Multi-stage motorcycle slider clutch
OwnerKenneth L. Tiptoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved motorcycle slider clutch which utilizes several original equipment manufacturers components, also an aftermarket basket (34) and a housing gear assembly (44). A pressure plate (100) engages the nest of discs (32) when compressed by a number of fingers (114) configured to create linear force when subjected to centrifugal action. A flange (110) encloses the basket (34) and retains the fingers. A cast cover (128) contains a pneumatic cylinder with a piston (140) that restrains movement of the plate in the first stage of actuation and a second piston (156) in a chamber created by a hollow cap (154) providing similar restraint for a second stage. The operation is controlled pneumatically with solenoid valves (146) and a millisecond timer (168) allowing a multi-stage starting sequence at a timed interval.
Claims12
An improved multi-stage motorcycle adjustable slider clutch utilizing original equipment manufacturers transmission output shaft, front bearing, transmission gear cluster main bearing assembly, thrust washer, center hub and a plurality of nested clutch friction discs and plates, also an aftermarket slider basket and a spring loaded housing gear assembly having the main bearing assembly joined into the housing gear forming a rotational bearing receptacle the improvement comprising;
- (a) a pressure plate contiguous with the friction discs, urging the discs together during torque transmitting actuation;
- (b) a basket enclosing flange having a plurality of rotatable counterbalanced fingers extending therethrough, the flange further attached to the basket such that the pressure plate is enclosed inside and the fingers are in intimate contact with the pressure plate urgingly forcing the pressure plate into contact with the friction discs and plates to compress together unitedly joining the slider basket member with the center hub making union between the housing gear assembly and transmission gear cluster at the same approximate rotational speed as the housing gear assembly, less slippage;
- (c) a clutch housing cover having rotatable attaching means on a first side and a second side defining a hollow cylinder, therein with the attaching means interfacing between the enclosing flange and the housing cover allowing the enclosed basket member to be supported;
- (d) first stage restraining means within the basket enclosing flange and housing cover suppressing the force created by the camming action of the counterbalanced fingers allowing the motorcycle engine to rotate in a neutral condition;
- (e) first stage pneumatic actuating means contiguous with the restraining means supplying the reactionary force to overcome the thrust of the fingers, also providing an immediate release of the restraint allowing the clutch friction discs and plates to be instantly compressed together by the action of a specific number of fingers balancing the torque of the motorcycle engine with the coefficient of friction of the motorcycle engine with the coefficient of friction of the motorcycle wheels relative to the surface upon which the motorcycle is resting;
- (f) second stage restraining means integral with the basket enclosing flange suppressing the remaining force created by the balance of the fingers defining positive control thereof;
- (g) second stage pneumatic actuating means contiguous with the restraining means supplying the reactionary force to overcome the thrust of the balance of the fingers in a gradual manner allowing a predetermined release of the constraints such that the motorcycle engine torque does not further overcome the coefficient of friction of the motorcycle wheels;
- and,
- (h) control means in communication with said first and second stage pneumatic actuating means providing an instantaneous partial engagement of the clutch in the first stage, and a timed sequential second stage modulated engagement therewith.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.