Clutch driven plate assembly with variable friction area
AssigneeBorg-Warner Corporation
InventorsThaddeus Lech, Jr., Richard T. Popchock
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A clutch driven plate assembly for an automotive vehicle wherein the clutch plate has radially extending lobes carrying friction pads of a suitable material, with the pad being mounted on cushioning means so as to present a variable surface contact area to the engaging surfaces of the clutch assembly to decrease the clutching capacity at initial engagement to reduce chatter. As torque demand increases and clutch engagement continues, the clutch capacity is increased by the deforming of the cushioning means to allow the friction pads to flatten against the engaging surfaces and provide a larger contact area.
Claims14
A clutch driven plate comprising a generally circular plate having a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced radially extending lobes on the periphery thereof, a pair of separate oppositely disposed support plates secured to each lobe on the opposite surfaces thereof, each support plate having at least one friction pad secured thereto, and cushioning means between said friction pads to provide for a variable friction contact area as clutch engagement proceeds from initial engagement of a trailing edge of each pad with the engaging surfaces of a flywheel and pressure plate of a clutch assembly, said cushioning means being offset from the center of the friction pads so that the trailing edge of each pad makes initial contact.
A clutch driven plate comprising a generally circular plate having a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced radially extending lobes on the periphery thereof, a pair of oppositely disposed support plates in the form of annular rings secured to the opposite surfaces of the clutch plate lobes, a plurality of friction pads secured to said rings intermediate said lobes, and cushioning means between said friction pads to provide a variable friction contact area as clutch engagement proceeds from initial engagement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.