US 4,356,901 AGranted

Support for a series of friction discs

AssigneeRockwell International Corporation

InventorsDaniel L. Koehler, Walter O. Zajac

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Abstract

An improved support is for a series of friction discs within a housing of a clutch, brake or the like of the type which includes a central member mounted for rotation relative to the housing. A series of reaction discs are alternatively disposed between the friction discs and are mounted for relative rotation with the central member. Each friction disc includes a plurality of generally axially extending tabs which are received within a plurality of slots in the adjacent friction disc to prevent relative rotation between the friction discs. A slot in a portion of the housing adjacent the last friction disc in the series receives the tabs thereof to prevent relative rotation of the entire series with respect to the housing. Axial force being applied to the series of friction discs and reaction discs produces frictional forces therebetween tending to reduce relative rotation of the housing and central member.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An improved support for a series of three or more friction discs within a housing of a clutch, brake, or the like of the type which includes a central member mounted for rotation relative to said housing, said central member having a series of reaction discs mounted for rotation therewith, said reaction discs being alternatively disposed between said friction discs, and means for applying an axial force to said series of said friction discs and said series of said reaction discs to product frictional forces therebetween tending to reduce relative rotation between said housing and said central member, said improved support comprising:

each of said friction discs being identical and including means thereon for coupling said each said friction discs directly to an adjacent said friction disc to positively prevent relative rotation therebetween;
and
means for coupling said friction disc of said series located at at least one end thereof to a portion of said housing to positively prevent relative rotation therebetween.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.