Automotive flywheel with fins to increase airflow through clutch, and heat management method

Abstract

A flywheel for use in an automobile between an engine and a clutch assembly is provided. The flywheel is a circular member having an engine side and an opposite clutch side. An aperture is formed in the circular member having an axis, and the aperture is used to operatively attach the flywheel to the engine. A plurality of clutch fins and/or grooves are formed on the clutch side adjacent the outer edge of the circular member and spaced radially about the axis of the aperture of the flywheel. The clutch fins have a face that is generally coplanar with the clutch side of the circular member. The fins and grooves work to cool the internal components of the engine. Optionally, a second set of grooves and fins may be formed on the engine side of the flywheel to further aid in cooling the clutch disc and other engine components.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.