Dry clutch having solid lubricant friction stabilization inserts

A selectively engageable dry friction clutch assembly for connecting a vehicle transmission with a flywheel of an engine comprising:

• a cover having a main body axially spaced from said flywheel and being torsionally connected thereto;
• an axially movable metallic pressure plate torsionally connected with said cover, said pressure plate mounting an annular shaped pressure plate polymeric member;
• a friction disc for having torsional connection with an input shaft of a transmission, said friction disc being axially positioned between said flywheel and said pressure plate;
• a release assembly including a spring retainer biased by a plurality of coiled springs for urging said pressure plate toward said flywheel, said coiled springs being captured between said spring retainer and said cover, said spring retainer having a peripheral groove with an annular shaped spring retainer polymeric member positioned therein;
• and
• at least three metallic levers, each said lever having a radially inner first sliding pivot engagement with said spring retainer polymeric member, an intermediate second sliding pivot engagement on said pressure plate polymeric member, and a third pivot engagement with respect to said cover.

A selectively engageable dry friction clutch assembly for connecting a truck vehicle transmission with a flywheel of an engine comprising:

• a cover having a main body axially spaced from said flywheel and being torsionally connected thereto;
• an axially movable metallic pressure plate assembly torsionally connected with said cover and having an annular groove;
• an annular shaped pressure plate polymeric member mounted within said pressure plate annular groove having a thermal radial clearance therewith;
• first and second friction discs for having torsional connection with an input shaft of a transmission, said friction discs being axially positioned between said flywheel and said pressure plate;
• an axially movable intermediate plate juxtaposing said friction disc being torsionally connected with respect to said cover;
• a release assembly including a spring retainer biased by a plurality of coil springs for urging said pressure plate toward said flywheel, said coil springs being captured between said spring retainer and said cover, said spring retainer having peripheral groove;
• an annular shaped spring retainer polymeric member positioned within said spring retainer peripheral groove, said spring retainer polymeric member being mounted with a thermal radial clearance within said spring retainer groove and wherein said spring retainer polymeric member is axially positioned within said spring retainer peripheral groove to provide an axial clearance on a portion of said peripheral groove most adjacent to said pressure plate;
• and
• at least five metallic levers, each said lever having a radially inner first sliding pivoting engagement with said spring retainer polymeric member and having an extreme end extending within said axial clearance of said spring retainer annular groove, each said metallic lever having an intermediate second sliding pivot engagement on a surface provided by said pressure plate polymeric member, and each said lever having a third pivot engagement with respect to said cover.