# US 7,611,005 B2 · Clutch cover assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,611,005 B2 - Document ID: US7611005B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/604,752 - Filed: 2006-11-28 - Published: 2007-06-14 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2005-12-09 - Assignees: Exedy Corporation - Inventors: Norihisa Uenohara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611005B2 ## CPC - F16D 13/757: {the adjusting device being located on or inside the clutch cover, e.g. acting on the diaphragm or on the pressure plate} - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES ## Abstract It is an object of the present invention to shorten the axial dimension of the clutch cover assembly that includes a wear compensation mechanism and a low release load mechanism. A clutch cover assembly 1 includes a clutch cover 2, a pressure plate 3, a diaphragm spring 4, a first wear compensation mechanism 8, and a mechanism 30 to achieve low release load characteristic. The low release load characteristic achieving mechanism 30 is made of a support bolt 31, a holder 32, and a second adjust spring 39. The second adjust spring 39 is located on a side of the holder 32 near the friction member 53 in the axial direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A clutch cover assembly for pressing a friction member of a clutch disc assembly with a cushioning function against a flywheel of an engine and for releasing the pressing, comprising: a clutch cover being configured to be fixed to the flywheel; a pressure plate being non-rotatably fixed to said clutch cover to sandwich the friction member between the flywheel and itself; a diaphragm spring being supported by said clutch cover to urge said pressure plate toward the flywheel; a first wear compensation mechanism being configured to maintain a posture of said diaphragm spring in response to wear of the friction member; and a low release load mechanism having a first elastic member supported by said clutch cover to generate a load counteracting an urging force of said diaphragm spring during a release operation such that pressing load to said pressure plate is progressively decreased as displacement magnitude of said diaphragm spring is increased by the cushioning function of the friction member, and a second wear compensation mechanism being configured to maintain a posture of said first elastic member by returning said first elastic member to a posture before the wear in response to the wear of the friction member, said second wear compensation mechanism including a support member extending from said pressure plate toward said clutch cover, a support and engagement member being threadedly engaged with the outer circumference of said support member and being given a load in an axial direction away from the friction member from said first elastic member, and a second elastic member being configured to constantly apply torque to said support and engagement member so that said support and engagement member will rotate to move in an axial direction away from the friction member, said second elastic member being located on a side of said support and engagement member near the friction member in the axial direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The clutch cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second elastic member is located between said clutch cover and said pressure plate in the axial direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The clutch cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein said support and engagement member covers an end of said support member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The clutch cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein said support and engagement member includes a support and engagement member main body having a cylindrical shape that is threadedly engaged with the outer circumference of said support member, an annular engagement portion that is formed at one end of said support and engagement member main body and receives torque from said second elastic member, and a head that covers the other end of said support and engagement member main body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The clutch cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second wear compensation mechanism further includes a guide plate located between said support and engagement member and said second elastic member in the axial direction to restrict a radial position of one end of said second elastic member near said clutch cover in the axial direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The clutch cover assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a limit mechanism to limit a clutch release travel of said pressure plate, wherein said first wear compensation mechanism includes a fulcrum member that is located on said pressure plate to function as a fulcrum for said diaphragm spring, and an urging mechanism to urge said fulcrum member toward said diaphragm spring. ### Claim 7 A clutch cover assembly for pressing a friction member of a clutch disc assembly with a cushioning function against a flywheel of an engine and for releasing the pressing, comprising: a clutch cover being configured to be fixed to the flywheel; a pressure plate being non-rotatably fixed to said clutch cover to sandwich the friction member between the flywheel and itself; a diaphragm spring being supported by said clutch cover to urge said pressure plate toward the flywheel; a first wear compensation mechanism being configured to maintain a posture of said diaphragm spring in response to wear of the friction member; and a low release load mechanism having a first elastic member being supported by said clutch cover to generate a load counteracting an urging force of said diaphragm spring during a release operation such that pressing load to said pressure plate is progressively decreased as displacement magnitude of said diaphragm spring is increased by the cushioning function of the friction member, and a second wear compensation mechanism being configured to maintain a posture of said first elastic member by returning said first elastic member to a posture before the wear in response to the wear of the friction member, said second wear compensation mechanism including a support member extending from said pressure plate toward said clutch cover, a support and engagement member being threadedly engaged with the outer circumference of said support member and being given a load in an axial direction away from the friction member from said first elastic member, and a second elastic member being configured to constantly apply torque to said support and engagement member so that said support and engagement member will rotate to move in an axial direction away from the friction member, said second elastic member being located between said clutch cover and said pressure plate in the axial direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The clutch cover assembly according to claim 7, wherein said support and engagement member covers an end of said support member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The clutch cover assembly according to claim 7, wherein said support and engagement member includes a support and engagement member main body having a cylindrical shape that is threadedly engaged with the outer circumference of said support member, an annular engagement portion that is formed at one end of said support and engagement member main body and receives torque from said second elastic member, and a head that covers the other end of said support and engagement member main body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The clutch cover assembly according to claim 7, wherein said second wear compensation mechanism further includes a guide plate located between said support and engagement member and said second elastic member in the axial direction to restrict a radial position of one end of said second elastic member near said clutch cover in the axial direction. ### Claim 11 The clutch cover assembly for pressing a friction member of a clutch disc assembly with a cushioning function against a flywheel of an engine and for releasing the pressing, comprising: a clutch cover being configured to be fixed to the flywheel; a pressure plate being non-rotatably fixed to said clutch cover to sandwich the friction member between the flywheel and itself; a diaphragm spring being supported by said clutch cover to urge said pressure plate toward the flywheel; a first wear compensation mechanism being configured to maintain a posture of said diaphragm spring in response to wear of the friction member; and a low release load mechanism having a first elastic member supported by said clutch cover to generate a load counteracting an urging force of said diaphragm spring during a release operation such that pressing load to said pressure plate is progressively decreased as displacement magnitude of said diaphragm spring is increased by the cushioning function of the friction member, a second wear compensation mechanism being configured to maintain a posture of said first elastic member by returning said first elastic member to a posture before the wear in response to the wear of the friction member, said second wear compensation mechanism including a support member extending from said pressure plate toward said clutch cover, and a support and engagement member being threadedly engaged with the outer circumference of said support member and being given a load in an axial direction away from the friction member from said first elastic member, and a second elastic member being configured to constantly apply torque to said support and engagement member so that said support and engagement member will rotate to move in an axial direction away from the friction member, said support and engagement member covering an end of said support member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The clutch cover assembly according to claim 11, wherein said support and engagement member includes a support and engagement member main body having a cylindrical shape that is threadedly engaged with the outer circumference of said support member, an annular engagement portion that is formed at one end of said support and engagement member main body and receives torque from said second elastic member, and a head that covers the other end of said support and engagement member main body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The clutch cover assembly according to claim 12, wherein axial cross section of said head has a polygonal shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The clutch cover assembly according to claim 13, wherein said second wear compensation mechanism further includes a guide plate located between said support and engagement member and said second elastic member in the axial direction to restrict a radial position of one end of said second elastic member near said clutch cover in the axial direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The clutch cover assembly according to claim 14, further comprising a limit mechanism to limit a clutch release travel of said pressure plate, wherein said first wear compensation mechanism includes a fulcrum member that is located on said pressure plate to function as a fulcrum for said diaphragm spring, and an urging mechanism to urge said fulcrum member toward said diaphragm spring. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The clutch cover assembly according to claim 15, wherein said limit mechanism is located in said low release load mechanism. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The clutch cover assembly according to claim 16, wherein said limit mechanism includes a limit member that is fixed to said clutch cover to limit the movement of said pressure plate in an axial direction opposite the friction member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The clutch cover assembly according to claim 17, wherein said limit member is located on a side of at least one of said support and engagement member and said first elastic member opposite the friction member in the axial direction for an axial contact therewith. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The clutch cover assembly according to claim 17, wherein said limit member is located on a side of said pressure plate opposite the friction member in the axial direction for an axial contact therewith. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The clutch cover assembly according to claim 11, wherein said second wear compensation mechanism further includes a guide plate located between said support and engagement member and said second elastic member in the axial direction to restrict a radial position of one end of said second elastic member near said clutch cover in the axial direction.