Dual clutch pack dual operating clutch and method for adjusting same

A method for adjusting a clutch for use within a fluid tight housing wherein the clutch comprises first and second independently actuatable clutch portions each having radially concentric first and second clutch packs respectively, one of said first and second clutch packs being an outer clutch pack having a larger inside diameter than an outside diameter of the other of said first and second clutch packs, said other clutch pack being an inner clutch pack,

• a) said first clutch portion clutch pack including:
• i) a first clutch pack first series of coaxial friction plates engaged with a first drive ring and being axially movable in relation thereto, said first drive ring forming at least a portion of an outer support housing for the clutch, and being directly or indirectly connectable to the drive shaft of an engine;
• and
• ii) a first clutch pack second series of coaxial friction plates engaged with a first driven ring and being axially movable in relation thereto, said driven ring being directly or indirectly connectable to a first input shaft to a transmission,
• the friction plates of the first clutch pack second series of friction plates being in alternating relationship and coaxial with the friction plates of the first clutch pack first series of friction plates to form a friction plate set, the friction plates of the first series being normally in a spaced relationship with the friction plates of the second series such that there is an average gap of from about 0.05 to about 0.25 mm between adjacent friction plates,
• said friction plates being movable toward each other along their respective drive and driven rings so as to engage each other on friction surfaces of the friction plates of the first clutch pack so as to enable the transfer of torque from the drive ring to the driven ring without significant slippage between adjacent friction plates;
• and
• first mechanical apparatus provided to move said friction plates toward each other;
• and
• said second clutch pack comprising:
• i) a second clutch pack first series of coaxial friction plates engaged with a second drive ring and being axially movable in relation thereto, said second drive ring being directly or indirectly connectable to the drive shaft of an engine;
• and
• ii) a second clutch pack second series of coaxial friction plates engaged with a second driven ring and being axially movable in relation thereto, said second driven ring being directly or indirectly connectable to a second input shaft to a transmission,
• the friction plates of the second clutch pack second series of friction plates being in alternating relationship and coaxial with the friction plates of the second clutch pack first series of friction plates to form a friction plate set, the friction plates of the second clutch pack first series being normally in a spaced relationship with the friction plates of the second clutch pack second series such that there is an average gap of from about 0.05 to about 0.25 mm between adjacent friction plates,
• said friction plates of said second clutch pack being movable toward each other along their respective drive and driven rings so as to engage each other on their surfaces so as to enable the transfer of torque from the second drive ring to the second driven ring without significant slippage between adjacent friction plates;
• and
• second mechanical apparatus provided to move said second clutch pack friction plates toward each other;
• wherein the first clutch portion is an outer clutch portion having an outer fulcrum that reacts against an outer lever spring and the outer fulcrum directly or indirectly transmits applied force to the outer clutch pack to engage the outer clutch pack friction surfaces, as a result of pressure applied to the fulcrum by the outer lever spring;
• wherein the second clutch portion is an inner clutch portion has an inner fulcrum that reacts against an inner lever spring and the inner fulcrum directly or indirectly transmits applied force to the inner clutch pack to engage the inner clutch pack friction surfaces, as a result of pressure applied to the inner fulcrum by the inner lever spring and the clutch is provided with a main clutch bearing permitting clutch rotation;
• and
• wherein the clutch is provided with a main clutch bearing permitting clutch rotation;
• said method comprising:
• adjusting tolerance from the main clutch bearing to a touch point between the outer fulcrum and the outer lever spring to permit an average normally open spacing between friction surfaces of between about 0.05 and about 0.25 mm and to permit sufficient pressure on the friction surfaces during engagement to prevent significant slippage during torque transfer;
• and
• adjusting tolerance from the main clutch bearing to an inner touch point between the inner fulcrum and the inner lever spring to permit an average normally open spacing between inner friction surfaces of between about 0.05 and about 0.25 mm and to permit sufficient pressure on the friction surfaces during engagement to prevent significant slippage during torque transfer.