A method of producing a clutch disc of a friction clutch for a drive train of a motor vehicle, said clutch disc defining an axis of rotation and an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation, said clutch disc comprising:
- hub means, said hub means comprising:
- a hub portion for engaging shaft means of a transmission;
- and a hub disc disposed about said hub portion and extending radially from said hub portion, said hub disc having a first side and a second side facing away from one another;
- at least one cover plate disposed adjacent said hub disc, said at least one cover plate being rotationally mounted on said hub portion for relative rotational movement with respect to said hub disc;
- means for damping relative rotational movement between said hub disc and said at least one cover plate, said at least one cover plate having an axial dimension;
- said at least one cover plate comprising at least one opening therethrough at a position radially outward of said hub portion;
- said at least one opening comprising a first edge portion and a second edge portion, said first and second edge portions being spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction about the axis of rotation;
- the first edge portion comprising a first indentation;
- a portion of said first edge portion having an axial dimension, the axial dimension of said portion of said first edge portion being substantially greater than the axial dimension of said at least one cover plate substantially adjacent said portion of said first edge portion;
- said damping means being disposed in said at least one opening, said damping means having a first end disposed adjacent said first edge portion of said at least one opening and a second end disposed adjacent said second edge portion of said at least one opening;
- and said first indentation comprising means for permitting substantially radial movement of said first end of said damping means within said at least one opening, said substantially radial movement being in a direction substantially radial with respect to the axis of rotation, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing hub means, said step of providing said hub means further comprising:
- providing a hub portion for engaging shaft means of a transmission;
- and
- providing a hub disc, said hub disc having a first side and a second side facing away from one another;
- providing at least one cover plate disposed adjacent said hub disc;
- providing means for damping relative rotational movement between said hub disc and said at least one cover plate, said means for damping having a first end and a second end;
- said method further comprising the steps of:
- disposing said hub disc about said hub portion;
- extending said hub disc radially from said hub portion;
- disposing said at least one cover plate adjacent said hub disc and rotationally mounting said at least one cover plate on said hub portion for relative rotational movement with respect to said hub disc;
- forming at least one opening in said at least one cover plate at a position radially outward of said hub portion;
- configuring said at least one opening to have a first edge portion and a second edge portion;
- disposing said first and second edge portions in a spaced apart manner from one another in a circumferential direction about the axis of rotation;
- forming a first indentation in said first edge portion;
- configuring said first indentation to permit substantially radial movement of said first end of said damping means within said at least one opening;
- configuring a portion of said first edge portion to have an axial dimension substantially greater than the axial dimension of said at least one cover plate substantially adjacent said portion of said first edge portion;
- disposing said damping means in said at least one opening;
- disposing said first end of said damping means adjacent said first edge portion of said at least one opening and disposing said second end of said damping means adjacent said second edge portion of said at least one opening;
- and
- permitting substantially radial movement of said first end of said damping means within said at least one opening, said substantially radial movement being in a direction substantially radial with respect to the axis of rotation.