Dampers for clutch linkages
OwnerSamuel E. Cichon, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motor vehicle includes a clutch linkage connected to a throw out lever which is operated by a clutch pedal or said control lever biased by a return spring to a clutch engaged position. A damper with a cylinder housing a piston and a piston rod delays excessively rapid engagement of the clutch by engaging the clutch linkage to provide a force opposed to pressure from the return spring. The damper functions to prevent mechanical damage to the motor vehicle and to avoid discomfort to passengers.
Claims20
A motor vehicle with an engine, a transmission, and a clutch interposed between the engine and the transmission, with a clutch linkage between an operator-controlled clutch pedal or manual control lever, a including:
- said clutch linkage being biased by a return spring to a normal clutch engaged position and being movable between said normal clutch engaged position and a clutch disengaged position;
- a clutch disengaging lever or throw-out fork connected to be operated by said clutch linkage;
- said clutch pedal or said control lever being connected to said clutch linkage to move said clutch disengaging lever or throw-out fork to a clutch disengaged position;
- said return spring providing a pressure on said clutch linkage towards a clutch engaged position of said disengaging lever or said throw-out fork;
- and
- a damper with a cylinder which houses a piston which has a piston rod extending from one end of said cylinder, with said piston rod engaging said clutch linkage providing a force opposed to said pressure of said return spring.
A method of operating a motor vehicle with an engine, a transmission, and a clutch interposed between the engine and the transmission, with a clutch linkage between an operator-controlled clutch pedal or manual control lever, a clutch linkage with a return spring to a normal clutch engaged position and being movable between said normal clutch engaged position and a clutch disengaged position;
- a clutch disengaging lever or throw-out fork connected to be operated by said clutch linkage;
- with said clutch pedal or said control lever connected to said clutch linkage to move said clutch disengaging lever or throw-out fork to a clutch disengaged position;
- and said return spring providing a pressure on said clutch linkage towards a clutch engaged position of said disengaging lever or said throw-out fork;
- comprising the step as follows:
- providing a damper with a cylinder which houses a piston which has a piston rod extending from one end of said cylinder, with said piston rod engaging said clutch linkage providing a force opposed to said pressure of said return spring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.