Clutch cover assembly having a wear compensation device

A clutch cover assembly, comprising:

• a dish shaped clutch cover attached to a flywheel;
• a disk shaped pressure plate disposed within and attached to said clutch cover for rotation therewith and for limited axial displacement with respect to said clutch cover, formed with a friction surface engageable with a clutch disk disposed between said pressure plate and the flywheel, and an annular stepped portion formed opposite from said friction surface;
• a spring member disposed in said clutch cover between said pressure plate and said clutch cover biased to urge said pressure plate into engagement with the clutch disk;
• a clutch disk wear compensation device at least partially disposed in said annular stepped portion between said pressure plate and said spring member, said wear compensation device including a plurality, of wedge members spring biased into engagement with one another and a ring plate disposed in said annular stepped portion configured to synchronize generally uniform movement of said wedge members in response to clutch disk wear;
• wherein said ring plate is formed with at least one protrusion, and said wear compensation device further comprises a coil spring coupled to said protrusion which contacts at least one wedge member urging said ring plate to rotate within said annular stepped portion.

A clutch cover assembly coupled to an output rotation member, for engaging and disengaging a friction member to and from an input rotation member, comprising:

• a dish shaped clutch cover fixed externally about the input rotation member;
• a disc shaped pressure plate disposed within said clutch cover having a pressing surface in contact with one side of a friction member;
• a support mechanism disposed opposite the pressing surface side of said pressure plate being non-rotatable with respect to said pressure plate and movable in an axial direction;
• a diaphragm spring urging said pressure plate toward the input rotation member via said support member;
• a plurality, of wear compensation mechanisms, disposed at various areas on said pressure plate, move said support mechanism away from said pressure plate and toward the diaphragm spring in response to the amount of wear on said friction member;
• a coincidence control device for simultaneously moving each one of said wear compensation devices;
• wherein said compensation devices contact a portion of said support member, and each include a transfer member for moving said support member, an urging member for urging said transfer member in a transfer direction;
• said coincidence control device is a connection member for moving said transfer members simultaneously;
• wherein said transfer members are disposed in circular fashion and said connection member is a ring-shaped plate fixed to the transfer members;
• wherein a portion of said ring-shaped plate is cut out, and has a plurality of support portions extending in a direction of a circumference about a central axis of said pressure plate;
• and
• said urging member is supported by said support mechanism, and is a spring for urging said transfer members in the transfer direction.

A clutch cover assembly, coupled to an output rotation member, for engaging and disengaging a friction member to and from an input rotation member, comprising:

• a dish shaped clutch cover fixed externally about the input rotation member;
• a disc shaped pressure plate disposed within said clutch cover, having a pressing surface in contact with one side of a friction member;
• a support mechanism disposed opposite the pressing surface side of said pressure plate being non-rotatable with respect to said pressure plate and movable in an axial direction;
• a diaphragm spring urging said pressure plate toward the input rotation member via said support member;
• a plurality, of wear compensation mechanisms, disposed at various areas on said pressure plate, move slid support mechanism away from said pressure plate and toward the diaphragm spring in response to the amount of wear on said friction member;
• a coincidence control device for simultaneously moving each one of said wear compensation devices;
• wherein said compensation devices contact a portion of said support member, and each include a transfer member for moving said support member, an urging member for urging said transfer member in a transfer direction;
• said coincidence control device is a connection member for moving said transfer members simultaneously;
• and
• wherein said support mechanism has a disc shaped metal plate disposed to cover the outer perimeter of said pressure plate, a plurality of cam members fixed to the pressure plate side of said metal plate, and a disc shaped support member disposed on the diaphragm spring side of said metal plate and has protruding portions in contact with said diaphragm spring.