US 11,933,374 B2
Saddle-ride type vehicle comprising a clutch assembly and a control device for said clutch assembly
Romano Albesiano, Pontedera (IT); Walter Scattolin, Pontedera (IT); and Francesco Grisotolo, Pontedera (IT)
Assigned to Piaggio & C. S.p.A., Pontedera (IT)
Appl. No. 18/019,834
Filed by Piaggio & C. S.p.A., Pontedera (IT)
PCT Filed Aug. 3, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IB2021/057075
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 6, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/029610, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 10, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 10200000019777 (IT), filed on Aug. 7, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0279910 A1, Sep. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. F16D 48/06 (2006.01); F16D 13/56 (2006.01)
CPC F16D 48/066 (2013.01) [F16D 13/56 (2013.01); F16D 2500/1026 (2013.01); F16D 2500/10412 (2013.01); F16D 2500/1045 (2013.01); F16D 2500/1117 (2013.01); F16D 2500/31406 (2013.01); F16D 2500/31466 (2013.01); F16D 2500/70404 (2013.01); F16D 2500/70406 (2013.01); F16D 2500/70426 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A saddle-ride type vehicle comprising:
an engine;
a gearbox;
a clutch assembly interposed between the engine and the gearbox, wherein the clutch assembly comprises:
a clutch device comprising at least one drive element integral with a shaft of the engine, at least one driven element integral with an input shaft of the gearbox, and return means that keep the at least one drive element and the at least one driven element in contact in a closure condition of the clutch device;
an operating device of the clutch device to cause, in opposition to the return means, a mutual detachment of the at least one drive element and the at least one driven element up to an opening condition of the clutch device;
a control device comprising an actuation means that, during a gear change performed by the gearbox following a pilot command, exerts a predetermined force in contrast to a force exerted by the return means, the predetermined force being less than the force exerted by the return means so as to cause the clutch device to slip without the opening condition being reached;
wherein the operating device is of hydraulic type and comprises a primary pump operated via a control lever, wherein the primary pump is hydraulically connected, through a primary hydraulic circuit, to a primary piston acting on at least one of the at least one drive element and the at least one driven element in opposition to the return means so that, as a result of an action on the control lever, the primary piston exerts an action on the at least one drive element and the at least one driven element determining the opening condition;
wherein the control device comprises a secondary piston connected to the primary piston, wherein the actuation means exerts, directly or indirectly, the predetermined force on the secondary piston, the predetermined force being transferred to the primary piston in opposition to the force of the return means.