Abstract: A retainer bushing for connecting a male member such as a shaft, rod or pin, for example the coupling pin of a motor vehicle clutch pedal, to a mechanical component having a bore accepting the shaft, rod or pin in the bore, for example the input member of an hydraulic master cylinder hydraulically connected to a slave cylinder actuating a clutch release mechanism. The retainer bushing has a flange at one end and one or more longitudinally projecting tangs at the other end. A closure wall is integrally formed at the other end of the retainer bushing. Each tang, which is elastically deflectable outwardly and inwardly, has a radially inwardly directed abutment surface for engagement with the other end of the bore when the flange is engaged at one end thereof, and an inwardly radially directed prong for engagement in a peripheral groove formed in the pin.

Abstract: A clutch cover assembly includes a diaphragm spring acting on a pressure plate through a fulcrum ring which encircles the clutch axis and is disposed in a groove in the pressure plate. The fulcrum ring is a resilient tube. During clutch re-engagements, the cross-section of the tube is resiliently deformed by the load of the diaphragm spring to provide cushioning. The resilient tube can have a slot in its outer periphery. In a first stage of cushioning the tube is deformed so as to close the slot. Thereafter, further deformation of the tube is harder and creates a second stage of harder cushioning.

Abstract: A clutch release bearing and bearing carrier assembly comprising a bearing support flange at one end of a carrier member, the bearing support flange having elastically outwardly spreadable fingers or lugs with a retaining ledge or shoulder at their end for holding a clutch throw-out bearing against the flange by snap fit. The carrier member has a peripheral groove, preferably in the form of a pair of parallel flanges disposed at the other end of the carrier member, the opposite ends of the pins of a clutch control fork being engageable in the groove for abutment against a longitudinal wall in the groove and for snap fit between that longitudinal wall and at least one deflectable projection on an inner wall of the groove.

Abstract: A master cylinder assembly including a primary housing defining an elongated bore, a piston slidably mounted in the bore, a piston rod pivotally connected at its forward end to the piston, a switch housing slidably and rotatably mounted on the piston rod rearwardly of the primary housing, spring means biasing the switch housing for forward sliding movement on the piston rod into engagement with the rear end of the primary housing, and switching means within the switch housing actuated in response to sliding movement of the piston rod relative to the switch housing. A retainer clip is secured to the rear end of the primary housing in a fixed predetermined angular position and includes a finger portion extending rearwardly for coaction with a pin member rigidly projecting from the switch housing. The clip and pin member coact to maintain the switch in a predetermined fixed angular position relative to the remainder of the assembly to facilitate the installation of the assembly into a motor vehicle.

Abstract: An inertia valve includes a valve member which is free to move axially in a cylindrical bore and a valve seat which may be closed by the valve member is provided at one end of the cylindrical bore, said valve seat being supported on a support member so that it surrounds a port defined by the support member, the seat being spaced from the support member at its inner periphery so that it provides a flexible inner peripheral portion which may be deformed by the valve member.

Abstract: A brake actuating mechanism includes a housing defining a cylinder and a tubular piston, slidingly sealed within the cylinder. A pull-rod passes through the piston and is provided at one end with member for connection to a brake linkage mechanism. The other end of pull-rod is provided with abutment member which engages one end of a guide spool, the other end of the guide spool engaging the end of the piston. A pivot member is provided between the guide spool and the piston to permit rocking of the guide spool and pull-rod relative to the piston. A lever mechanism may act on the guide spool to provide for mechanical actuation of the brake.

Abstract: A switch mounted on the linearly displaceable input member of a hydraulic master cylinder and operable by displacement of the input member relative to the cylinder. An end of the switch housing engages the end of the cylinder through which the input member projects and the engaged surfaces are correspondingly spherically shaped to permit limited swiveling motion of the input member relative to the cylinder without affecting the operation of the switch.

Abstract: A motor cycle disc brake has a disc secured by an outer peripheral portion to the rim of a wheel which is rotatable about an axle held by a pair of fork legs. A brake caliper is secured to a fork leg and straddles the inner periphery of the disc. The disc is secured to the wheel rim by bolts which allow the disc some axial play relative to the rim to compensate for any run out of the rim. The caliper is fixed to the fork leg by a pair of securing members one of which engages in a recess in a lug on the fork leg so that the caliper can be released quickly from the fork leg.

Abstract: A remote control mechanism connects the shifting lever of a motor vehicle to the vehicle gearbox or transmission, and has a drive member connected to the shifting lever, and a driven member operatively connected to the transmission shift rail. The drive member is supported for both linear motion for selecting a gear, and rotary motion for shifting into a gear. The driven member is supported for both linear motion and rotary motion. A push-pull cable transmits the linear motion of the drive member to the driven member, and master and slave hydraulic linear actuators transmit the rotary motion of the drive member to the driven member so that the transmission is responsive to the shifting lever being moved along two perpendicular paths of motion in a gear shifting pattern.In another embodiment, master and slave hydraulic linear actuators connect the drive and driven members for transmitting both the linear and the rotary motion of the drive member to the driven member.

Abstract: A friction clutch driven plate for rotation about a central axis and having an intermediate disc with a central opening lined by axial splines to engage external splines on a rotary motion output shaft. A first annulus co-axial with the intermediate disc has axial projections which key into bores in the disc so the annulus and disc rotate in synchronism. On the other side of the intermediate disc and co-axial therewith is a second annulus. The disc has axial projections keying into notches in the inner periphery of the second annulus so the latter also rotates in synchronism with the disc. A carrier carrying annular friction facings comprises first and second axially spaced plate arrangements between which are sandwiched the intermediate disc and the annuli. There is some allowance for relative rotary motion between the carrier and the intermediate disc against torsion damping springs.

Abstract: A carrier for a motor vehicle clutch throw-out bearing, the bearing having a revolving race and a non-revolving race. The carrier is generally in the form of a sleeve slidably disposed on the periphery of a tubular member surrounding the driveshaft from the clutch to the motor vehicle transmission. The sleeve has a flange terminating in a rim in which the bearing is located, and the flange has resiliently deformable abutment members snapping back to their original position after the bearing has been placed within the rim, and having abutment surfaces engaged with the non-revolving race of the bearing such as to hold the bearing within the rim between the abutment surfaces and the flange.

Abstract: An interlocking proximity switching device operated by the reciprocating member assembly of a hydraulic slave cylinder controlling the operation of the release mechanism of a motor vehicle mechanical clutch, the slave cylinder being hydraulically connected to a master cylinder having an input member operable by the motor vehicle clutch pedal. The switching device is adapted to close the motor vehicle starter relay circuit for a position of the slave cylinder output member, piston and/or push-rod, corresponding to full release of the clutch, such that the clutch must be fully released in order to allow starting the motor vehicle engine. Preferably, the switching device takes the form of a proximity transducer and of an appropriate circuitry for detecting full release of the clutch mechanism, irrespective of the amount of wear of the clutch.

Abstract: A friction clutch for a vehicle includes a clutch release mechanism comprising a first member, a second member, a detent arranged to locate the first member relative to the second member on assembly by moving the first member in one direction relative to the second member whereby a clutch release force subsequently applied to said first member in an opposite direction will be transmitted to said second member to release the clutch, and a detent release sleeve which enables the detent to be released by urging said first member further in said one direction relative to said second member so that the first and second members can thereafter be separated. The detent is carried by one of the members and the detent release sleeve is carried by the other of the members whereby on separation of the members following release of the detent the detent and detent release sleeve disengage and remain on their respective members.

Abstract: A vehicle brake pressure proportioning valve in which a stepped plunger in a stepped bore shuttles in first and second opposite directions when inlet hydraulic pressure from a master cylinder increases to a predetermined value. The aforesaid shuttling causes a ball valve, in which the ball is loaded by a spring, to close and open a bore through the plunger leading to an outlet to the brake so that during the shuttling the outlet brake pressure increases at a lower rate than the inlet pressure. Eventually the increasing inlet pressure attains another predetermined value sufficient to hold the ball valve closed against the spring loading so that the ball blocks the bore no matter which direction the plunger moves and thus the brake pressure cannot be increased any further.

Abstract: The assembly includes a first sleeve connected to a releasing mechanism of a clutch and having a screw threaded surface. A second sleeve is movable relative to the first sleeve and is operatively connectable to a release member. A collar is in threaded engagement with the first sleeve and clutch release forces are transmitted through the collar from the second sleeve to the first sleeve. The collar is prevented from rotating relative to the first sleeve during clutch release. An abutment is provided on the clutch for releasing the collar when the second sleeve reaches a predetermined position to allow the collar to rotate and allow the first sleeve to move axially relative to the second sleeve. A spring for urging the second sleeve towards the clutch acts between the second sleeve and part of the abutment on the clutch. A locking ring may be provided for locking the collar to the second sleeve during clutch release.

Abstract: A friction clutch driven plate has an internally splined hub, and externally a circular radial flange to rotate with the hub about the hub axis. The flange has teeth in its outer periphery which are in driving meshed engagement with teeth in the inner periphery of an annulus of friction material. That annulus is formed by separate successive arcuate sections or sectors of friction material. The sections of friction material can, axially of the hub, each move relatively to one another by a limited amount to improve the axial compliance of the friction annulus when in a clutch and clamped between a drive plate and a pressure plate. A holding strap extends around the outer periphery of the annulus to hold the sections thereof on the flange against centrifugal force.

Abstract: A clutch cover assembly comprising a cover, a pressure plate, a diaphragm spring acting between the cover and pressure plate to urge the pressure plate outwardly of the cover, and drive straps in the form of leaf springs attached to the cover and pressure plate to retract the latter into the cover when urging by the diaphragm spring is relieved. Latches formed by spring clips on the cover engage the pressure plate to hold it in a partially retracted state after its manufacture and during shipment, to prevent free outward movement of the pressure plate overstressing the drive straps. As the clutch cover assembly is bolted to a driving plate with a clutch driven plate between the driving and pressure plates, the pressure plate eventually comes to an axially stationary position pressing the driven plate against the axially stationary driving plate while the cover moves axially relative to the pressure plate as the bolts are finally tightened.

Abstract: The clutch comprises a clutch plate which can be retracted by a release mechanism to release a driven plate. The release mechanism includes first and second members and an intermediate detent. The detent is located between the members by urging the first member in one direction relative to the second member. To separate the first and second members, the first member is initially urged further in said one direction to release the detent.

Abstract: The clutch release mechanism includes a fluid actuator having an actuator member movable by fluid pressure in a clutch release direction to release the clutch, a release bearing assembly for connection to part of the clutch, and a coupling for connecting the release bearing assembly to the actuator member. The coupling is fluid operable whereby in one condition it prevents axial separation of the actuator member and release bearing assembly by engagement of pins and a groove and, in another condition, it allows axial separation and coupling of the release bearing assembly and the actuator member by disengagement of the pins and groove.

Abstract: A torsional vibration damper primarily for use in a friction clutch driven plate has a hub with a radial flange. An outer member includes two generally annular side plates, one each side of the flange joined by stop pin rivets and mounted for limited relative angular movement with respect to the hub. Compression springs act between the hub and the outer member in mutually aligned circumferentially directed apertures in the flange and side plates to control the relative rotation. A generally annular control plate is mounted for angular movement with respect to the hub and the outer member and has tabs which engage a side plate to limit relative rotation between the control plate and the hub to less than the relative rotation available between the hub and the outer member.