Abstract: A friction disc paddle for a rotatable clutch disc has powdered metal friction faces compacted directly on each face of a metal substrate. The friction faces extend through apertures in the metal substrate, and extend to the circumferential and radial edges of the metal substrate. The friction faces are solidly bonded to the metal substrate. The apertures not only ensure that the friction faces are securely attached to the metal substrate, but they also reduce the overall weight of the friction disc paddle.

Abstract: An adapter kit for a clutch of the axially engaging, multiple-disc type as described above and includes a sleeve adapted after removal of the original keys to fit snugly into the shell, reducing its inside diameter. The sleeve is radially drilled and tapped and receives bolts through the same boles. occupied by bolts holding on the original keys, the sleeve being provided with inward keys of greater number than the original keys. The kit also comprises a set of adapter discs adapted to replace the original discs and consisting of a greater total number of discs than the original discs, the set comprising drive discs pressed of fibrous non-metallic material and being of the same diameter as the inside of the sleeve. The drive discs have peripheral notches arranged to receive respectively the keys on the sleeve, the drive discs having a central opening amply receiving the studs and pins on the hub.

Abstract: A slip control loop (13) is proposed which compares the actual differential speed between input and output speed of a friction clutch (5) of a motor vehicle with a desired differential value and adjusts a positioning drive (7) of the clutch (5) according to the desired differential speed. To increase the accuracy of control, a desired position signal from a clutch characteristic curve memory (25) is additively superimposed in the sense of an influencing variable on the desired position signal s' calculated by a controller (19) of the slip control loop (13). The clutch characteristic curve memory (25) stores the desired position signal s" as a function of the clutch moment which can be transmitted in this position and is addressed according to the instantaneous engine moment determined, for example, via an engine characteristic map (27). During a load change of the engine (1), the clutch (5) is adjusted to the expected moment before a significant change in the actual differential speed occurs.

Abstract: The electromagnetic clutch (10) includes a rotor assembly (12), an armature assembly (14) and a field assembly (16). The field assembly (16) includes a ring and flange assembly (86). A terminal passage (104) is provided through the base portion (100) of the circular ring 96 with a U-shaped cross-section that form as a toroidal chamber (98). An electromagnetic coil (90) is encased in a bobbin (88) and a cap (92) and inserted into the toroidal chamber with a bobbin terminal post (110) extending into the terminal passage (104). A terminal housing (120) with a terminal sleeve (142) telescopically receives the bobbin terminal post (110) and the terminal sleeve (142) extends into the terminal passage (104). Leads (112 and 114) from the electromagnetic coil (90) extend into the terminal housing (120). Terminals (122) are housed in terminal apertures (136 and 138) in the terminal housing ( 120) and are in contact with the leads (112 and 114).

Abstract: A one-way clutch has an inner race, an outer race and a plurality of locking elements that are disposed between the races and that move with respect to one of the races when the clutch is overrunning. The clutch includes at least one end bearing for maintaining concentricity of the races that also adjusts the supply of lubricant inside the one-way clutch hydrodynamically. Several configurations and combinations for the end bearing are disclosed.

Abstract: An overrunning clutch which exhibits improved resistance to wear owing to grease filled thereinto which exhibits resistance to thermal oxidation even at increased temperatures due to overrunning. The overrunning clutch has a plurality of cam cases formed between its outer and inner members and also has a plurality of rollers arranged one by one in the cases. The cases are filled with a grease containing a first extreme pressure additive which is liquid and a second extreme pressure additive which is solid and yet melts at a prescribed temperature. Below the prescribed temperature, only the first extreme pressure additive functions as a lubricant, so that the rollers permit the engagement of the outer and inner members for the transmission of turning force from one member to the other. When the prescribed temperature is reached in the overrunning state, the second extreme pressure additive melts to function as a lubricant, thereby preventing the rollers from wearing.

Abstract: A release apparatus for a pull-type friction clutch wherein the coupling between the parts on the engine and the parts on the power train of a motor vehicle is automatically deactivated in response to separation of the engine from the power train, and is automatically reestablished during reassembly of the engine with the power train. The coupling employs a detent in the form of a resilient split wire ring which is carried by the parts on the engine or by the parts on the power train, and a complementary undercut member which is carried by the parts on the power train or by the parts on the engine and form-lockingly engages the detent when the two sets of parts assume predetermined axial positions relative to each other. A releasing device is provided on one set of parts to depress the detent into a socket in response to movement of the engine and the power train away from each other to thus deactivate the coupling.

Abstract: A torque transmission device includes an input shaft, an output shaft, a helical spring, a fixing member, and a stopping member. The helical spring has an input portion frictionally connected to the input shaft and an output portion frictionally connected to the output shaft, and rotatable together with the input shaft and the output shaft to transmit the torque of the input shaft to the output shaft. The stopping member is engageable with an input end portion of the spring at a predetermined engaging position and adapted for stopping the output shaft at a predetermined rotational position. The fixing member is used to fix an output end portion of the spring on the output shaft at such a position as to assure a predetermined phase relationship between the engaging position and the rotational position.

Abstract: A friction clutch for a motor vehicle comprises a cover plate and a pressure plate, with an elastic diaphragm between them. The diaphragm has an outer peripheral portion which is formed with two concentric annular ribs projecting axially and defining respective convexities which are oriented in opposite directions. Each of these convexities cooperates with a respective surface portion formed in facing relationship with the diaphragm on a corresponding one of the members comprising the pressure plate and the cover plate. The diaphragm having these ribs has a cross section, taken in an axial plane through the annular peripheral portion of the diaphragm, which is substantially in the form of a letter S or Z.

Abstract: A friction clutch coupling an engine and a gear transmission of a vehicle is controlled by a microprocessor based circuit using logic which defines operating modes according to engine and clutch conditions. During the time of clutch closure, when the vehicle is starting from rest in a startup or launch mode, the throttle or other engine control signal is restrained from quickly responding to the accelerator pedal. This avoids engine overspeeding which results from generating high torque before sufficient clutch capacity has been achieved. The control signal is developed as a function of the pedal position under control of throttle logic which, in turn, is dependent on clutch operating modes defined by the clutch logic.

Abstract: An automatic transmission shifter for a vehicle comprises a unitary glass reinforced nylon housing open at the bottom and having interconnected, spaced upper, side and end walls. A slot is formed in the upper wall, a pair of spaced aligned apertured bosses are formed in the side walls, and integral flanges extend from the side and end walls and incorporate a plurality of spaced apertures for mounting the housing to vehicle structure. A pair of spaced, aligned position control plates, each comprising a plurality of notches, are formed interiorly on the side walls, a plurality of detent notches are formed interiorly on the housing on one of the side walls below the position control plates, and a shift cable access opening is formed in one of the end walls. A shift lever assembly including an operating lever extends upwardly through the slot.

Abstract: A sensing device for monitoring the presence of a tool or other object on an automatic machine comprises a sensing head adapted to be mounted on the machine. The sensing head has a sensing needle mounted on the output shaft of a reversible motor actuated on each cycle of the automatic machine for movement through a swing angle such that the sensing needle will either contact the monitored object or complete the full swing angle movement resulting in a cycle continue or cycle stop signal to the automatic machine control. The swing angle is manually adjustable by a setting ring on the sensing head for either clockwise or counterclockwise initial rotation of the sensing needle through any desired angle up to 180.degree. degrees.

Abstract: A two-way free-wheeling clutch is formed between a drive shaft and a driven shaft concentric with and encircling at least a portion of the drive shaft that is formed by axially extending substantially chord forming portions. The chord forming portions cooperate with circular bearings interposed between the portions and a circumferential surface of the encircling portion of the driven shaft to drive the driven shaft from the drive shaft. Drive of the driven shaft by the drive shaft is obtained by relatively positioning the bearings and the portions so the bearings are toward the radial extremities of their respective chord portions a driving wedge is formed with the inner circumferential surface of the driven shaft. When the portions and the bearings are shifted to relatively position the bearings closer to the centre of the chord forming portions i.e. minimum radial position on the chord free rotation of the driven shaft freewheeling of the driven shaft is permitted.

Abstract: A control system for a drive train having a direct drive clutch and a torque amplifier clutch includes a master control for alternating between direct drive and torque amplifier positions for actuation of the direct drive clutch and the torque amplifier clutch respectively. When the master control moves from its direct drive position to its torque amplifier position a first delay control keeps the direct drive clutch engaged until the torque amplifier clutch is fully engaged. When the master control moves from its torque amplifier position to its direct drive position a second delay control keeps the torque amplifier clutch engaged until the direct drive clutch is fully engaged.

Abstract: A motor vehicle clutch disc includes a metal carrier sheet; an elastomer intermediate layer facing the metal carrier layer; a clutch lining facing the elastomer intermediate layer; and a composite binder bonding first surface regions of the elastomer intermediate layer to the metal carrier sheet and to the clutch lining by chemical sorption. Areas of the first surface regions are less than areas of the metal carrier sheet and the clutch lining facing the elastomer intermediate layer. The elastomer intermediate layer is of hydrated nitrile rubber or a fluoroelastomer. The elastomer intermediate layer has an elasticity of non-linear spring characteristics and is effective in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the clutch disc. The elastomer intermediate layer has unbonded, second surface regions facing the metal carrier sheet and the clutch lining.

Abstract: An electrohydraulic device for controlling clutch engagement in motor vehicles and the like, incorporating a hydraulic actuator having the rod of its piston connected to the clutch lever, a hydraulic circuit for controlling the hydraulic actuator via an interceptor mechanism, an electronic control unit which causes the interceptor mechanism to feed the hydraulic actuator and thereby cause clutch release, as well as to enable the hydraulic actuator to discharge, and at least one solenoid valve connected to the discharge circuit of the hydraulic actuator which is caused to open by the electronic control unit due to a sequence of electronic pulses related to the rotational speed of the vehicle engine. The command to the interceptor mechanism is provided by the electronic control unit automatically when predetermined engine operating conditions exist or by the action of the driver.

Abstract: A vehicle clutch is comprised of a supply cylinder activated by a clutch pedal and a receiving cylinder for hydraulic fluid displaced from the supply cylinder when the clutch pedal is pressed down. A fluid line connects the two cylinders. A safety device is connected within the fluid line and comprises at least one throttle element for reducing the fluid flow from the receiving to the supply cylinder when a preset engaging speed for engaging the clutch is surpassed. The safety device includes a measuring orifice connected in parallel to the throttle element. A solenoid is provided which has a closing device for closing the fluid line between the two cylinders with the exception of the throttle element when a preset fluid pressure differential measured before and behind the measuring orifice is surpassed. Two pressure switches are coordinated with the measuring orifice for measuring the fluid pressure differential at the measuring orifice.

Abstract: A bicycle wheel hub has identical endwalls which mount outwardly directed bosses for engaging in mating recesses of a self-contained freewheel mechanism to enable the freewheel mechanism to be mounted to the hub with a positive engagement to the hub rather than being threaded onto a hub extension. The assembly also incorporates sealed bearings which insert into seats recessed into the opposite ends of the axle bore, with the radially inner races of the bearings being captured axially on both sides, on the inside by an enlarged central axle length, and on the outside by sleeves which are slipped over the reduced axle end extensions and bear against the bicycle mounting forks to define a straight compressive chain through the sleeves, inner bearing races and central axle portion so that compressive stresses are not exerted on the bearings by the mounting of the hub to the fork.

Abstract: Apparatus for transmitting torque between the engine and the transmission of a motor vehicle has a first flywheel which receives torque from the engine, a second flywheel which receives torque from the first flywheel by way of one or more dampers and a disc and is at least partially encapsulated in the first flywheel in the axial direction of the flywheels, and a friction clutch which serves to couple the second flywheel with or to uncouple the second flywheel from the transmission. A substantial part of the clutch is also encapsulated into the first flywheel so that the dimensions of the apparatus in the axial direction of the flywheels are sufficiently small to warrant its use in motor vehicles with transversely extending engines and transmissions.

Abstract: A system having a pair of axle shafts; an input shaft for transmitting torque; and a differential for transmitting motion from the input shaft to the axle shafts and in turn presenting a planet carrier angularly integral with the input shaft, and a pair of sun gears; the system also presenting a first clutch interposed between each axle shaft and a respective sun gear, a second clutch interposed between each axle shaft and the planet carrier; and a device for controlling the clutches and continuously varying distribution of the torque between the axle shafts.