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US 6,533,056 B1Granted
Motorcycle automatic clutch with manual release
OwnerBud A. Maimoneinventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerBud A. Maimoneinventor
Estimating the term…
A motorcycle clutch having a drive portion including a clutch basket assembly, and a driven portion including a clutch hub. A plurality of drive clutch plates are driven by the clutch basket assembly and a plurality of driven clutch plates are driven by the clutch hub. A pressure plate is coupled for rotation with the drive portion and is capable of axial movement from at least a first position to a second position. A release plate is capable of axial movement from at least a first position to a second position. The pressure plate and release plate are arranged on opposing sides of an alternating arrangement of the frictional and metal clutch plates. A plurality of engagement balls are placed between the clutch basket assembly and the pressure plate. The clutch basket assembly includes a plurality of ramped surfaces configured such that radial movement of the engagement balls results in axial movement of the pressure plate from its second position to its first position to automatically engage the clutch. The release plate is movable between a first and second position to manually disengage the clutch.
A motorcycle clutch assembly, comprising:
A motorcycle comprising a frame, an engine connected to said frame and having an engine output shaft, a transmission fixed relative to said engine and having a transmission input shaft, a clutch comprising a clutch basket coupled for rotation with said engine output shaft, a clutch hub coupled for rotation with said transmission input shaft, a pressure plate coupled for rotation with said clutch basket, a release plate coupled for rotation with said clutch hub, and a plurality of clutch plates configured to couple said clutch basket and said clutch hub when frictionally engaged, said plurality of clutch plates disposed between said pressure plate and said release plate, said pressure plate having at least a first position above a predetermined engine speed of said engine and a second position below said predetermined speed, said release plate having at least a first and second position, wherein said plurality of clutch plates are capable of relative rotation when said pressure plate is in said second position, wherein said plurality of clutch plates are frictionally engaged when said pressure plate is in said first position and said release plate is in said first position, and wherein said plurality of clutch plates are capable of relative rotation when said pressure plate is in said first position and said release plate is in said second position.
A motorcycle comprising a frame, an engine connected to said frame and having an engine output shaft, a transmission fixed relative to said engine and having a transmission input shaft, a clutch having a drive portion and a driven portion, said drive portion coupled for rotation with said engine output shaft, said driven portion coupled for rotation with said transmission input shaft, said clutch having a first mode wherein said drive portion and said driven portion are not coupled when said engine is below a predetermined engine speed, said clutch having a second mode wherein said drive portion and said driven portion are coupled when said engine is at, or above, said predetermined engine speed, and said clutch having a third mode wherein said drive portion and said driven portion are not coupled when said engine is at, or above, said predetermined engine speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.