US 5,207,741 A · Release assembly for a pull-type clutch

Abstract

A release assembly to a pull-type clutch releases the clutch by extracting the radially inward portion of a diaphragm spring in the direction toward an associated transmission. The release assembly comprises a release bearing and its retainer. The release bearing includes an outer race fixed onto the radially inward margin of the diaphragm spring and an inner race grooved by a concavity along its radially inward portion the focus of which coincides with the pivotal deviation center of the release assembly. A complementarily convex surface along the retainer slidably mates with the concavity of the inner race, allowing the retainer in this release assembly to be slidable along inner race of the release bearing. Accordingly, if the clutch and the transmission come into misalignment, the resultant slide of the retainer on the inner race of the release bearing compensates.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A release assembly for a pull-type clutch which connects a diaphragm spring with a support sleeve for a slidable movement on a transmission main drive shaft, comprising:

a release bearing having an outer race fixed to said diaphragm spring and an inner race having a lateral surface formed with a spherically shaped concavity formed generally along a circumference of a sphere having a center point located approximately at a tip of the main drive shaft proximate an output shaft of an engine;
and
a retaining tube connected to said support sleeve, having a lateral surface formed with a convex spherically shaped surface which slidably mates with said spherically shaped concavity, whereby said convex spherically shaped surface remains mating with said spherically shaped concavity in spite of misalignment of an axis of said main drive shaft with an axis of rotation of said clutch.

A pull-type clutch system for connecting an output shaft of an engine with a main drive shaft of a transmission comprising:

a flywheel connected to said output shaft and having a radially inward portion fitted onto said main drive shaft at a pivotal deviation center of said main drive shaft;
a clutch disc having a peripheral portion arranged in contact with said flywheel and a radially inner portion fitted onto said main drive shaft;
a pressure plate positioned to press the clutch disc peripheral portion against the flywheel;
a diaphragm spring for driving said pressure plate toward said clutch disc;
a release assembly including a release bearing having an outer race fixed to a radially inward margin of said diaphragm spring and an inner race having a lateral surface formed with a spherically shaped concavity, and retaining tube for a slidable movement axially on said main drive shaft, having a complementary convex spherically shaped surface for mating with and slidably supporting said spherically shaped concavity, said spherically shaped surfaces being formed at a radius from said pivotal deviation center;
and
driving means for driving said release assembly axially on said main drive shaft to engage and release said clutch disc.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Release assembly for a pull-type clutch

Life of this patent

Release assembly for a pull-type clutch

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13