Clutch disc with resiliently deformable damping web and method of manufacturing same

A clutch comprising:

• a pressure plate selectively movable along an axis of the clutch, the pressure plate being connected to a driving member for mutual rotation therewith;
• and a friction disc connected to a driven member for mutual rotation therewith, the friction disc comprising:
• a plate having a forward facing plate surface, a rearward facing plate surface opposite said forward facing plate surface, an inward facing plate surface, and an outward facing plate surface opposite said inward facing plate surface, at least one of the forward facing plate surface and the rearward facing plate surface being configured to operatively engage the pressure plate for mutual rotation with the driving member, the inward facing plate surface having a cantilevered plate lug protruding radially inwardly from the inward facing plate surface to a free end defining an innermost radius of the plate;
• a hub having an inward facing hub surface, an outward facing hub surface opposite said inward facing hub surface, and opposite axially facing hub surfaces, the inward facing hub surface being rotationally fixed to the driven member for mutual rotation therewith, the outward facing hub surface having a cantilevered hub lug protruding radially outwardly from the outward facing hub surface to a free end said hub lug having a thickness measured between opposite axially facing hub lug surfaces and a width measured orthogonal to the axial thickness, said axial thickness being less than said width;
• and a damping web covering at least part of at least one of the opposite axially facing hub surfaces of the hub and connecting the plate to the hub to transmit torque between the plate and the hub to thereby rotate the plate and the hub mutually, the damping web comprising a resiliently deformable material that limits transmission of shock between the plate and the hub, the damping web including an inner portion having an inner surface and an outer portion having an outer surface, the outer surface of the damping web having an outer recess extending into the outer portion receiving the radially inwardly extending plate lug therein thereby inhibiting circumferential movement of the outer surface of the damping web relative to the plate, the inner surface of the damping web having an inner recess extending into the inner portion receiving the radially outwardly extending hub lug therein thereby inhibiting circumferential movement of the inner surface of the damping web relative to the hub, wherein the outer recess of the damping web has a minimum radius and the inner recess of the damping web has a maximum radius that is less than the minimum radius of the outer recess.

A friction disc for use in a clutch assembly, the friction disc comprising:

• a plate having a forward facing plate surface, a rearward facing plate surface opposite said forward facing plate surface, an inward facing plate surface, and an outward facing plate surface opposite said inward facing plate surface, at least one of the forward facing plate surface and the rearward facing plate surface being configured to operatively engage a rotatable driving member for mutual rotation therewith, the inward facing plate surface having a cantilevered plate lug protruding radially inwardly therefrom to a free end, the plate lug having a width extending between opposite circumferential ends and a radial height less than the width, each of said opposite circumferential ends extending along a straight line;
• a hub having opposite axially facing hub surfaces, an inward facing hub surface, and an outward facing hub surface opposite said inward facing hub surface, the inward facing hub surface being configured to operatively engage a driven member for mutual rotation therewith;
• and
• a damping web covering at least part of at least one of the opposite axially facing hub surfaces of the hub and connecting the plate to the hub to transmit torque between the hub to thereby rotate the plate and the hub damping web comprising a resiliently deformable least one of the and connecting the plate and the hub to thereby rotate the plate and the hub mutually, the damping web comprising a resiliently deformable material that limits transmission of shock between the plate and the hub, the damping web including an inner portion having an inner surface and an outer portion having an outer surface, the outer surface of the damping web having an outer recess extending into the outer portion receiving the radially inwardly extending plate lug therein thereby inhibiting circumferential movement of the outer surface of the damping web relative to the plate, the inner surface of the damping web receiving a portion of the hub to inhibit circumferential movement of the inner surface of the damping web relative to the hub, wherein the inner surface of the inner portion has a maximum radius and the outer surface of the outer portion has a minimum radius that is greater than the maximum radius of the inner surface of the inner portion.

A friction disc for use in a clutch assembly, the friction disc comprising:

• a plate having a forward facing plate surface, a rearward facing plate surface opposite said forward facing plate surface, an inward facing plate surface, and an outward facing plate surface opposite said inward facing plate surface, at least one of the forward facing plate surface and the rearward facing plate surface being configured to operatively engage a rotatable driving member for mutual rotation therewith, the inward facing plate surface having a cantilevered plate lug protruding radially inwardly therefrom to a free end defining an innermost radius of the plate;
• a hub having opposite axially facing hub surfaces, an inward facing hub surface, and an outward facing hub surface opposite said inward facing hub surface, the inward facing hub surface being configured to operatively engage a driven member for mutual rotation therewith, the outward facing hub surface having a hub lug protruding radially outwardly therefrom to a free end so that said hub lug is cantilevered, said hub lug having a thickness measured between opposite axially facing hub lug surfaces and a width measured orthogonal to the thickness, said thickness being less than said width;
• and
• a damping web covering at least part of each of the opposite axially facing hub surfaces of the hub and connecting the plate to the hub to transmit torque between the plate and the hub to thereby rotate the plate and the hub mutually, the damping web comprising a resiliently deformable material that limits transmission of shock between the plate and the hub, the damping web including an inner portion having an inner surface and an outer portion having an outer surface, the outer surface of the damping web having an outer recess extending into the outer portion receiving the radially inwardly extending plate lug therein thereby inhibiting circumferential movement of the outer surface of the damping web relative to the plate, the inner surface of the damping web having an inner recess extending into the inner portion receiving the radially outwardly extending hub lug therein thereby inhibiting circumferential movement of the inner surface of the damping web relative to the hub, wherein the outer recess of the damping web has a minimum radius and the inner recess of the damping web has a maximum radius that is less than the minimum radius of the outer recess.