Transmission clutch assembly fixture
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorFrank Loscher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fixture to align the inner splines of a plurality of clutch plates within a clutch housing assembly, the fixture including: a central body; a first fixed finger rigidly attached to a first fixed portion of the central body; and a first movable finger rigidly attached to a first movable portion of the central body. The first movable finger oscillates back and forth relative to the first fixed finger, to assist the alignment of the plurality of clutch plates within the clutch housing assembly. The fixture also centers and locks the plurality of clutch plates in the correct alignment position.
Claims15
A fixture for alignment of a plurality of splined plates within an assembly, the fixture comprising:
- a central body;
- a first fixed finger integrally formed with or rigidly attached to a first fixed portion of said central body;
- a first movable finger integrally formed with or rigidly attached to a first movable portion of said central body;
- wherein said first movable finger is free to oscillate back and forth relative to said first fixed finger to assist the alignment of said plurality of splined plates within said assembly;
- and
- wherein said first movable portion is attached to said first fixed portion through at least one bearing joint.
A method of aligning a plurality of clutch plates within a clutch housing assembly, comprising:
- placing said clutch housing assembly onto a fixture, wherein said fixture includes:
- a central body;
- a first fixed finger mounted or integrally formed on a first fixed portion of said central body;
- a first movable finger mounted or integrally formed on a first movable portion of said central body;
- wherein said clutch housing assembly includes:
- a first set of clutch plates with a plurality of plates having first inner spline teeth;
- and
- a second set of clutch plates with a plurality of plates having second inner spline teeth;
- descending said first set of clutch plates by gravity through a first tapered section of said first movable and said first fixed fingers into a first straight section;
- descending said second set of clutch plates by gravity through a second tapered section of said first movable and said first fixed fingers into a second straight section;
- and
- oscillating said first movable finger back and forth with respect to said first fixed finger to allow said first and said second inner spline teeth of said first set and said second set of clutch plates to locate and register around a first protrusion and a second protrusion, respectively, on said first movable and first fixed fingers.
A fixture for alignment of a plurality of clutch plates within a clutch housing assembly, the fixture comprising:
- a central body;
- first, second and third fixed fingers integrally formed or mounted to a first, second and third fixed portion, respectively, of said central body;
- first, second and third movable fingers integrally formed or mounted to a first, second and third movable portion, respectively, of said central body;
- wherein said first, said second and said third movable fingers are free to oscillate back and forth relative to said first, said second and said third fixed fingers to assist the alignment of said plurality of clutch plates within said clutch housing assembly;
- and
- wherein said clutch housing assembly includes a first set of clutch plates having first inner spline teeth and a second set of clutch plates having second inner spline teeth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.