Slip clutch

A slip clutch, comprising:

• a flywheel arranged to receive torque;
• a vibration damper including:
• first and second axially displaceable cover plates;
• a flange for transmitting torque from the vibration damper;
• and,
• at least one spring engaged with the first and second cover plates and the flange;
• and,
• a slip assembly, including:
• a first plurality of circumferentially aligned surfaces:
• fixedly connected to the flywheel or formed from a same piece of material as the flywheel;
• and,
• at an acute angle with respective to a first circumferential line passing through the first plurality of circumferentially aligned surfaces;
• a second plurality of circumferentially aligned surfaces:
• in contact with the first plurality of circumferentially aligned surfaces;
• formed by a first portion of the first cover plate radially outward of the at least one spring;
• and,
• at the acute angle with respective to a second circumferential line passing through the second plurality of circumferentially aligned surfaces;
• and,
• a resilient element urging the second plurality of circumferentially aligned surfaces into contact with the first plurality of circumferentially aligned surfaces, wherein:
• when first rotational torque is applied to the flywheel, the flywheel and the first and second cover plates rotate in unison;
• and,
• when second rotational torque, greater than the first rotational torque, is applied to the flywheel, the first plurality of circumferentially aligned surface is arranged to slide across the second plurality of circumferentially aligned surfaces such that the flywheel rotates with respect to the first and second cover plates.

A slip clutch, comprising:

• a flywheel arranged to receive torque;
• a backing plate fixedly connected to the flywheel;
• a vibration damper including:
• first and second axially displaceable cover plates;
• a flange for transmitting torque from the vibration damper;
• and,
• at least one spring engaged with the first and second cover plates and the flange;
• and,
• a slip assembly, including:
• a first plurality of circumferentially aligned surfaces:
• fixedly connected to the flywheel or formed from a same piece of material as the flywheel;
• and,
• at a first acute angle with respective to a first circumferential line passing through the first plurality of circumferentially aligned surfaces;
• a second plurality of circumferentially aligned surfaces:
• formed by a first portion of the first cover plate radially outward of the at least one spring;
• and,
• at a second acute angle with respective to a second circumferential line passing through the second plurality of circumferentially aligned surfaces;
• and,
• at least one cylindrically-shaped element axially disposed between the first and second pluralities of circumferentially aligned surfaces and engaged with the first and second pluralities of circumferentially aligned surfaces;
• and,
• a resilient element engaged with the backing plate and the second cover plate and urging the first cover plate toward the flywheel, such that the first and second pluralities of circumferentially aligned surfaces are compressive engagement contact with the at least one cylindrically-shaped element.