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US 5,881,856 AGranted
Clutch drum and method of manufacture
AssigneeKoppy Corporation
InventorRonald E. Prater
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clutch drum is formed from a single piece of material. The clutch drum includes an inner surface having a plurality of spline portions interspersed with inner wall spaces. Each spline portion includes at least one slot to form at least one snap ring groove within the clutch drum. The outer surface of the clutch drum is smooth and continuous and adapted to receive a brake band. The clutch drum does not include any perforations or breaks through the single piece of material forming the cylindrical portion of the clutch drum.
Claims12
A clutch drum, comprising:
- a cylindrical wall portion formed from a single piece of material including an inner surface and an outer surface that receives a brake band and having an unbroken, continuous outer diameter along an axial length of said wall portion;
- a plurality of spline portions formed on said cylindrical wall portion and protruding radially inward toward a center of said wall portion, said spline portions being spaced along said inner surface such that a plurality of inner wall spaces are interspersed among said spline portions, said inner wall spaces being at a first inner diameter and an inward face on said spline portions being at a second inner diameter that is smaller than said first inner diameter;
- and
- wherein said spline portions each include a slot extending arcuately across said spline portions to thereby form a snap ring groove along the inner surface of said cylindrical wall.
1 more element
A clutch assembly, comprising:
- a housing;
- a clutch drum that is received within said housing, said clutch drum including a cylindrical wall portion formed from a single piece of material including an inner surface and an outer surface having an unbroken, continuous outer diameter along an axial length of said wall portion, a plurality of spline portions formed on said cylindrical wall portion and protruding radially inward toward a center of said wall portion, said spline portions being spaced along said inner surface such that a plurality of inner wall spaces are interspersed among said spline portions, said inner wall spaces being at a first inner diameter and an inward face on said spline portions being at a second inner diameter that is smaller than said first inner diameter, said spline portions each including a slot extending arcuately across said spline portions to thereby form a snap ring groove along the inner surface of said cylindrical wall;
- and
- a brake band engaging said outer surface of said clutch drum.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.