Friction clutch with low disengaging force

Friction clutch, having a clutch friction member (2) and a clutching mechanism having a cover (8) with a transversely oriented bottom (80) and fixing means (81) for fixing the clutching mechanism to a flywheel (1) driving in rotation, a thrust plate (3) having at the front a friction face (30) for cooperating with the clutch friction member (2), elastic tongues (9) for connecting the thrust plate (3) with the cover (8) with respect to rotation, with axial mobility, and, interposed between the back face (36) of the thrust plate (3) and the bottom (80) of the cover (8), on the one hand axially acting elastic clutching means (4, 60) axially forcing the thrust plate (8) in the opposite direction to the bottom (80) of the cover (8) and on the other hand a declutching device (7) for counteracting the action of the said elastic clutching means (4, 60) as required and moving the thrust plate in the direction of the bottom (80) of the cover (8) over a plate lifting distance, the clutching mechanism being equipped with a device for taking up wear (90) on at least one of the linings of the clutch friction member (2) and elastic assistance means (6, 40) for assisting the declutching force, elastic progressive action means (24) being mounted within the clutch friction member (2) and acting axially only on a travel of the thrust plate, characterised by the fact that the elastic assistance means (4) are mounted outside the clutch friction member (2) and the load/compression characteristic combining the load/compression characteristics of the elastic assistance (6, 40) and progressive action (24) means follows overall the load/compression characteristic of the axially acting elastic clutching means (4, 60).