Cone ramp clutch

A clutch assembly for transmitting power from a drive shaft to a driven mechanism, the assembly comprising

• a rotatable assembly shaft having a longitudinal axis,
• a cone housing slidably coupled to the assembly shaft for axial movement relative thereto and rotational movement therewith, the cone housing being formed to include a central aperture receiving the assembly shaft therein and a cone-receiving chamber communicating with the central aperture and receiving the assembly shaft therein,
• a friction cone formed to include a central aperture receiving the assembly shaft therein and positioned to lie in the cone-receiving chamber formed in the cone housing for rotational movement relative to the assembly shaft, and
• output means for transferring power to the driven mechanism, the output means including a splined shaft extending into the central aperture formed in the friction cone to engage the friction cone for rotation therewith and an output sprocket appended to the splined shaft for rotation therewith relative to the cone housing.

A clutch assembly for transmitting power from a drive shaft to a driven mechanism, the assembly comprising

• a rotatable assembly shaft having a longitudinal axis,
• an output sprocket coupled to the assembly shaft for rotational movement about the longitudinal axis and relative to the assembly shaft,
• a friction cone coupled to the output sprocket to rotate therewith about the longitudinal axis,
• a cone housing positioned to extend around the friction cone and coupled to the assembly shaft for axial movement relative thereto and rotational movement therewith,
• a fixed hub formed to include a central aperture, the assembly shaft being positioned to extend through the central aperture and rotate relative to the fixed hub, and
• actuating means for camming against the fixed hub to urge the cone housing along the longitudinal axis into engagement with the friction cone so that the friction cone and the output sprocket rotate about the longitudinal axis during rotation of the assembly shaft and the cone housing about the longitudinal axis.

A clutch assembly for transmitting power from a drive shaft to a driven mechanism, the assembly comprising

• a rotatable assembly shaft having a longitudinal axis,
• a first clutch member coupled to the assembly shaft for rotational movement about the longitudinal axis and relative to the assembly shaft,
• a second clutch member coupled to the assembly shaft for axial movement relative thereto and rotational movement therewith and positioned to lie adjacent to the first clutch member, and
• actuating means for moving the second clutch member along the longitudinal axis into driving engagement with the first clutch member to cause the first clutch member to rotate about the longitudinal axis in response to rotation of the assembly shaft, the actuating means including a fixed hub mounted on the assembly shaft and fixed against rotation about the longitudinal axis, a movable hub mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis and positioned to lie between the fixed hub and the second clutch member, and camming means on the fixed and movable hubs for axially moving the movable hub along the longitudinal axis and away from the fixed hub to urge the second clutch member into driving engagement with the first clutch member, each of the fixed and movable hubs including a thrust bearing assembly, an annular base wall formed to include a central aperture receiving the assembly shaft therein, a bearing-retaining side wall appended to the annular base wall and arranged to surround the thrust bearing assembly, and a plurality of thin-walled ramp portions spaced about a circumferentially extending edge of the annular base wall and arranged to lie in coextensive relation to the side wall, each of the thin-walled ramp portions on the movable hub engaging one of the thin-walled ramp portions on the fixed hub to establish a camming relationship therebetween.