Hydraulic clutch activation system
AssigneeAllied Corporation
InventorsAmbrose Tomala, Gary L. Casey, Mark A. Brooks
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydraulic fluid system including a master cylinder (30) moved by a clutch pedal (34) for pressurizing a remotely located slave cylinder (50). The slave cylinder and master cylinder each including a rolling diaphragm (104, 176). The slave cylinder further including a cup-shaped piston (134) for isolating its rolling diaphragm from the rotation of a throw-out bearing (66) which is moved by the diaphragm.
Claims14
A hydraulic system for engaging and disengaging clutches, such as a clutch for a manual transmission comprises:
- a slave cylinder, remote from and adapted to fluidly communicate with a source of pressurized fluid comprising:
- means for slidably supporting a throw-out bearing proximate the spring fingers of a clutch;
- an axially expandable, variable volume activation chamber defined by a rollng diaphragm adapted to receive pressurized fluid and to urge said throw-out bearing outwardly therefrom;
- means for rotationally decoupling said throw-out bearing from said diaphragm;
- and wherein
- said support means includes a sliding bearing support means comprising an annular support proximate to and exterior of said diaphragm, and wherein said decoupling means comprises
- a cup shaped, annular piston loosely fitted to said annular support, between said annular support and a portion of said diaphragm.
A hydraulic system for engaging and disengaging clutches, such as a clutch for a manual transmission comprises:
- a master cylinder capable of pressurizing fluid upon demand;
- a slave cylinder, remote from and adapted to fluidly communicate with said master cylinder comprising:
- slidably supporting a throw-out bearing proximate the spring fingers of a clutch;
- an axially expandable, variable volume activation chamber defined by a rolling diaphragm adapted to received pressurized fluid and to urge said throw-out bearing outwardly therefrom;
- means for rotationally decoupling said throw-out bearing from said diaphragm;
- and wherein said master cylinder comprises:
- a housing including at least one port communicated to a pressure chamber, said pressure chamber formed in part by a second rolling diaphragm;
- a control rod received through an open end of said housing for working said second diaphragm;
- means for guiding the motion of said rod as it is reciprocatively moved within said housing;
- said guiding means including means for permitting said control rod to rotate or pivot about a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of the control rod;
- a piston attached at one end thereof to a middle portion of said second diaphragm;
- means for rotationally attaching said piston at another end thereof to said rod;
- said piston including an annular outer wall, and said outer wall cooperating with said housing to provide an annular space into which outer portions of said second diaphragm extend or roll as said second diaphragm is axially moved therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.