sections being spaced circumferentially from one another around a periphery of the housing and each coupled to the energy storage device so as to define a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart openings each extending between adjacent support sections.  
   
   
       22 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of support sections of the housing directly or indirectly support the energy storage device.  
   
   
       23 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of support sections of the housing axially project from the energy storage device towards the abutment arrangement or from the abutment arrangement towards the energy storage device.  
   
   
       24 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the plate arrangement further has an additional plate spaced axially between the at least one plate and the abutment arrangement in the housing, the at least one and additional plates being an intermediary plate and a pressure plate, respectively, the intermediary and pressure plates each having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart plate sections radially extending into the respective openings between the support sections of the housing, the plate sections being operatively connected to a plurality of tangential springs of the releasing spring arrangement.  
   
   
       25 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the releasing spring arrangement exerts the elastic restoring force upon at least some of the plurality of plate sections of the pressure plate and the intermediate plate.  
   
   
       26 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the pressure plate and the intermediate plate each have a central section supporting the plate sections, an axial length of at least one group of the plate sections of the intermediate plate being different from an axial length of another group of the plate sections, the plate sections of the at least one group having an axial length smaller than an axial length of the central portion of the intermediate plate so as to provide the plurality of tangential springs with a uniform bending length.  
   
   
       27 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the plate sections of the intermediate plate has an axially extending surface axially offset of an axially extending surface of at least one of the plate sections of the support plate.  
   
   
       28 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the plate sections are configured so as to provide the plurality of tangential springs with a uniform bending length.  
   
   
       29 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of openings of the housing comprises at least three openings spaced from one another, the tangential springs of the releasing spring arrangement being clamped in the housing between the plate arrangement clamped in the housing between the plate arrangement mounted in the at least three openings of the housing.  
   
   
       30 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the tangential springs of the releasing spring arrangement are arranged in multiple groups so that at least one group acts between the intermediate plate and the housing.  
   
   
       31 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 30 , wherein at least one second group of the plurality of tangential springs acts between the intermediate plate and the pressure plate.  
   
   
       32 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one and second groups of the plurality of tangential springs are received in the plurality of openings.  
   
   
       33 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the housing has a housing wall fixed to the plurality of support sections of the housing, the housing wall being fixed to the abutment arrangement and formed integrally therewith or separately therefrom.  
   
   
       34 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of tangential springs of the releasing spring arrangement is arranged in a plurality of groups, the housing having a side axially juxtaposed with the intermediate plate and coupled to at least one spring group of the plurality of groups.  
   
   
       35 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the releasing spring arrangement comprises a plurality of releasing springs arranged in a plurality of groups, at least one group of releasing springs being riveted to the plurality of support sections of the housing.  
   
   
       36 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the support sections of the housing each have a fastening surface facing axially away from the intermediate plate, the at least one group of releasing springs being fixed to the fastening surface of the support sections.  
   
   
       37 . The pressure plate assembly of  34 , wherein at least one of the support sections of the housing has a fastening surface facing towards the side of the housing and riveted to at least one group of the plurality of releasing springs.  
   
   
       38 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of housing sections are riveted or screwed to the intermediate part housing, the releasing sprig arrangement comprising a plurality of releasing springs riveted to the intermediate part, eh plate arrangement further comprising an intermediate plate spaced axially from the at least one plate.  
   
   
       39 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate part has a fastening surface facing the intermediate plate and riveted the leasing spring arrangement.  
   
   
       40 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the plate sections of the at least one plate of the plate arrangement, extending between the support sections of the housing into the respective openings, support the energy storage device.  
   
   
       41 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 40 , wherein the at least one plate is a pressure plate, the plate sections of the pressure plate extending between the support sections of the housing into the respective openings and each comprising an axially projecting support rib, the support ribs supporting the energy storage device.  
   
   
       42 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 41 , wherein the energy storage device is a diaphragm spring arrangement comprising at least one diaphragm spring configured with a ring-shaped section and a spring tab, the spring tab extending radially outwards from the ring-shaped section and being axially supported by the plurality of plate sections of the support pate.  
   
   
       43 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device is mounted outside of the housing.  
   
   
       44 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the housing comprises a housing wall located between the energy storage device and the plate arrangement and supporting the energy storage device, the housing wall and the support sections of the housing being coupled to one another.  
   
   
       45 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 44 , wherein the housing wall is a separately formed component fixed to the plurality of support sections of the housing.  
   
   
       46 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 44 , wherein the housing wall is integrally formed with the support sections of the housing.  
   
   
       47 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the housing and the abutment arrangement are configured as a one-piece, the abutment arrangement comprising a flywheel.  
   
   
       48 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the housing and the abutment arrangement are screwed or riveted to one another, the abutment arrangement comprising a flywheel.  
   
   
       49 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of support sections of the housing are screwed or riveted to the abutment arrangement.  
   
   
       50 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 49 , wherein the plurality of support sections each comprises a support surface flatly resting on the abutment arrangement either directly or indirectly.  
   
   
       51 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the plurality of support sections of the housing each have an axially extending section terminating with a foot, the foot comprising an axially extending flange defining a support surface of the plurality of the support sections.  
   
   
       52 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 51 , wherein the foot extends radially outwards from the axially extending section of the plurality of support sections of the housing.  
   
   
       53 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 51 , wherein the feet or the flanges of the support sections of the housing are fixed to the releasing spring arrangement.  
   
   
       54 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 51 , wherein the support surface of the flanges of the support sections is spaced axially from and juxtaposed with the abutment arrangement so as to selectively receive a one end of releasing springs of the releasing spring arrangement and to provide a uniform bending length of the releasing springs of the spring releasing arrangement.  
   
   
       55 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 51 , wherein the plurality of support sections of the housing are arranged in first and second groups selectively coupled to the releasing spring arrangement so that the first group of the support sections, coupled to the releasing spring arrangement, is axially shorter than the second group of the support sections not coupled to the releasing spring arrangement.  
   
   
       56 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 55 , wherein the support sections of the first and second groups are configured to provide a uniform bending length of a plurality of releasing springs of the spring releasing arrangement.  
   
   
       57 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 48 , wherein the plurality of support sections of the housing each have a foot juxtaposed with the abutment arrangement so as to define an annular space therebetween receiving the intermediate part, the intermediate part being screwed or riveted to the feet and to the abutment arrangement.  
   
   
       58 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 48 , wherein the housing and the abutment arrangement are spaced axially apart to define an annular space receiving the intermediate part fixed to the housing and to the abutment arrangement.  
   
   
       59 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate part comprises a single ring-shaped body or a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart web ring segment.  
   
   
       60 . A clutch disk arrangement for a multi-disk friction clutch, comprising: 
 a hub mounted to a shaft and rotatable therewith about an axis;    a torsional vibration damper comprising: 
 a central disk fixed to the hub and extending radially therefrom,  
 first and second cover disks axially juxtaposed with and fixed to respective opposite sides of the central disk,  
 a resilient unit operative to act between the central disc element and the covers disc elements;  
   first and second friction linings spaced axially from one another and extending radially outwards from the torsional vibration damper; and    a carrier assembly coupling the first and second friction linings to the hub for common rotation, the carrier assembly comprising:    a first carrier element fixed to the first cover disk and to the first friction lining, whereby the first carrier element, the first cover disk and the first friction carrier lining rotate in common,    a second carrier element rotationally fixed to the second friction lining and coupled to the hub, the first and second carrier elements each being coupled to the torsional vibration arrangement so the first and second carrier elements are rotatably fixed to and axially displaceable relative to one another.    
   
   
       61 . The clutch disk arrangement of  claim 60 , wherein the second carrier element is coupled to the second cover disk so that the second carrier element and the second cover disk are rotatably fixed to and axially displaceable relative to one another.  
   
   
       62 . The clutch disk arrangement of  claim 61 , further comprising: 
 a radially inwardly directed formation and a radially outwardly directed formation coupled to the second carrier element and to the second cover disk, respectively, and operative to mesh with one another so as to rotationally fix the second carrier element and the second cover disk, and    an intermediate carrier element fixed to the second cover disk, wherein the radially outwardly directed formation is fixed to the second cover disk or to the intermediate carrier element, the radially inwardly extending formation comprising a first set of internal teeth, and the radially outwardly extending formation comprising a second set of external teeth.    
   
   
       63 . The clutch disk arrangement of  claim 62 , wherein the teeth of at least one of the first and second sets are axially extending elongated teeth.  
   
   
       64 . The clutch disk arrangement of  claim 62 , wherein at least one of the second carrier element, the second cover disk and the intermediate carrier element has a circumferential wall provided with a cup-shaped cross-section and carrying one of the radially inwardly directed and radially outwardly directed formations.  
   
   
       65 . The clutch disk arrangement of  claim 64 , wherein the second carrier element comprises a substantially flat, ring-shaped body.  
   
   
       66 . A friction clutch comprising the pressure plate assembly of  claim 1  and a clutch disk arrangement, the clutch disk arrangement being clamped at a location selected from the group consisting of: 
 between the abutment arrangement and an intermediate plate of the plate arrangement,    between the intermediate plate and at least one plate of the plate arrangement, wherein the at least one plate is a pressure plate, and    between the at least one and an additional intermediate plates of the pressure plate arrangement.    
   
   
       67 . The friction clutch of  claim 66 , wherein the housing and the abutment arrangement are separate parts coupled together.  
   
   
       68 . The friction clutch of  claim 66 , wherein the clutch disk arrangement comprises: 
 a hub mounted to a shaft and rotatable therewith about an axis;    a torsional vibration damper configured with: 
 a central disk fixed to the hub and extending radially therefrom,  
 first and second cover disks axially juxtaposed with respective opposite sides of the central disk,  
 a resilient unit operative to provide relative rotation between the first and second cover disks and the central disk;  
   first and second friction linings spaced axially from one another and extending radially outwards from the torsional vibration damper; and    a carrier assembly coupling the first and second friction linings to the hub for common rotation, the carrier assembly comprising: 
 a first carrier element fixed to the first cover disk and to the first friction lining, whereby the first carrier element, the first cover disk and the first friction carrier lining rotate in common,  
 a second carrier element rotationally fixed to the second friction lining and coupled to the hub, the first and second carrier elements being rotationally fixed relative to and axially displaceable relative to one another, wherein the torsional vibration arrangement operatively connects the first and second carrier elements.  
   
   
   
       69 . The friction clutch of  claim 66 , wherein the clutch disk arrangement coupled to the pressure plate assembly and comprises: 
 a hub mounted to a shaft and rotatable therewith about an axis;    a torsional vibration damper configured with:    a central disk fixed to the hub and extending radially therefrom,    first and second cover disks axially juxtaposed with respective opposite sides of the central disk,    a resilient unit operative to provide relative rotation between the first and second cover disks and the central disk;    first and second friction linings spaced axially from one another and extending radially outwards from the torsional vibration damper; and    a carrier assembly coupling the first and second friction linings to the hub for common rotation, the carrier assembly comprising:    a first carrier element fixed to the first cover disk and to the first friction lining, whereby the first carrier element, the first cover disk and the first friction carrier lining rotate in common,    a second carrier element rotationally fixed to the second friction lining and coupled to the hub, the first and second carrier elements being rotationally fixed relative to and axially displaceable relative to one another, wherein the torsional vibration arrangement operatively connects the first and second carrier elements.    
   
   
       70 . The friction clutch of  claim 66 , wherein the plate arrangement and the clutch disk arrangement are configured to be assembled so as to form a module ready to be installed in a motor vehicle power train between an internal combustion engine and a transmission.  
   
   
       71 . A ready-to-install module comprising the friction clutch of  claim 66  coupled to the plate arrangement, the clutch disk arrangement being mounted at the location selected from the group consisting of: 
 between the abutment arrangement and the at least one intermediate plate,    between the at least one intermediate and pressure plates, and    between the at least one and the additional intermediate plates.    
   
   
       72 . The friction clutch of  claim 66 , wherein the abutment arrangement comprising a flywheel, the pressure plate arrangement and the clutch disk being preassembled together so as to form a complete module coupled to the flywheel and configured to be ready-to-install in a motor vehicle power train between a combustion engine and a transmission.  
   
   
       73 . A process for assembling the pressure plate assembly of  claim 1 , the process comprising the steps of: 
 coupling the intermediate part to the housing, thereby forming a housing unit, and    coupling the at least on plate of the pressure plate to the housing unit by the releasing spring arrangement.    
   
   
       74 . The process of  claim 73 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first assembly phase comprising:    connecting a first plurality of releasing springs of the releasing spring arrangement to a bottom of the housing or to an abutment arrangement coupled to the housing unit;    mounting a clutch disk of the clutch disc arrangement in the housing unit,    mounting the at least one plate of the plate arrangement in the housing; and    attaching an opposite end of the first plurality of releasing springs to the at least one plate,    wherein the releasing springs comprise tangential leaf springs.    
   
   
       75 . The process of  claim 74 , wherein the at least one plate is an intermediary plate.  
   
   
       76 . The process of  claim 74 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first preparatory assembly phase before or during or after the first assembly phase, the first preparatory assembly phase comprising: 
 providing a second plate of the plate arrangement, and  
 attaching one end of a second plurality of tangential leaf springs to the second plate; and  
   providing a second assembly phase, the second assembly phase comprising: 
 mounting a second clutch disk of the clutch disk arrangement in the housing,  
 mounting the second plate of the plate arrangement in the housing, and  
 attaching an opposite end of the second plurality of tangential leaf springs to the at least one plate.  
   
   
   
       77 . The process of  claim 76 , wherein the second plate is selected from the group consisting of an additional intermediate plate and a pressure plate.  
   
   
       78 . The process of  claim 76 , wherein the second plate of the plate arrangement is a second intermediary plate, the second assembly phase further comprising: 
 mounting at least one subsequent disk of the clutch disk arrangement in the housing,    mounting a subsequent plate of the plate arrangement in the housing, and    providing a third plurality of tangential springs attached to the second intermediate and subsequent plates, wherein the subsequent plate is a pressure plate.    
   
   
       79 . The process of  claim 76 , further comprising a third assembly phase, the third assembly phase comprising closing the housing at a side axially opposite to the abutment arrangement by a housing wall or by a cover.  
   
   
       80 . The process of  claim 79 , wherein the housing wall is fixed to the housing.  
   
   
       81 . The process of  claim 79 , wherein the third assembly phase comprising a second preparatory phase conducted before or during or after one of the first and second assembly phases, the second preparatory phase comprising: 
 providing an energy storage,    attaching the energy storage device to the housing, wherein the energy storage device comprises a diaphragm spring.    
   
   
       82 . The process of  claim 73 , further comprising mounting at least one clutch disk to the housing, wherein mounting of the at least one plate and one clutch disk in the housing constitutes a first assembly phase.  
   
   
       83 . The process of  claim 82 , further comprising mounting a second plate of the pressure plate assembly to the housing so that the at least one clutch is mounted between the at least one and second plates.  
   
   
       84 . The process of  claim 83 , wherein the at least one and the second plates are coupled to one another by a first group of releasing springs of the releasing spring arrangement.  
   
   
       85 . The process of  claim 84 , wherein the second plate is coupled to the housing by a second group of releasing springs of the spring releasing arrangement.  
   
   
       86 . The process of  claim 84 , wherein one end of the first group of releasing springs is attached to one of the at least one and second plates before the second plate is mounted to the housing.  
   
   
       87 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the leaf springs of each group or package are configured to have a substantially uniform stiffness.  
   
   
       88 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 17 , wherein all of the multiple groups or packages of leaf springs are configured to have the substantially uniform stiffness  
   
   
       89 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the leaf springs of the multiple groups or multiple packages are configured with the substantially uniform stiffness.  
   
   
       90 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the at least three openings are spaced equidistantly from one another.  
   
   
       91 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the abutment arrangement comprises a flywheel.  
   
   
       92 . The pressure plate assembly of  claim 48 , wherein the abutment arrangement comprises a flywheel.  
   
   
       93 . A process for assembling the friction clutch of  claim 66 , the process comprising the steps of: 
 coupling the intermediate part to the housing, thereby forming a housing unit, and    coupling the at least on plate of the pressure plate to the housing unit by the releasing spring arrangement.    
   
   
       94 . The process of  claim 93 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first assembly phase comprising: 
 connecting a first plurality of releasing springs of the releasing spring arrangement to a bottom of the housing or to an abutment arrangement coupled to the housing unit;  
   mounting a clutch disk of the clutch disc arrangement in the housing unit,    mounting the at least one plate of the plate arrangement in the housing; and    attaching an opposite end of the first plurality of releasing springs to the at least one plate,    wherein the releasing springs comprise tangential leaf springs.    
   
   
       95 . The process of  claim 94 , wherein the at least one plate is an intermediary plate.  
   
   
       96 . The process of  claim 94 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first preparatory assembly phase before or during or after the first assembly phase, the first preparatory assembly phase comprising: 
 providing a second plate of the plate arrangement, and  
 attaching one end of a second plurality of tangential leaf springs to the second plate; and  
   providing a second assembly phase, the second assembly phase comprising: 
 mounting a second clutch disk of the clutch disk arrangement in the housing,  
 mounting the second plate of the plate arrangement in the housing, and  
 attaching an opposite end of the second plurality of tangential leaf springs to the at least one plate.  
   
   
   
       97 . The process of  claim 96 , wherein the second plate is selected from the group consisting of an additional intermediate plate and a pressure plate.  
   
   
       98 . The process of  claim 96 , wherein the second plate of the plate arrangement is a second intermediary plate, the second assembly phase further comprising: 
 mounting at least one subsequent disk of the clutch disk arrangement in the housing,    mounting a subsequent plate of the plate arrangement in the housing, and    providing a third plurality of tangential springs attached to the second intermediate and subsequent plates, wherein the subsequent plate is a pressure plate.    
   
   
       99 . The process of  claim 96 , further comprising a third assembly phase, the third assembly phase comprising closing the housing at a side axially opposite to the abutment arrangement by a housing wall or by a cover.  
   
   
       100 . The process of  claim 99 , wherein the housing wall is fixed to the housing.  
   
   
       101 . The process of  claim 99 , wherein the third assembly phase comprising a second preparatory phase conducted before or during or after one of the first and second assembly phases, the second preparatory phase comprising: 
 providing an energy storage,    riveting the energy storage device to the housing, wherein the energy storage device comprises a diaphragm spring.    
   
   
       102 . The process of  claim 93 , further comprising mounting at least one clutch disk to the housing, wherein mounting of the at least one plate and one clutch disk in the housing constitutes a first assembly phase.  
   
   
       103 . The process of  claim 93 , further comprising mounting a second plate of the pressure plate assembly to the housing so that the at least one clutch is mounted between the at least one and second plates.  
   
   
       104 . The process of  claim 103 , wherein the at least one and the second plates are coupled to one another by a first group of releasing springs of the releasing spring arrangement.  
   
   
       105 . The process of  claim 104 , wherein the second plate is coupled to the housing by a second group of releasing springs of the spring releasing arrangement.  
   
   
       106 . The process of  claim 104 , wherein one end of the first group of releasing springs is attached to one of the at least one and second plates before the second plate is mounted to the housing.  
   
   
       107 . A process for assembling the module of  claim 71 , the process comprising the steps of: 
 coupling the intermediate part to the housing, thereby forming a housing unit, and    coupling the at least on plate of the pressure plate to the housing unit by the releasing spring arrangement.    
   
   
       108 . The process of  claim 107 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first assembly phase comprising: 
 connecting a first plurality of releasing springs of the releasing spring arrangement to a bottom of the housing or to an abutment arrangement coupled to the housing unit;  
   mounting a clutch disk of the clutch disc arrangement in the housing unit,    mounting the at least one plate of the plate arrangement in the housing; and    attaching an opposite end of the first plurality of releasing springs to the at least one plate,    wherein the releasing springs comprise tangential leaf springs.    
   
   
       109 . The process of  claim 108 , wherein the at least one plate is an intermediary plate.  
   
   
       110 . The process of  claim 108 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first preparatory assembly phase before or during or after the first assembly phase, the first preparatory assembly phase comprising: 
 providing a second plate of the plate arrangement, and  
 attaching one end of a second plurality of tangential leaf springs to the second plate; and  
   providing a second assembly phase, the second assembly phase comprising: 
 mounting a second clutch disk of the clutch disk arrangement in the housing,  
 mounting the second plate of the plate arrangement in the housing, and  
 attaching an opposite end of the second plurality of tangential leaf springs to the at least one plate.  
   
   
   
       111 . The process of  claim 110 , wherein the second plate is selected from the group consisting of an additional intermediate plate and a pressure plate.  
   
   
       112 . The process of  claim 110 , wherein the second plate of the plate arrangement is a second intermediary plate, the second assembly phase further comprising: 
 mounting at least one subsequent disk of the clutch disk arrangement in the housing,    mounting a subsequent plate of the plate arrangement in the housing, and    providing a third plurality of tangential springs attached to the second intermediate and subsequent plates, wherein the subsequent plate is a pressure plate.    
   
   
       113 . The process of  claim 110 , further comprising a third assembly phase, the third assembly phase comprising closing the housing at a side axially opposite to the abutment arrangement by a housing wall or by a cover.  
   
   
       114 . The process of  claim 113 , wherein the housing wall is fixed to the housing.  
   
   
       115 . The process of  claim 113 , wherein the third assembly phase comprising a second preparatory phase conducted before or during or after one of the first and second assembly phases, the second preparatory phase comprising: 
 providing an energy storage,    riveting the energy storage device to the housing, wherein the energy storage device comprises a diaphragm spring.    
   
   
       116 . The process of  claim 107 , further comprising mounting at least one clutch disk to the housing, wherein mounting of the at least one plate and one clutch disk in the housing constitutes a first assembly phase.  
   
   
       117 . The process of  claim 93 , further comprising mounting a second plate of the pressure plate assembly to the housing so that the at least one clutch is mounted between the at least one and second plates.  
   
   
       118 . The process of  claim 117 , wherein the at least one and the second plates are coupled to one another by a first group of releasing springs of the releasing spring arrangement.  
   
   
       119 . The process of  claim 118 , wherein the second plate is coupled to the housing by a second group of releasing springs of the spring releasing arrangement.  
   
   
       120 . The process of  claim 118 , wherein one end of the first group of releasing springs is attached to one of the at least one and second plates before the second plate is mounted to the housing.