Self-adjusting clutch

Abstract

A friction clutch wherein a rotary housing supports a tiltable diaphragm spring and confines a pressure plate that is axially movably but non-rotatably mounted therein for movement toward and away from friction linings on a clutch disc between the pressure plate and a prime-mover-driven counterpressure plate. The diaphragm spring is arranged to urge the pressure plate in a direction to engage the clutch and is maintained in stressed condition within the housing, even when not installed in the power train of a motor vehicle. The diaphragm spring is installed so that it is operatively associated with the pressure plate in an elastically stressed condition. The pressure plate includes an annular portion that supports the diaphragm spring, and further supports a biasing arrangement that is radially offset relative to the supporting portion and that serves to maintain the diaphragm spring on the pressure plate in the resiliently stressed condition.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.