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US 9,702,413 B2Granted
Friction clutch assembly
AssigneeClutch Industries Pty Ltd
InventorDamian Bibby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clutch plate including first and second plates with the first plate having a friction material applied about its peripheral edge. A hub for connection to an output shaft and having a hub flange. The first and second plates being angularly displaceable relative to each other and being coupled by at least two drive springs. A sleeve extends about a portion of each of the drive springs so that a portion of each of the drive springs extends out of the sleeve. The sleeve being interposed between a radially outer surface of the springs and a facing bearing surface formed by the plates. The arrangement is such that during compression of the springs, the springs are moveable within the sleeves relative to the sleeves and the sleeves are moveable relative to the bearing surface of the plates.
Claims15
A clutch plate including:
- a plate assembly comprising axially spaced first and second plates and having an annular periphery extending from the first plate to which an assembly of friction material is applied to face in each of opposite directions,
- a hub for connection to an output shaft,
- a hub flange positioned between the first and second plates and being drivable by the plate assembly to rotate,
- the hub being drivable to rotate by the hub flange,
- the plate assembly and the hub flange being angularly displaceable relative to each other and being coupled together by at least two drive springs, which are positioned equidistantly about the hub, the drive springs being formed by first and second curved compression springs which are arranged in series and which are separated by a straight spring of relatively short length compared to the first and second curved springs, the first and second curved springs being of substantially the same length and of a substantially constant radius of curvature and being mounted concentric about the hub so that the drive spring formed by the first and second curved springs and the straight spring is of substantially constant radius of curvature, each of the curved springs being of low torque relative to the straight spring, the drive springs being at least partly positioned between the first and second plates, each end of the drive springs being in engagement with an abutment of the hub flange and an abutment of the plate assembly, the drive springs applying a biasing load against relative angular displacement between the plate assembly and the hub flange,
- a sleeve extending about a portion of the length of each of the drive springs, the sleeve of each drive spring being formed in two sleeve portions of which a first sleeve portion is disposed about a portion of the length of the first curved spring and the second sleeve portion is disposed about a portion of the length of the second curved spring and whereby another portion of the length of each of the drive springs extends out of the sleeve, and the sleeve being interposed between a radially outer surface of the springs and a facing bearing surface formed by the plate assembly, the springs being movable within the sleeves relative to the sleeves and the sleeves being movable relative to the bearing surface of the plate assembly.
3 more elements
A clutch plate including:
- a plate assembly comprising axially spaced first and second plates and having an annular periphery extending from the first plate to which an assembly of friction material is applied to face in each of opposite directions,
- a hub for connection to an output shaft,
- a hub flange positioned between the first and second plates and being drivable by the plate assembly to rotate,
- the hub being drivable to rotate by the hub flange,
- the plate assembly and the hub flange being angularly displaceable relative to each other within a predetermined range and being coupled together by at least two drive springs, which are positioned equidistantly about the hub and which are mounted concentric about the hub and each drive spring being formed by a first curved compression spring and a second straight compression spring, whereby the straight spring is of relatively short length compared to the curved spring so that the drive springs formed by the curved spring and the straight spring are of substantially constant radius of curvature, and the curved spring being of low torque relative to the straight spring, the drive springs being at least partly positioned between the first and second plates, each end of the drive springs being in engagement with an abutment of the hub flange and an abutment of the plate assembly, the drive springs applying a biasing load against relative angular displacement between the plate assembly and the hub flange,
- a sleeve extending about a portion of the length of each of the drive springs so that a portion of each of the drive springs extends out of the sleeve, and the sleeve being interposed between a radially outer surface of the springs and a facing bearing surface formed by the plate assembly, the springs being movable within the sleeves relative to the sleeves and the sleeves being movable relative to the bearing surface of the plate assembly, and
- the sleeve of each drive spring including an inwardly extending projection which is located between facing ends of the curved spring and the straight spring to locate the sleeve and a portion of the curved spring extending out of the sleeve at the end of the sleeve remote from the straight spring.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.