Clutch assembly
AssigneeAutomotive Products plc
InventorIan A. Nash
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multiplate clutch assembly comprising a cover (10), drive plates (14), driven plates (16), diaphragm spring (20) and a fulcrum ring (24) located on the side of the spring away from the cover. The fulcrum ring (24) is a flat ring with an integral annular bead (31) in which the spring pivots with a plurality of integral spacers 26. The ring (24) is secured to the cover (10) by the spacers by a plurality of fasteners (28) each of which secures a single spacer to the cover.
Claims7
A motor vehicle multiplate clutch assembly comprising a cover, a plurality of drive plates rotationally fast with the cover, a plurality of driven plates rotationally fast with a hub and located between the drive plates, at least one diaphragm spring which acts to bias the drive plates into engagement with the driven plates, a first annular fulcrum ring on the cover for pivotally supporting the diaphragm spring on its side adjacent the cover, a second annular fulcrum ring aligned within the first fulcrum ring for pivotally supporting the diaphragm spring on its side away from the cover, and a plurality of spacers extending between the second fulcrum ring and the cover, wherein the spacers are formed integrally with the second fulcrum ring with the top faces of the spacers adjacent the cover machined to a predetermined height above the fulcrum ring, and the second fulcrum ring is attached to the cover by detachable attaching members each securing one of the spacers to the cover.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.