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US 8,944,230 B2Granted
Separator spring for clutch plate separation and stabilization
AssigneeAllison Transmission, Inc.
InventorKevin A. Copeland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clutch assembly includes a plurality of reaction plates separated by one or more separator springs to maintain a distance between the reaction plates when the clutch is not activated.
Claims20
A clutch assembly comprising
- a plurality of friction plates,
- a plurality of reaction plates, at least one of the reaction plates interposed between the friction plates,
- an actuator configured to act on the reaction plates to urge the reaction plates together to engage the friction plates to transfer torque from the reaction plates to the friction plates, the plurality of friction plates and the plurality of reaction plates positioned between the actuator and a backing plate of the clutch assembly, and
- a separator spring coupled to the plurality of reaction plates, the separator spring including (i) a plurality of first portions, each of the first portions engaged with a different one of the plurality of reaction plates and comprising a clamp and a pair of grips coupled to the clamp, the grips engaging surfaces on opposite faces of a reaction plate, (ii) a plurality of second portions coupled to the first portions, the second portions biased to maintain a predetermined first distance between the first portions when the actuator is de-energized and deflectable to a second distance smaller than the first distance when the actuator is energized, (iii) a first tang that defines one end of the separator spring, the first tang engaged with a surface of the backing plate, and (iv) a second tang that defines an opposite end of the separator spring, the second tang engaged with one of the reaction plates.
1 more element
A separator spring for a clutch assembly including a plurality of reaction plates and a plurality of friction plates, the separator spring comprising
- a plurality of first portions, each of the first portions configured to engage one of the plurality of reaction plates and including a clamp and a pair of grips coupled to the clamp, the grips configured to engage surfaces on opposite faces of a reaction plate,
- a plurality of second portions, at least one of the second portions interposed between a pair of the first portions and coupled thereto, the second portions biased to maintain a predetermined first distance between the first portions when the clutch assembly is de-energized and the second portions deflectable to a second distance smaller than the first distance when the clutch assembly is energized,
- a first tab that defines one end of the separator spring, the first tab configured to engage a surface of a backing plate of the clutch assembly, and
- a second tab that defines an opposite end of the separator spring, the second tab configured to engage a housing of the clutch assembly.
1 more element
A clutch assembly comprising
- a plurality of friction plates,
- a plurality of reaction plates, at least one of the reaction plates interposed between the friction plates,
- an actuator configured to act on the reaction plates to urge the reaction plates together to engage the friction plates to transfer torque from the reaction plates to the friction plates, and
- a separator spring comprising (i) a plurality of first portions, each of the first portions configured to engage one of the plurality of reaction plates and including a clamp and a pair of grips coupled to the clamp, the grips engaging surfaces on opposite faces of a reaction plate, (ii) a plurality of second portions, at least one of the second portions interposed between a pair of the first portions and coupled thereto, the second portions biased to maintain a predetermined first distance between the first portions when the clutch assembly is de-energized and the second portions deflectable to a second distance smaller than the first when the clutch assembly is energized, and (iii) a first tab that defines one end of the separator spring, the first tab engaged with a surface of a backing plate of the clutch assembly.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.