Abstract: A coupler is disclosed to allow a torque converter mounted to an engine to drive a transmission or other driveline component that is not constructed for use with a torque converter. The coupler includes a pump to provide fluid to the torque converter under pressure and an externally adjustable fluid pressure regulator to vary the pressure of the fluid provided to the torque converter. The stall speed of the torque converter has been found to change as the fluid pressure is changed. A fast-release driveline brake in the coupler provides reliable restraint of the coupler shaft which functions as the output shaft of the torque converter and allows power to be quickly applied to the attached driveline component.

Abstract: A pin-type, double-acting synchronizer mechanism (22) with friction clutches (24,36 and 26,38), jaw clutch 28,14b and 30,16b) and self-energizing ramps. The ramps act between a shaft (12) and a shift flange (32) which is rotatable relative to the shaft and jaw clutch members 28,30. Flange 32 includes radially inwardly extending teeth (32k) defining self-energizing ramps (32m,32n,32p,32s) which act against ramp (12d,12e,12f,12g) formed in shaft splines (12b). Three circumferentially spaced pins (40) include blocker shoulders (40c,40d) for preventing asynchronous engagement of the jaw clutches and pre-energizer surfaces (40e,40f) which each cooperate with a pre-energizer and neutral centering assembly 42. The angles of the self-energizing ramps may be varied to provide substantially the same synchronizing time for several or all of the ratio gears in a multi-ratio transmission.

Abstract: A lock-up clutch control system for an automatic power transmission includes a torque converter mode, a full lock-up mode and a clip lock-up mode for controlling operation of a lock-up clutch which is disposed between a pump impeller and a turbine runner of a torque converter. The slip lock-up mode is a transitional mode between the torque converter mode and the full lock-up mode and connects the pump impeller and the turbine runner such that a relative rotation therebetween is allowed. In the system, one of the above-noted three modes is selected based on preselected vehicular operating condition indicative parameters, such as, an engine load and a vehicle speed. When a rapid depression of an accelerator pedal by a driver is detected after the slip lock-up mode is selected, the torque converter mode is executed in place of the slip lock-up mode until the rapid depression of the accelerator pedal is not detected.

Abstract: An adjustable rotary slip clutch comprising a driving portion, a driven portion, an annular cavity defined between the driving portion and the driven portion, a plurality of friction clutch elements of generally conical configuration mounted within the annular cavity, at least one of the friction elements mounted to the driving portion for rotation therewith, an at least one of the friction elements mounted to the driven portion for rotation therewith, and an arrangement for sealing the cavity to maintain lubricant therein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrodynamic torque convertor with a bridging coupling and a torsion spring arrangement. In the power path behind the torsion spring arrangement there is an auxiliary gyratory mass which makes it possible to reduce the vibration-related balancing-out process to a very low speed level.

Abstract: The invention relates to the construction of friction rings for clutch discs which peripherally have a substantially uniform material thickness and, in the region of the riveting, have groove-shaped, substantially radially extending indentations which are open to the front side, project on the rear side and rest on the wave crests of the lining carriers.

Abstract: A diaphragm control is disclosed for a free-wheeling hub assembly that selectively engages a four-wheel drive. A venting arrangement is disclosed for the diaphragm chamber of the free-wheeling hub assembly. The venting arrangement extends through the body of the free-wheeling hub assembly to a space within the engine compartment of the vehicle thus ensuring that the vent will not become clogged thus preventing the venting of the diaphragm chamber. Venting of the diaphragm chamber is important in predicting the pressure within the diaphragm chamber and thus the engagement of the free-wheeling hub assembly.

Abstract: An electromagnetic jaw clutch has interengageable teeth with gaps between them to facilitate engaging the clutch when there is some relative rotation between these teeth. The teeth are defined on one hub and on the armature. The second hub is plastic and a spring pulls the armature toward this second hub to disengage the clutch. The spring may be integrally formed with the plastic second hub.

Abstract: A setting pin assembly is disclosed for properly positioning a positioning pin in a two disc clutch. In one embodiment, the setting pin assembly is slidably received in an aperture in a clutch cover, with the aperture being coaxial to the positioning pin. The setting pin preferably has enlarge portions at each axial end of the clutch cover. The enlarged portion on the inner end of the setting pin transmits force to the positioning pin over a relatively great surface area. A spring is preferably mounted between the clutch cover and the enlarged portion at the outer end of the setting pin, to normally bias the setting pin outwardly of the clutch cover and force the enlarged portion on the inner end of the clutch cover against the aperture. The setting pin extends outwardly of the clutch cover, and by merely contacting the setting pin with a hammer or similar tool the positioning pin may be moved to a proper position.

Abstract: A viscous coupling having outer plates which are provided with index recesses which serve to assemble the outer plates in a specific way relative to each other, depending on the respective application. If the outer plates have to be assembled in the housing with the apertures being aligned inphase relative to each other, the torque transmitting capacity of the coupling is lower than in those cases where the slots are circumferentially offset relative to each other in the housing, thereby forming a kind of labyrinth, in which case the viscous coupling achieves a 100% torque transmission because it may be transferred into the hump mode.

Abstract: A device for changing the flow rate of a liquid damping medium is a torsional vibration damper. This damper has a rotating cylindrical damper housing, connected between a drive shaft and a power takeoff shaft. Pinions are surface-mounted in a planetary fashion without axle journals between the axial faceplates of a gear pump in recesses in the pump interior. The pinions are engaged with a central gear seated on the power takeoff shaft or on drive shaft, which form gear pumps for closed circulation of the damping medium.

Abstract: Clutch and brake components especially adapted for use in electromagnetic semblies (50) includes a first disc (56) or plate having a ground surface (58) comprising parallel surface features and a second disc or plate (64) having a turned surface (66) comprising circular or spiral features. Excellent static and dynamic frictional coefficients are achieved. Preferably, the ground (58) and turned (66) surfaces have roughness of between Ra 3 and 300. A wide variety of variously alloyed steels may be utilized to fabricate the clutch or brake components.

Abstract: An interlocking clutch brake provides first and second parts adapted to radially fit together to form a disc-shaped body having a central aperture for engaging a clutch shaft. Both first and second parts are U-shaped, and are interlocked together by means of mating tongue and groove members. The first and second parts employ bores which are adapted to become axially aligned for receiving the ends of a bowed spring. The bowed portion of the spring is adapted to become partially flattened as a bolt, secured through an aperture in the spring to a threaded aperture in the second part, is rotated by a hand-tool. Partial flattening of the bowed portion causes the spring ends to spread apart to engage respective sets of aligned bores for retaining the two parts together.

Abstract: A coupling (1) which is disconnectable in the driving direction of rotation has a coupling hub (2) and a coupling sleeve (3) rotatably arranged thereon. The hub (2) and sleeve (3) are connected in the driving direction of rotation by at least one locking ratchet (9, 10) and locking ratchet recess (7, 8 and 13, 14) respectively of the coupling hub (2) and the coupling sleeve (3), a locking pin (19, 20) with its longitudinal side (23, 24) extending in a tangential transverse bore (21, 22) presses the locking ratchets (9, 10) out of the locking ratchet recess (13, 14) in the coupling sleeve (3) when a switching ratchet (36) causes the rotation of the switching ring (4) by means of locking pins (19, 20).

Abstract: A clutch release arrangement for a clutch includes a pressure plate arranged in a clutch cover and having a fulcrum portion on its external circumference. A diaphragm spring is supported in the region of its external circumference to the clutch cover. The clutch is released by pressing the pressure plate in the direction of a clutch disk through the connection of the fulcrum portion of the pressure plate to the diaphragm spring. A return spring is arranged between the clutch cover and the diaphragm spring and in contact with the diaphragm spring, and the fulcrum portion is a continuously curved surface formed so that the height of the fulcrum portion is low in proportion to the distance between the fulcrum portion and a contact point.

Abstract: The invention concerns an elastic clutch including a hydraulic damping device wherein a viscous damping medium is displaced through predetermined gaps upon occurrence of large angles of rotation. To that end, a cam arranged on one clutch half plunges into a capsule type displacement chamber. The cam features friction elements which in the plunging make elastic and sealing contact with the sidewalls of the capsule, thereby causing both an effective sealing of the displacement chamber and also a frictional damping which supports the hydraulic damping. The disk type second clutch half can, during operation, more freely adjust within the clutch, which simplifies the manufacture.

Abstract: A fluid coupling includes a valve unit for reducing working fluid introduced into a labyrinth-groove to adjust a ratio of a rotation speed of a cooling fan to that of an internal combustion engine, when the engine speed is rapidly increased. The valve unit comprises a through opening formed in one surface of a partition member which divides an internal space within a housing into two fluid chambers, and a valve plate pivotably supported on the surface of the partition member. The pivotal axis of the valve member is on a plane essentially same as that of the surface of the partition member. When no load is applied to the valve member, the valve member is positioned such that the through opening remains open, and, when force applied thereto by rotation of the housing becomes greater than a predetermined value, the valve member is moved so as to close the through opening.

Abstract: A viscous clutch assembly includes a viscous coupling arranged for generating a viscous resistance force in response to relative rotation between a pair of coaxially arranged rotary members, a cam mechanism cooperable with the viscous coupling for converting the viscous resistance force into a thrust force, a friction clutch mechanism cooperable with the cam mechanism to be brought into engagement when applied with the thrust force from the cam mechanism for establishing the drive connection between the rotary members. One of the rotary member is in the form of a cylindrical outer casing and the other rotary member is in the form of an internal rotary member coaxially surrounded by the outer casing.

Abstract: A leg type roller clutch has a cooperating cage and side plate that retain all components together as a unit. The cage includes partially cylindrical bearing flanges that insulate the pathway from directly rubbing on the load bearing legs of the cam race.

Abstract: There is disclosed a thin and inexpensive viscous fluid coupling used to control the rotational speed of a fan for cooling an automotive engine. The coupling comprises a shaft, a housing rotatably held to the shaft, a cover mounted to the housing, a first and a second annular partition plates having communication holes, respectively, a valve for opening and closing the holes, and a rotor mounted to one end of the shaft. The housing and the cover together form an inside space which is divided into a storage chamber and a working chamber by the partition plates. The inside diameter of the first partition plate is less than that of the second partition plate. The communication holes are located on the same circumference, or the hole in the first partition plate is located radially outside the hole in the second partition plate.