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US 8,297,425 B1Granted
Motorcycle clutch having a reduced clutch spring load
AssigneeAdvanced Innovational Machinery Corporation
InventorPhilip S. le Roux
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motorcycle clutch utilizes a reduced clutch spring load with a corresponding reduction in lever effort by an operator to disengage the clutch. At higher speeds, and hence engine torque, the clutch clamp load increases by means of a centrifugal mechanism, supplementing the clamp load provided by the clutch springs, until a predetermined speed level is reached, at which point the centrifugal load is limited, and remains almost constant at all engine speed levels above the predetermined level.
Claims8
A motorcycle clutch for reducing clutch spring load at higher engine speed levels, said clutch comprising:
- a clutch-driven member;
- a clutch-drive member;
- clutch plates disposed within said clutch-drive member;
- a pressure plate;
- a clutch spring for biasing said pressure plate into engagement with said clutch plates, to thereby engage said clutch-drive member and said clutch-driven member;
- a clutch-actuating member for disengaging said pressure plate from said clutch plates, to thereby disengage the clutch-drive member and the clutch-driven member;
- a captive spring disposed in said pressure plate;
- a lever pivotally mounted on said pressure plate;
- and
- a retaining plate;
- wherein at a first engine speed level, the lever begins to pivot as a result of applied centrifugal forces and at a second higher engine speed level, the lever exerts forces on said captive spring which exceed its spring preload force, thereby depressing the captive spring until a portion of the lever contacts said retaining plate.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.