Abstract: A clutch plate whose output assembly is constituted by a rotary hub and a radial flange, and whose input assembly has an annular carrier of friction linings and an annular cheek rigid with and spaced apart from the carrier so that the flange finds room between the cheek and the carrier. The flange can rotate relative to the carrier and cheek against the opposition of coil springs in registering windows of the flange, carrier and cheek. A first torsional vibration damping unit opposes at least a certain part of angular movement between the flange and the input assembly and has friction generating disc disposed at one side as well as an annular dished spring disposed at the other side of the flange and bearing directly against the friction generating disc. The flange has apertures receiving with play axially disposed arms of the dished spring and/or friction generating disc. Friction pads are inserted between the dished spring and the carrier or cheek as well as at both sides of the friction generating disc.

Abstract: A clutch disc arrangement for use in friction clutches of automotive vehicles has a hub with a flange which is riveted to two axially spaced annular disc-shaped guides flanking the radially innermost portion of a clutch disc which carries two friction coatings. First coil springs are interposed between the clutch disc and the guides to yieldably urge the clutch disc to a neutral angular position with reference to the hub. Once the clutch disc is moved through a preselected angle beyond such neutral position, its further angular movement relative to the hub is resisted by an axially resilient friction disc which is outwardly adjacent to one of the guides and bears against the one guide directly as well as through the medium of a friction pad. Additional coil springs are interposed between the friction disc and the one guide to yieldably oppose angular displacement of the clutch disc relative to the hub after the clutch disc has moved through a given angle beyond the neutral position.

Abstract: A split internal combustion engine wherein a first unit having one or more cylinders can be coupled to a second unit by an accelerating friction clutch. Direct torque-transmitting connection between the crankshafts of the two units is established in automatic response to acceleration of the second unit to a speed such that its crankshaft slightly overtakes the crankshaft of the first unit. The mechanism which serves to effect direct transmission of torque between the two units is designed to eliminate play between such units as well as to compensate for wear upon its parts and the parts of the clutch.

Abstract: Device for selectively separating and connecting a rotatable shaft, such as the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, to a flywheel assembly of a friction clutch has a bearing in which the flywheel assembly is rotatable relative to the shaft, a friction plate non-rotatably connected to the shaft and having friction surfaces disposed at the opposite sides thereof, two pressure plates forming part of the flywheel assembly and each having a friction surface cooperating with one of the friction surfaces of the friction plates, the pressure plate being axially movably but non-rotatably connected to each other and, one of the pressure plates being held against axial movement relative to the bearing, operating means for moving the other of the pressure plates axially, spring means disposed on the friction plate between the connection to the shaft and the friction surfaces disposed thereon for biasing the friction plate in direction away from the axially-fixed pressure plate, and stop means for limiting the ex

Abstract: A diaphragm spring which can be used in a friction clutch for automotive vehicles has a circumferentially complete annular section and elongated fingers extending radially inwardly from the annular section and having inner end portions of substantially uniform width, as considered in the circumferential direction of the annular section. The slots between neighboring fingers include alternating narrower and wider slots, and the slots have enlarged outermost portions in the region of the annular section. The width of the outermost portion of each wider slot equals twice the width of the outermost portion of a narrower slot plus the width of the outermost portion of a finger. The width of the innermost portions of the slots is uniform, and the spring is secured to the cover of a clutch by rivets whose shanks extend through the outermost portions of the narrower slots. The end faces of the inner end portions of the fingers bound a substantially circular opening.

Abstract: Apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine, wherein the engine is started in automatic response to engagement of a clutch between the flywheel and the crankshaft of the engine, has an electric motor which not only can rotate a starter wheel for the flywheel but can also automatically start a pump serving to change the pressure of fluid in the fluid-containing clutch actuating device of the apparatus when such pressure is excessive or too low so that the device cannot engage the clutch. The speed of the flywheel and the quantity of energy stored by the flywheel can be changed in dependency on several parameters including the temperature of oil in the engine.

Abstract: A propulsion system for use in automotive vehicles wherein the flywheel is connectable with the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine by a first clutch and with the input shaft of the change-speed transmission by a second clutch. When the engine would be idling (such as during stoppage of the vehicle at an intersection) or running unnecessarily for another reason (such as during coasting of the vehicle), the two clutches are disengaged and the flywheel rotates by inertia to restart the engine, when necessary, in response to engagement of the first clutch. If the RPM of the flywheel reaches a preselected lower threshold value, a starter-generator unit automatically accelerates the flywheel so that its RPM rises above the threshold value and is thus sufficient to ensure that the engine is restarted on engagement of the first clutch.

Abstract: A friction clutch wherein several changeover levers which are made of sheet metal are interposed between the housing on the one hand and the two pressure plates on the other hand. Each changeover lever has two arms with convex surfaces which can roll along flat surfaces of the respective pressure plates and a median portion which cooperates with a fulcrum on the housing. When one of the pressure plates is moved away from the associated friction disc, the changeover levers roll along the associated fulcra and cause the other pressure plate to move away from the respective friction disc. If the clutch is a dependent-operated friction clutch, the fulcra and the median portions of the respective changeover levers define adjustable clearances in engaged condition of the clutch.

Abstract: A servomotor which actuates the throw-out device of a clutch, particularly in an automotive vehicle, has a piston which is reciprocable in a housing and is adapted to be coupled to a reciprocable motion transmitting rod for the throw-out device by a compensating device having cylindrical rollers which establish a motion transmitting connection between the piston and the rod as soon as the piston leaves its starting position in response to evacuation of air from the housing at one side of the piston. The rollers are automatically disengaged from the rod when the piston returns to its starting position so that the rod can be moved by the clutch in a first direction to compensate for wear upon the parts of the clutch or in a second direction to compensate for expansion of one or more friction discs in the clutch.

Abstract: A friction clutch unit with two coaxial friction clutches the first of which has a first friction disc driven by the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine and disposed between an axially fixed and an axially movable pressure plate. The second clutch has a second friction disc which drives the input shaft of a change-speed transmission in the vehicle which embodies the engine and is disposed between an axially movable pressure plate and an axially fixed pressure plate. The axially fixed pressure plates of the two clutches are connected to each other by a rotary housing which defines a fulcrum for a common dished spring having an outer region bearing against projections provided on the axially movable pressure plate of the first clutch and an inner region bearing against projections provided on the axially movable pressure plate of the second clutch in engaged condition of the clutches.

Abstract: An assembly for engaging and disengaging the crankshaft of an engine has a flywheel which is rotatably supported by a bearing system and is part of a first clutch. The flywheel has a second clutch for engaging and disengaging the crankshaft from the transmission shaft of a vehicle. A friction disc of the first clutch is non-rotatably connected to the crankshaft and friction linings are disposed at its opposite sides adjacent two pressure plates forming part of the flywheel and having linings cooperating with those of the friction disc. The pressure plates are axially movably but non-rotatably connected to each other and one thereof is secured to the bearing system. An operating means moves the other pressure plate axially, and a hub of the bearing system is rotatable relative to the crankshaft. A first housing part has a radially extending portion fastened to the hub, and a first diaphragm spring bears upon at least one of the pressure plates to disengage the flywheel from the crankshaft.

Abstract: A friction clutch assembly wherein the first of two coaxial friction clutches has a friction disc driven by the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine and driving two pressure plates forming part of a flywheel which includes a second friction clutch whose friction disc drives the input shaft of the change-speed transmission in an automotive vehicle. The friction disc of the second clutch is flanked by the pressure plates of the respective clutch, and each clutch has an axially movable pressure plate and an axially fixed pressure plate. The axially fixed pressure plate of one clutch can be integral with the axially fixed pressure plate of the other clutch. The clutches can be engaged or disengaged by a common actuating system having a common dished spring the radially outermost region of which biases the axially movable pressure plate of one of the clutches.

Abstract: Clutch disk assembly includes a hub, a friction lining support disk coaxially surrounding the hub, the friction lining support disk and the hub having mutual relative torsional play force storage means operatively connected between the hub and the friction lining support disk and effective against relative torsion therebetween load friction means ineffective over a first given range of torsional play between the hub and the friction lining support disk and effective over a second given range of the torsional play, the load friction means comprising a friction member and friction means effective over the second given range of torsional play, at least one force-storage device compressible over the second given range of the torsional play being effective through the friction member, and a pair of disk-like members disposed in axial spaced relationship on the hub and fixed thereto against relative rotation therewith, the load friction means being disposed in the axial space between the pair of disk-like members.

Abstract: A wet friction clutch for automotive vehicles wherein the clutch plate between the flywheel and the pressure plate is assembled of two spaced-apart friction discs and a spacer disc therebetween. The friction discs are coupled to each other by leaf springs which prevent relative angular but allow relative axial movements of the two friction discs. Additional leaf springs connect the spacer disc and the pressure plate to the cover, and elastic lamellae are used to couple the two friction discs to the flywheel and the pressure plate, respectively. The clutch plate drives the input shaft of the transmission and carries a distributor for lubricating coolant which is supplied by a tubular guide for the disengaging unit and serves to cool the friction discs.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine with two crankshafts which are parallel to each other and are installed in a common casing. One of the crankshafts is driven whenever the engine is running and the other crankshaft is driven only when the engine is operated at maximum load. Prior to starting of the cylinders which rotate the other crankshaft, the other crankshaft is gradually accelerated to the speed of the one crankshaft by a friction clutch which is coaxial with the one crankshaft. Once the acceleration of the other crankshaft to the speed of the one crankshaft is completed, and the other crankshaft assumes a predetermined angular position with reference to the one crankshaft, the friction clutch is disengaged and such disengagement entails activation of a positive-engagement clutch between the two crankshafts. The friction clutch can constitute a component part of or it can be integrated into the positive-engagement clutch.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine wherein a first group of cylinders rotates a first crankshaft and a second group of cylinders can rotate a second crankshaft which can be separably coupled to the first crankshaft by an accelerating friction clutch. The clutch permits slippage of a first clutch member which is driven by one of the crankshafts relative to a second clutch member which drives the other crankshaft while the other crankshaft undergoes gradual acceleration to the speed of the one crankshaft. Once the speed of the other crankshaft matches or closely approximates the speed of the one crankshaft, and the other crankshaft assumes a predetermined angular position relative to the one crankshaft, the first clutch member ceases to slip relative to the second clutch member. The accelerating clutch can be interposed between two camshafts one of which is driven by the one crankshaft and the other of which drives the other crankshaft during acceleration of the other crankshaft.

Abstract: Apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine, including a starter wheel for driving the engine, pressure medium activated means for causing the starter wheel to drive the engine, a pump for the pressure medium, and a common motor for driving the pump and starter wheel.

Abstract: A disengaging unit for drawingly disengageable friction clutches has a guide member with two ring-shaped sliding regions axially spaced from one another and mutually separated by a hollow chamber, one of the sliding regions facing toward a transmission side of the disengaging unit, the guide member cooperating with disengaging means of the friction clutch for axially sliding the latter along a guide tube. One of either the guide member or the guide tube is formed with a capture inclination for securing the other thereof, the capture inclination of the guide tube being a downwardly tapering contour while that of the guide member being an outwardly flaring funnel-shaped contour.

Abstract: Friction clutch includes a pressure plate, a lever for actuating the pressure plate, and linkage means connecting the lever to the pressure plate, the lever being formed of at least two stamped-out sheet-metal parts and at least two spacer members holding the sheet-metal mutually spaced at a fixed distance from one another.

Abstract: In a clutch disk assembly having two structural units formed with window-shaped cutouts, at least two coaxially disposed force-storage devices received in the cutouts and braced against the structural units so as to afford limited torsional play of the structural units relative to one another, one of the structural units including two lateral disks mutually spaced-apart from one another in axial direction of the clutch disk assembly, the other of the structural units including at least one disk-like member disposed in the axial space between the two lateral disks, the two force storage devices includes a radially inner and a radially outer force storer, the radially inner force storer extending along the length of the radially outer force storer and, as viewed in circumferential direction of the lateral disks, having a portion thereof projecting beyond at least one end of the radially outer force storer, the cutouts being defined by contour portions of the two structural units conforming both to the radially