Friction shoe assembly for a speed responsive centrifugal clutch assembly
AssigneeBorg-Warner Corporation
InventorRussell E. Silberschlag
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A friction shoe assembly for a speed responsive centrifugal clutch assembly especially adapted for use as a lock-up clutch in connection with a torque converter, which shoe assembly includes a centrifugally-actuated follower, load limit spring and stop, and a retractor spring in combination with a centrifugally engageable friction shoe, providing for low speed lock-up while limiting the torque capacity of the lock-up clutch at higher speeds.
Claims6
A friction shoe assembly for use in a centrifugal clutch, comprising an arcuate friction shoe reciprocable between engaged and disengaged positions and terminating at each end in a downturned end portion having an inturned end to provide a C-shaped end having a central slot formed therein, a follower member reciprocable with and mounted for limited motion relative to said friction shoe, an elongated load spring comprising a substantially flat leaf spring with each end having a central slot and positioned between and yieldably engaging said friction shoe and follower member, said follower member having at least a slightly greater mass than said friction shoe and load spring, and a retractor spring positioned between said follower member and load spring and including an arcuate mid-portion engaging said follower member and opposite lever arm portions terminating in central slots with the outer ends of the arm portions having upwardly and outwardly bent ears at the corners thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.