US 5,960,920 A · Wear compensating friction clutch

Abstract

A wear adjusting arrangement compensates for the wear of a clutch disc that is interposed axially between, and communicates frictionally with, a pressure plate and a flywheel of a vehicle. The pressure plate is urged by a diaphragm spring toward the clutch disc and the flywheel, and is pivotable about a fulcrum ring. The axial relationship of the fulcrum ring with respect to the pressure plate varies as the clutch disc wears. A fulcrum support element which is axially displaceable with respect to the pressure plate supports the fulcrum ring in fixed relation thereto. The arrangement also includes a bias actuator mechanism that communicates mechanically with the fulcrum support element. The bias actuator mechanism establishes an axially spatial relationship between the fulcrum support element and the pressure plate. The arrangement additionally includes a resilient biasing element arranged in communication with the fulcrum support element for applying a resilient biasing force to the fulcrum support element. The application of a force to the fulcrum support element which exceeds the resilient biasing force causes the bias actuator mechanism to be released whereby a predetermined axial relationship is established between the fulcrum support element and the pressure plate.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An arrangement for adjusting for wear of a clutch disc for a vehicle, the arrangement being of the type wherein the clutch disc is interposed axially between, and communicates frictionally with, a pressure plate and a flywheel of the vehicle, the pressure plate being urged by a diaphragm spring toward the clutch disc and the flywheel, the diaphragm spring being pivotable about a fulcrum ring having an axial relationship with respect to the pressure plate that varies as the clutch disc wears, the arrangement comprising:

a fulcrum support plate for supporting the fulcrum ring in fixed relation thereto as an axial force is applied to the fulcrum ring, said fulcrum support plate being axially displaceable with respect to the pressure plate;
bias actuator means arranged to communicate with said fulcrum support plate for establishing an axially spatial relationship between said fulcrum support plate and the pressure plate;
and
resilient biasing means arranged to communicate directly with said fulcrum support plate for applying a resilient biasing force to said fulcrum support plate whereby when the axial force applied to said fulcrum support plate exceeds the resilient biasing force, said bias actuator means is released whereby a predetermined axial relationship between said fulcrum support plate and the pressure plate is established.

1 more element

A friction clutch comprising:

a cover;
a pressure plate non-rotatably connected to said cover, a flywheel arranged parallel to said pressure plate;
a fulcrum ring assembly disposed between said pressure plate and said cover;
a diaphragm spring supported by said fulcrum ring assembly, said diaphragm spring being flexible between an engaged position and a disengaged position, said diaphragm spring requiring a release force to flex between the engaged and disengaged positions;
a torque transmitting clutch disc disposed between said pressure plate and said flywheel, said disc having friction surfaces that frictionally communicate with said pressure plate and said flywheel when said diaphragm spring is in the engaged position, the friction surfaces being subject to wear as a result of cumulative frictional communications with said pressure plate and said flywheel;
adjustment means for compensating for an increase in said diaphragm spring release force, said adjustment means being disposed between said fulcrum ring assembly and said cover, said adjustment means having a fulcrum support portion for communicating axially sequentially with said fulcrum ring assembly and being adapted to receive an actuating force from said diaphragm spring through said fulcrum ring assembly, and upon receiving the actuating force said adjustment means provides clutch adjustment by moving said fulcrum ring assembly relative to said cover;
and
resilient biasing means for actuating said adjustment means, said resilient biasing means being arranged to communicate with said fulcrum support portion of said adjustment means, said resilient biasing means being resiliently flexible between a first position and a second position at which said resilient biasing means transfers the actuating force from said diaphragm spring to said adjustment means, said resilient biasing means moving from the first position to the second position when the release force is greater than a predetermined release force.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wear compensating friction clutch

Life of this patent

Wear compensating friction clutch

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21