Centrifugally assisted clutch

A friction clutch assembly for connecting driving and driven shafts, comprising:

• a pressure plate adapted for operative attachment to said driven shaft for rotation therewith, the pressure plate being axially moveable between an engaged position wherein the pressure plate applies a force to clamp a friction disk of said driven shaft in operative engagement with a flywheel of said driving shaft thereby to transmit torque from the driving shaft to the driven shaft and a disengaged position wherein the pressure plate does not clamp said friction disk and substantially no torque is transmitted,
• a cover adapted for mounting on the flywheel in a fixed axial position relative to the flywheel and for conjoint rotation with the flywheel,
• at least one spring adapted for mounting to the cover and in contact with the pressure plate whereby the spring urges the pressure plate into the engaged position and compression of said spring releases pressure on said pressure plate allowing for movement of said pressure plate to the disengaged position,
• a plurality of lever assemblies adapted for mounting on said cover, said lever assemblies comprising a lever pivotable relative to the cover and configured to apply an axial force urging the pressure plate to the engaged position, said lever assemblies being spaced at different radial distances from the center of the cover for incremental application of said axial force at increasing rotational speeds of the assembly.

A method of converting a clutch having at least one spring mounted on a clutch cover into a centrifugally assisted clutch, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one centrifugal lever housing including a lever pivotable in the housing for applying a force to a pressure plate of the clutch;
• forming an opening for the lever in the cover of the clutch;
• inserting the lever in the opening;
• and
• securing the housing to the cover.

A friction clutch assembly for connecting driving and driven shafts, comprising:

• a pressure plate adapted for operative attachment to said driven shaft for rotation therewith, the pressure plate being axially moveable between an engaged position wherein the pressure plate applies a force to clamp a friction disk of said driven shaft in operative engagement with a flywheel of said driving shaft thereby to transmit torque from the driving shaft to the driven shaft and a disengaged position wherein the pressure plate does not clamp said friction disk and substantially no torque is transmitted,
• a cover adapted for mounting on the flywheel in a fixed axial position relative to the flywheel and for conjoint rotation with the flywheel,
• at least one spring adapted for mounting to the cover and in contact with the pressure plate whereby the spring urges the pressure plate into the engaged position and compression of said spring releases pressure on said pressure plate allowing for movement of said pressure plate to the disengaged position,
• at least one lever assembly adapted for mounting on said cover, said lever assembly comprising a lever pivotable relative to the cover and configured for contact with said at least one spring to apply an axial force urging the pressure plate to the engaged position.