What is claimed is:
1. Central release device (10) for a hydraulic clutch actuation system having a cylinder housing (12), with a cylindrical wall (14), and a guide sleeve (16), which is arranged concentrically inside the cylindrical wall (14) and on which an annular piston (18), which can be operatively connected to a clutch and can be hydraulically actuated, as required, by way of a pressure chamber (20) defined by the cylindrical wall (14) and the guide sleeve (16), is displaceably guided in order to release the clutch, the guide sleeve (16) at its end having an annular flange (22) with an end face (24) facing away from the annular piston (18) and a radially outer circumferential surface (26), by way of which flange the guide sleeve (16) is fixed to an end face (28) of the cylinder housing (12), characterized in that at least one axial groove (30), which starts at the end face (28) and in which an insert (32) is firmly fitted, gripping behind the circumferential surface (26) of the annular flange (22), is formed in the cylinder housing (12) adjacent to the annular flange (22) in order to fix the guide sleeve (16) to the cylinder housing (12), an upper side (34) of the insert (32) facing away from the annular piston (18) lying in a plane defined by the end face (24) of the annular flange (22) or in front of this plane, viewed from the annular piston (18).
2. Central release device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of axial grooves (30), which in plan view are of segmental shape, are formed in the cylinder housing (12), in each of which grooves an insert (32) of essentially complementary shape is fitted.
3. Central release device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the cylinder housing (12) and the insert (32) are composed of ultrasonically weldable plastics and the insert (32) is welded ultrasonically to the cylinder housing (12).
4. Central release device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the insert (32), on its inside (78) facing the guide sleeve (16) and on its outside (80) facing away from the guide sleeve (16), is in each case provided with a step (82 and 84 respectively), which when fitting the insert (32) into the assigned axial groove (30) of the cylinder housing (12), can be welded under the effect of ultrasound to an adjoining flank (86 and 88 respectively) of the axial groove (30).
5. Central release device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the step (82) on the inside (78) of the insert (32) and the step (84) on the outside (80) of the insert (32) are in their position and length matched to one another in the fitting direction of the insert (32), in such a way that the steps (82, 84) can be welded to the adjoining flanks (86 and 88) of the axial groove (30) simultaneously and essentially over the same length.
6. Central release device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that axial groove (30) in the cylinder housing (12) has an essential rectangular groove cross-section.
7. Central release device (10) according to claim 6 characterized in that a retaining lug (102) with a bevel (104), which grips behind a circumferential bevel (106) of complementary shape on the annular flange (22), is formed on the insert (32), the latter bevel extending from the end face (24) of the annular flange (22) to the circumferential surface (26) thereof.
8. Central release device (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that a recess (74) is formed in the cylinder housing (12), proceeding from the end face (28) thereof, in order to accommodate the annular flange (22), the depth (t) of the recess being equal to or less than the thickness (d) of the annular flange (22).
9. Central release device (10) according to claim 8, characterized by an annular part (60), which is arranged at the end of the pressure chamber (20) facing away from the annular piston (18) between the guide sleeve (16) and the cylindrical wall (14) and which centers the guide sleeve (16) in relation to the cylindrical wall (14).
10. Central release device (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that the pressure chamber (20) is sealed off from the surroundings by means of a sealing arrangement (64, 66) provided on the annular part (60).
11. Central release device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cylinder housing (12) and the insert (32) are composed of ultrasonically weldable plastics and the insert (32) is welded ultrasonically to the cylinder housing (12).
12. Central release device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the insert (32), on its inside (78) facing the guide sleeve (16) and on its outside (80) facing away from the guide sleeve (16), is in each case provided with a step (82 and 84 respectively), which when fitting the insert (32) into the assigned axial groove (30) of the cylinder housing (12), can be welded under the effect of ultrasound to an adjoining flank (86 and 88 respectively) of the axial groove (30).
13. Central release device (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that the step (82) on the inside (78) of the insert (32) and the step (84) on the outside (80) of the insert (32) are in their position and length matched to one another in the fitting direction of the insert (32), in such a way that the steps (82, 84) can be welded to the adjoining flank (86 and 88) of the axial groove (30) simultaneously and essentially over the same length.
14. Central release device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that axial groove (30) in the cylinder housing (12) has an essential rectangular groove cross-section.
15. Central release device (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that a retaining lug (102) with a bevel (104), which grips behind a circumferential bevel (106) of complementary shape on the annular flange (22), is formed on the insert (32), the latter bevel extending from the end face (24) of the annular flange (22) to the circumferential surface (26) thereof.
16. Central release device (10) according to claim 15, characterized in that a recess is formed in the cylinder housing (12), proceeding from the end face (28) thereof, in order to accommodate the annular flange (22), the depth (t) of the recess being equal to or less than the thickness (d) of the annular flange (22).
17. Central release device (10) according to claim 16, characterized by an annular part (60), which is arranged at the end of the pressure chamber (20) facing away from the annular piston (18) between the guide sleeve (16) and the cylindrical wall (14) and which centers the guide sleeve (16) in relation to the cylindrical wall (14).
18. Central release device (10) according to claim 17, characterized in that the pressure chamber (20) is sealed off from the surroundings by means of a sealing arrangement (64, 66) provided on the annular part (60).
19. Central release device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that a retaining lug (102) with a bevel (104), which grips behind a circumferential bevel (106) of complementary shape on the annular flange (22), is formed on the insert (32), the latter bevel extending from the end face (24) of the annular flange (22) to the circumferential surface (26) thereof.
20. Central release device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that a recess (74) is formed in the cylinder housing (12), proceeding from the end face (28) thereof, in order to accommodate the annular flange (22), the depth (t) of the recess being equal to or less than the thickness (d) of the annular flange (22).
21. Central release device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by an annular part (60), which is arranged at the end of the pressure chamber (20) facing away from the annular piston (18) between the guide sleeve (16) and the cylindrical wall (14) and which centers the guide sleeve (16) in relation to the cylindrical wall (14).
22. Central release device (1) according to claim 21, characterized in that the pressure chamber (20) is sealed off from the surroundings by means of a sealing arrangement (64, 66) provided on the annular part (60).
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of generating a process plan comprising:
i) storing at least one generic process pattern, wherein the at least one generic process pattern defines a core process that must be executed in order to achieve a type of goal, wherein the core process is a partially ordered process which includes process steps, which are obligatory to achieve the type of goal;
ii) storing at least one process aspect containing a predetermined pattern, wherein the at least one process aspect defines at least one context dependent process step that is carried out in order to achieve a particular goal;
iii) searching said at least one generic process pattern for the predetermined pattern contained by the at least one process aspect,
iv) on detection of the predetermined pattern, inserting content from said at least one process aspect into the generic process pattern to generate a process plan and
v) outputting the generated process plan,
wherein an instruction coded into each of the at least one process aspect determines how content is merged from the process aspect into the generic process pattern at runtime of the generic process pattern and said content inserted from said at least one process aspect introduces a new process step into the generic process pattern.
2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of receiving for storage the at least one generic process pattern and receiving for storage the at least one process aspect.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein each stored generic process pattern is indexed in accordance with a goal to be achieved by the plan and the method further comprises:
vi) receiving a goal input, and
vii) selecting a generic process pattern for searching, said selection being in accordance with the received goal input.
4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one process aspect comprises resource information, identifying one or more resources to support a process step in a generated process plan.
5. A method according to claim 4 wherein each stored process aspect comprising resource information is indexed in accordance with one or more relevant resources.
6. A method according to claim 1 wherein content inserted from the at least one process aspect comprises data.
7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one process aspect comprises context specific method steps or data and is indexed for storage according to the relevant context.
8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the context for the at least one process aspect is service type.
9. A method according to claim 7 wherein the context for the at least one process aspect is customer type.
10. A method as in claim 1 wherein the content introduces new process steps with respect to the generic process pattern.
11. A method as in claim 1 wherein the content advises existing process steps of the generic process pattern.
12. A method as in claim 1, wherein instructions respectively coded into process aspects determine a sequence in which said process aspects are merged into said generic process pattern.
13. A method of generating a process plan comprising:
i) storing at least one generic process pattern, wherein the at least one generic process pattern defines a core process that must be executed in order to achieve a type of goal, wherein the core process is a partially ordered process which includes process steps, which are obligatory to achieve the type of goal;
ii) storing at least one process aspect containing a predetermined pattern, wherein the at least one process aspect defines at least one context dependent process step that is carried out in order to achieve a particular goal;
iii) searching said at least one generic process pattern for the predetermined pattern contained by the at least one process aspect,
iv) on detection of the predetermined pattern inserting content from said at least one process aspect into the generic process pattern to generate a process plan and
v) outputting the generated process plan,
wherein an instruction coded into each of the at least one process aspect determines how content is merged from the process aspect into the generic process pattern at runtime of the generic process pattern and said content inserted from said at least one process aspect advises an existing process step in said generic process pattern.
14. Apparatus for use in generating a process plan, the apparatus comprising:
i) a generic process pattern storage device that stores at least one generic process pattern, wherein the at least one generic process pattern defines a core process that must be executed in order to achieve a type of goal, wherein the core process is a partially ordered process which includes process steps, which are obligatory to achieve the type of goal,
ii) a process aspect storage device that stores at least one process aspect containing a predetermined pattern, wherein the at least one process aspect defines at least one context dependent process step that is carried out in order to achieve a particular goal,
iii) means for searching the at least one generic process pattern for the at least one predetermined pattern contained in the at least one process aspect,
iv) means for inserting content from said at least one process aspect into the generic process pattern on detection of the predetermined pattern so as to generate a process plan, and
v) an output for generated process plans,
wherein an instruction coded into each of the at least one process aspect determines how content is merged from the process aspect into the generic process pattern at runtime of the generic process pattern and said content inserted from said at least one process aspect introduces a new process step into the generic process pattern.
15. An apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising means for receiving for storage the at least one generic process pattern and receiving for storage the at least one process aspect.
16. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein each stored generic process pattern is indexed in accordance with a goal to be achieved by the plan and the apparatus further comprises:
vi) means for receiving a goal input, and
vii) means for selecting a generic process pattern for searching, said selection being in accordance with the received goal input.
17. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the at least one process aspect comprises resource information, identifying one or more resources to support a process step in a generated process plan.
18. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein each stored process aspect comprising resource information is indexed in accordance with one or more relevant resources.
19. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein content inserted from the at least one process aspect comprises data.
20. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the at least one process aspect comprises context specific method steps or data and is indexed for storage according to the relevant context.
21. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the context for the at least one process aspect is service type.
22. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the context for the at least one process aspect is customer type.
23. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the context for the at least one process aspect is customer type.
24. An apparatus as in claim 14 wherein the content introduces new process steps with respect to the generic process pattern.
25. An apparatus as in claim 14 wherein the content advises existing process steps of the generic process pattern.
26. An apparatus as in claim 14, wherein instructions respectively coded into process determine a sequence in which said process aspects are merged into said generic process pattern.
27. Apparatus for use in generating a process plan, the apparatus comprising:
i) a generic process pattern storage device that stores at least one generic process pattern, wherein the at least one generic process pattern defines a core process that must be executed in order to achieve a type of goal, wherein the core process is a partially ordered process which includes process steps, which are obligatory to achieve the type of goal,
ii) a process aspect storage device that stores at least one process aspect containing a predetermined pattern, wherein the at least one process aspect defines at least one context dependent process step that is carried out in order to achieve a particular goal,
iii) means for searching the at least one generic process pattern for the at least one predetermined pattern contained in the at least one process aspect,
iv) means for inserting content from said at least one process aspect into the generic process pattern on detection of the predetermined pattern so as to generate a process plan, and
v) an output for generated process plans,
wherein an instruction coded into each of the at least one process aspect determines how content is merged from the process aspect into the generic process pattern at runtime of the generic process pattern and said content inserted from said at least one process aspect advises an existing process step in said generic process pattern.