Flywheel and clutch system for a motor vehicle

A transmission system for a motor vehicle, said transmission system comprising:

• a flywheel, said flywheel having a circumference and defining:
• an axis of rotation;
• and
• an axial direction parallel to said axis of rotation;
• said circumference of said flywheel being disposed substantially concentrically about said axis of rotation;
• a clutch pressure plate releasably fastened to said flywheel;
• a clutch disc;
• said clutch disc being disposed between said clutch pressure plate and said flywheel;
• said clutch disc comprising friction lining means;
• said clutch pressure plate being axially movable and for causing said clutch disc to engage and disengage with said flywheel;
• said friction lining means for contacting said clutch pressure plate and said flywheel during engagement of said clutch disc with said flywheel;
• a clutch housing disposed adjacent said clutch pressure plate and being releasably attached to said flywheel;
• said flywheel having a disk-like portion extending substantially from said axis of rotation to said circumference;
• said flywheel comprising:
• wall means extending from said circumference of said flywheel, said wall means being oriented substantially parallel to said axis of rotation;
• said wall means having a first end and a second end, said first end of said wall means being disposed adjacent said disk-like portion and said second end of said wall means being disposed away from said disk-like portion;
• said flywheel further comprises:
• at least one lug means extending inwardly from said second end of said wall means towards said axis or rotation and in a direction substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation;
• one of:
• said clutch disc and said friction lining means having an outer perimeter disposed radially away from said axis of rotation;
• said outer perimeter having a maximum radial dimension and a minimum radial dimension, said outer perimeter being configured to vary between said maximum radial dimension and said minimum radial dimension, said minimum radial dimension being substantially less than said maximum radial dimension;
• said maximum radial dimension being disposed radially inwardly from said wall means to define a first radial clearance between said maximum radial dimension and said wall means;
• said flywheel further comprising fastening means;
• and
• said at least one lug means comprising means for receiving said fastening means, said fastening means being disposed in said receiving means for fastening said clutch housing to said flywheel.

A method of assembling a manual transmission for a motor vehicle, the manual transmission comprising:

• a flywheel having a circumference and defining:
• an axis of rotation;
• and an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation, the circumference of the flywheel being disposed substantially concentrically about the axis of rotation;
• a clutch pressure plate releasably fastened to the flywheel;
• a clutch disc;
• the clutch disc being disposed between the clutch pressure plate and the flywheel;
• the clutch disc comprising friction lining means;
• the clutch pressure plate being axially movable and for causing the clutch disc to engage and disengage with the flywheel;
• the friction lining means for contacting the clutch pressure plate and the flywheel during engagement of the clutch disc;
• a clutch housing disposed adjacent the clutch pressure plate and being releasably attached to the flywheel;
• the flywheel having a disk-like portion extending substantially from the axis of rotation to the circumference;
• the flywheel comprising:
• wall means extending from the circumference of the flywheel, the wall means being oriented substantially parallel to the axis of rotation;
• the wall means having a first end and a second end;
• the first end of the wall means being disposed adjacent the disk-like portion and the second end of the wall means being disposed away from the disk-like portion;
• at least one lug means extending inwardly from the second end of the wall means toward the axis of rotation and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation;
• one of:
• the clutch disc and the friction lining means having an outer perimeter disposed radially away from the axis of rotation;
• the outer perimeter has a maximum radial dimension and a minimum radial dimension, the outer perimeter being configured to vary between the maximum radial dimension and the minimum radial dimension, the minimum radial dimension being substantially less than the maximum radial dimension;
• said method comprising the steps of:
• providing a flywheel having a circumference and defining an axis of rotation and an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation, the circumference of the flywheel being disposed concentrically about the axis of rotation;
• providing a clutch pressure plate;
• releasably fastening the clutch pressure plate to the flywheel;
• providing a clutch disc;
• disposing the clutch disc being between the clutch pressure plate and the flywheel;
• said step of providing the clutch disc comprising:
• providing friction lining means;
• configuring the friction lining means for contacting the clutch pressure plate and the flywheel during engagement of the clutch disc with the flywheel;
• configuring the clutch pressure plate to be axially movable, the clutch pressure plate for causing the clutch disc to engage and disengage with the flywheel;
• providing a clutch housing;
• disposing the clutch housing adjacent the clutch pressure plate and releasably attaching the clutch housing to the flywheel;
• configuring the flywheel to have a disk-like portion, the disk-like portion of the flywheel extending substantially from the axis of rotation to the circumference;
• said step of providing of the flywheel comprises:
• providing Wall means, the wall means extending from the circumference of the flywheel, the wall means being oriented substantially parallel to the axis of rotation;
• configuring the wall means to have a first end and a second end;
• disposing the first end of the wall means adjacent the disk-like portion and disposing the second end of the wall means away from the disk-like portion;
• providing at least one lug means;
• extending the at least one lug means inwardly from the second end of the wall means towards the axis of rotation and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation;
• configuring one of:
• the clutch disc and the friction lining means to have an outer perimeter, the outer perimeter being disposed radially away from the axis of rotation;
• configuring the outer perimeter to have a maximum radial dimension and a minimum radial dimension;
• configuring the outer perimeter to vary between the maximum radial dimension and the minimum radial dimension, the minimum radial dimension being substantially less than the maximum radial dimension;
• and
• aligning one of:
• the clutch disc and the friction lining means with the at least one lug means such that the minimum radial dimension is substantially aligned with the at least one lug means.