Abstract: A clutch assembly including a cover and a mounting ring having a plurality of arms extending outwardly to a strap mount. The assembly includes strap springs. Each strap spring has a first end connected to the strap mount and a second end opposite the first. The clutch assembly includes an annular pressure plate and a plurality of outwardly extending tabs. Each tab is releasably connected to the second end of a corresponding strap spring so the strap springs biases the pressure plate away from the flywheel. The assembly includes a keeper and a resilient diaphragm spring that biases the pressure plate toward the flywheel, deforming each strap spring, so the strap spring biases the annular pressure plate away from the flywheel. The diaphragm ring is resiliently deformable to a deformed position, allowing each strap spring to move the pressure plate away from the flywheel.

Abstract: A friction disc. The friction disc includes a plate having a forward facing plate surface, a rearward facing plate surface, an inward facing plate surface, and an outward facing plate surface. An inward facing plate surface has a plate lug extending radially inwardly. The friction disc includes a hub having an inward facing hub surface and an outward facing hub surface. The outward facing hub surface has a hub lug extending radially outwardly. The friction disc includes a damping web connecting the plate to the hub to transmit torque between the plate and the hub to rotate the plate and the hub mutually. The damping web includes a resiliently deformable material that limits transmission of shock between the plate and the hub.

Abstract: A self-adjusting mechanism for a clutch having a cover, a pressure plate, a clutch release mechanism, and an adjustment ring. The self-adjusting mechanism includes a shaft mounted on the cover having a flange extending around the shaft. The self-adjusting mechanism includes a first hub member connected to the clutch release mechanism. The self-adjusting mechanism includes a second hub member connected to the adjustment ring so rotating the second hub member through angles in a first direction greater than a predetermined angle moves the adjustment ring to adjust the position of the clutch release mechanism. The adjustment ring remains stationary as the second hub member rotates through angles less than the predetermined angle. The self-adjusting mechanism has a spring biasing the first and second hub members together and a spring housing. An opening in the spring housing is blocked by the flange to prevent contaminates from entering the housing.

Abstract: A centrifugal clutch assembly. The clutch assembly has a cover adapted for connecting to a driving member extending along a central axis and a pressure plate coaxially mounted on the cover for axial movement relative to the cover. The assembly includes a friction disc adapted for connection to a driven member coaxially mounted adjacent the pressure plate. The assembly has a lever support mounted on and having a hardness greater than the pressure plate. The clutch assembly includes a lever pivotally mounted on the lever support and reacting against the cover to move the pressure plate into and out of engagement with the friction disc. The lever is shaped to apply more clamping force to the pressure plate as the clutch assembly turns faster about the central axis.

Abstract: A clutch assembly. The assembly includes a cover having a threaded inwardly facing surface and an adjusting ring having a threaded outwardly facing surface threadably received in the inwardly facing surface of the cover. The assembly also includes a pressure plate, a friction disc, a lever reacting against the adjusting ring to move the pressure plate into and out of engagement with the friction disc, and an adjustment mechanism. The assembly includes an elastically compressible seal assembly extending between opposing axially facing surfaces of the cover and the adjusting ring to prevent contamination from passing the seal assembly and accumulating on the threaded inwardly facing surface of the cover.

Abstract: A centrifugal clutch cover assembly for use in a clutch as a reaction surface in selective actuation of a pressure ring to clamp one or more discs mounted on a drive shaft for conjoint rotation therewith between the pressure ring and a flywheel of an engine thereby to selectively interconnect the drive shaft and the engine flywheel. The cover assembly includes a flat cover plate having a center and a central opening therein for receiving the drive shaft therethrough free of connection to the cover plate. Lever assemblies include levers pivotally mounted on the clutch plate at angularly spaced apart locations, and pressure members constructed and arranged for applying a force to the pressure ring for clamping the disc between the pressure ring and flywheel. The levers are disposed such that the pressure members apply more clamping force to the pressure ring the faster the flywheel and cover plate are rotating.

Abstract: A clutch brake having at least a first section and a second section, a central opening and a generally annular friction surface facing a braking mechanism and to selectively engage the braking mechanism for braking rotation of the shaft. Tabs and recesses selectively interconnect the first and second sections together. The first and second sections are selectively positionable in a disconnected configuration in which the annular friction surface is discontinuous and the sections are movable in a generally radial direction relative to the shaft, and an interconnected position in which the friction surface is substantially continuous and the first and second sections enclose the shaft in the central opening and are held from substantial radial motion relative to the shaft. Whereby, the clutch brake may be installed on the shaft without disconnecting the shaft from the transmission or the engine. A method of attaching the clutch brake to the shaft is further disclosed herein.

Abstract: A method of converting from a first clutch of the type comprising a relatively wide-profile cover having an integral circular rim attached to one face of a flat rimless flywheel, to a second clutch of the type comprising a relatively thin-profile cover. The method comprises detaching the first clutch with the wide-profile cover from the flywheel, applying the second clutch including the thin-profile cover and an adaptor ring to one face of the flywheel with the adaptor ring disposed between the cover and the flywheel, and removably attaching the cover and adaptor ring to the flywheel.