Abstract: A switch mounted on the push rod of a master cylinder assembly and controlling in sequence several switches such, for example, as a cruise control switch, an electronic fuel injection switch, and a start interlock switch. The switch includes a hollow housing defining a central chamber through which the push rod passes and a plunger assembly carried by the push rod and mounted for axial movement within the chamber. The plunger assembly includes a primary plunger and a secondary plunger carried by and movable axially relative to the primary plunger. The initial portion of the forward movement of the push rod allows incremental forward movement of the secondary plunger to actuate a first series of switches whereafter the push rod moves further forwardly without either plunger whereafter the push rod engages the primary plunger to move the plunger assembly forwardly to actuate a further switch.

Abstract: A damper for use in a hydraulic clutch actuator to attenuate vibrations transmitted from the crankshaft of the engine of the associated vehicle to the clutch pedal. The baffle includes an elongated cylindrical housing positioned in the conduit interconnecting the master and slave cylinders of the actuator coaxial with the axis of the conduit and including a spring biased piston mounted in the bore of the housing. The housing is open at its rear end and closed at its front end by an end wall defining an outlet port for the damper and the piston includes a central through passage defining the inlet port of the damper at the rear end of the through passage. A baffle is provided at the front end of the piston to provide a circuitous path between the central passage of the piston and the outlet port of the damper.

Abstract: A friction clutch includes a hub and driven plate assembly in which three carbon driven plates (60, 61, 62) are mounted on a hub (8), the hub (8) has radially outwardly extending splines (18) thereon and the driven plates have radially inwardly extending teeth (64) for engagement with the splines (18) such that the hub can slide axially relative to the driven plates (60, 61, 62) when the driven plates are held axially by driving plates (72, 74, 76, 78). Roll pins (30, 36, 38, 40) are each held in holes through two adjacent splines such that the roll pins are between the driven plates (60, 61, 62) and limit axial movement of the hub relative to the driven plates.

Abstract: The master cylinder comprises a body 10 formed with a bore 13, a piston 19 slidable in the bore to discharge hydraulic working fluid from the bore and an annular reservoir 17 for communication with the bore 13 and which is concentric with the bore. The reservoir contains a flexible diaphragm 30 which separate fluid in the reservoir 17 from ambient air. The use of the concentric reservoir 17 and diaphragm 30 makes the master cylinder particulary compact and suitable for use in a pre-filled clutch release system of a vehicle.

Abstract: A friction material facing (20) and carrier (11) assembly in which the facing (20) is secured to the carrier (11) by a plurality of concentric circular stripes (24A, 24B, 24C) of adhesive (24). Each stripe (24A, 24B, 24C) is interrupted at a single point on the circle to form a gap (25A, 25B, 25C) between the beginning and end of each circle of adhesive. The end of one circle may be joined to the beginning of the adjacent circle so as to form a continuous stripe of adhesive (24) from the inner margin to the outer margin of the facing (20).

Abstract: A concentric hydraulic clutch actuator including a coil spring arranged to be stressed in response to expansion and contraction of the actuator and including end portions which are bent radially inwardly and coact with circumferentially spaced lugs on the cylinder and on the piston to preclude relative rotation between the piston and cylinder in either direction of relative rotation. Relative rotation in one direction is inhibited by contact of the bent portion with one of the lugs and relative rotation in the other direction is inhibited by abutting engagement of the end face of the bent portions with respective lugs.

Abstract: A clutch actuation system for use in engaging and disengaging the clutch of a manual transmission motor vehicle. The system includes a sensor sensing the rotary movement of the clutch pedal, an electric motor having a screw output shaft driving a ball nut mechanism engaging a clutch release member, a further sensor sensing the position of the ball nut mechanism and thereby of the clutch release member, and an electronic control module. The module compares the magnitude of the position signal received from the clutch pedal position sensor to the magnitude of the position signal received from the ball nut position sensor and operates in a closed-loop servo manner to move the clutch release member via the electric motor through a distance proportioned to the extent of pivotal movement of the clutch pedal so that the operator, by precise control of the extent of pivotal movement of the clutch pedal, can precisely control the extent of engagement or disengagement of the clutch.

Abstract: A friction clutch driven plate (10) having a hub (11) and friction facings (14, 15) which face in opposite directions. The friction facings are mounted on respective coaxial annular carrier plates (16, 17) which are rotatable about the hub (11) and are secured back to back with each other by the stop pins (22) which pass through aligned holes (26, 27) in the two carrier plates (16, 17). The holes (27) in at least one carrier plate (17) being enlarged to enable that carrier plate (17) to move rotationally relative to the other carrier plate (16), said relative rotation being resisted by springs (28) acting between the two carrier plates.

Abstract: A bonding apparatus, for example for a friction facings and carrier plate assembly for use in a friction clutch driven plate, comprises first and second platens (22, 70) which are mountable one over the other such that a first surface on one platen faces towards a first surface on the other platen. Each said first surface has an annular recess (30, 78) therein such that when the platens are mounted one on top the other said annular recesses substantially coincide and are substantially co-axial. Each recess has a base (38, 84) with a substantially flat surface (40, 86) at the bottom of the recess, and each base has means such as apertures (92) or suction cups (104, 114) therein opening to the recess and connectable with a source of vacuum to apply vacuum to the recess.

Abstract: A vehicle braking system has a master cylinder, a first brake associated with a front wheel of the vehicle and a second brake (11) associated with a rear wheel of the vehicle, the master cylinder being connected to the first and second brakes in a common circuit. The second brake includes brake actuator (10) with a valve (30, 35) which will vary the rate at which fluid pressure is applied to the brake actuator (10) at a predetermined brake pressure, a spring loaded lever (50) acts on the valve (30, 35) to set the predetermined pressure at which the rate of application of pressure is varied and a linkage mechanism (70) varies to loading of the lever (50) to vary the predetermined pressure in proportion to the load applied to the rear wheel with which the brake (11) is associated.

Abstract: A friction material and carrier assembly for a clutch driven plate, the assembly being intended for rotation about an axis and comprising a carrier (4), first and second arrays of friction material (20, 22) disposed on opposite sides of the carrier (4) each array of friction material being disposed about a respective locus substantially centered on the axis. The first and second arrays of friction material are secured to the carrier by means of first and second adhesive bonds, respectively. The second adhesive bond (24) is of elastomeric material providing resilient cushioning relative to the carrier (4) (in an axial direction of the assembly) for the second array of friction material (22), and the first adhesive bond (23) is substantially non resilient providing no or substantially no cushioning relative to the carrier (4) (in an axial direction of the assembly) for the first array of friction material (20) than is provided by the second adhesive bond for the second array of friction material.

Abstract: A friction facing material and carrier assembly (2) to form a part of a driven plate of a friction clutch. The assembly (2) comprises a circular carrier plate (4) with resilient flexible paddles (14) at its periphery. Two annuli of friction material constituting friction facings (20,22) are each bonded by silicone rubber to opposite sides of the paddles. The silicon rubber on each side of the paddles is in the form of substantially continuous circular concentric strips of rubber substantially centered on axis (X) about which the assembly (2) is intended to rotate. The concentric strips (24A, 24B, 24C, 24D, 24E), bonding the friction facing (20) to one side of the paddles (14), are each preferably opposite the gap between two adjacent concentric stripes of rubber bonding the friction facing (22) to the other side of the paddles.

Abstract: A motor vehicle has a manually operated change speed gearbox driven by an internal combustion engine through a clutch which is automatically disengageable and re-engageable by operation of a power hydraulic clutch control. The hydraulic control comprises a fluid reservoir connected by a conduit to a control valve connected to the reservoir by a conduit which includes a pump and a one-way valve and a pressure accumulator and a piston and cylinder or fluid pressure operated actuator connected by piping to the control valve. The clutch is operated by the actuator causing disengagement of the clutch when the control valve is operated to relieve fluid pressure in the actuator. The hydraulic control is assembled and filled with hydraulic fluid at some place which can be distant from the vehicle manufacturer's production line. The filled control is transported to where the vehicle is being made and the control is installed in the vehicle; possibly after the filled control has been stored first.

Abstract: A multiplate clutch assembly comprising a cover (10), drive plates (14), driven plates (16), diaphragm spring (20) and a fulcrum ring (24) located on the side of the spring away from the cover. The fulcrum ring (24) is a flat ring with an integral annular bead (31) in which the spring pivots with a plurality of integral spacers 26. The ring (24) is secured to the cover (10) by the spacers by a plurality of fasteners (28) each of which secures a single spacer to the cover.

Abstract: An industrial clutch has a diaphragm spring (40) which over-centers between full engagement and full disengagement. The clutch cover (12) has an abutment (64) which abuts the diaphragm spring (40) when the clutch is disengaged to prevent vibration of the diaphragm spring.

Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus, more particularly for operating a motor vehicle clutch release mechanism, comprising a master cylinder, a slave cylinder and a conduit connecting the master cylinder to the slave cylinder. The apparatus is in the form of separate modular units which are separately filled with hydraulic fluid, and the filled modular units are shipped unconnected to a user. Each modular unit is provided with a leakproof quick-connect connector member, through which filling of the modular unit may be effected, and which mates with a complementary leakproof quick-connect connector member of another modular unit, such that after installation on a utilization device, a motor vehicle for example, complementary connector members are reconnected, thus opening ports in each connector member placing each member in fluid communication with the other. Preferably, the two connector members are provided with a one-way locking arrangement preventing separation of the connector members after coupling.

Abstract: An end cap adapted to be inserted into one end of a hydraulic cylinder having a body of plastic material defining a bore open at one end thereof and an end wall at the other end thereof closing the bore. A cylindrical tube is positioned within the bore and a piston is reciprocal within the tube. The end cap sandwiches the tube between the end cap and the end wall and the end cap includes radially extending circumferentially spaced ribs which collapse against the tube as the end cap is inserted into the cylinder.

Abstract: A master cylinder assembly and a motor vehicle power assist actuator utilizing the master cylinder assembly. In one form of the invention, a clutch actuator is provided in which the clutch may be actuated in the usual manner by depression of the clutch pedal to move the piston in the master cylinder assembly under the urging of the push rod or, in a power mode of the actuator, movement of the gear shift lever of the vehicle is sensed by a logic module whereupon the electric motor of the master cylinder assembly is energized in a sense to move the ball screw to apply a power assist force to the annular outer periphery of the rear end of the piston and thereby effect disengagement of the clutch. In another embodiment of the invention, the signal to the logic module to enable energization of the motor is generated by a switch connected to the clutch pedal so that the force for disengaging the clutch includes a manual force applied by the push rod and a power force applied by a ball screw.

Abstract: An annular elastomeric seal, a piston utilizing the seal, and a fluid cylinder assembly utilizing the seal. The seal includes an axially forward portion defining a circumferentially inner and a circumferentially outer deflectable lip seal and an axially rearward portion defining a circumferentially inner and a circumferentially outer arcuate heel seal. When positioned in an annular groove in a piston and with the piston slidably received in the bore of a cylinder, the annular seal provides fluid pressure sealing at the deflectable lip seals, provides secondary fluid pressure sealing at the arcuate heel seals, provides air sealing at the arcuate heel seals, and functions at the arcuate heel seals to preclude the entry of contaminants into the sealing interfaces. The seal is especially effective when employed in a hydraulic pressure cylinder of the center feed type since it allows the usage of a single annular seal positioned in a singular annular groove in the piston.

Abstract: The actuator comprises a clutch pedal lever (12) which is pivotally connected to a support (17). The pedal is integral with a cylinder (18) having a piston (20) therein which is connected to a hollow pushrod (28). The pushrod is also pivotally connected to the mounting (17). Pivoting movement of the pedal (12) causes the cylinder (18) to move relative to the piston so that fluid within the cylinder will operate a slave cylinder (44). The clutch and pushrod have spaced axes of pivoting (13a, 14a) and the piston (20) is shaped to permit a degree of tilting to take place between the piston and the cylinder. The system also includes a reservoir which can communicate with the cylinder when the piston occupies a particular position in the cylinder.