Abstract: Disclosed is a friction device of a lockup clutch which comprises an annular and plate-shaped piston linking with pressure to the input portion of a torque converter, an annular driven plate linking to the turbine of the torque converter, and damper springs for coupling the piston and driven plate in the circumferential direction, in which a friction mechanism is disposed between the internal circumferential portion of the piston and the turbine hub, and this friction mechanism is provided with a first friction member not rotatable relative to the turbine hub and a second friction member not rotatable relative to the piston, and these two friction members are pressed to each other so as to produce friction in the friction members by the relative rotation of piston and turbine hub.

Abstract: An infinitely variable high efficiency drive mechanism that can act as a transmission or as a coupling between a prime mover and the reducing gears of a standard or automatic transmission, replacing a clutch or torque converter as a means of power transmission. This mechanism includes a hydraulic pump with a self-contained valve that keeps high pressure oil flow to a minimal distance. It can regulate shaft output torque ratio from zero (neutral) to 1:1 in locked position with minimal efficiency losses.

Abstract: A release device for a clutch comprising a cylinder disposed within a clutch housing and having a cylindrical intermediate wall portion projecting toward a release bearing, a piston having a cylindrical hollow portion and connected to the release bearing, the intermediate wall portion being slidably fitted in the hollow portion through a main seal, an operation chamber defined by a part of the hollow portion, the operation chamber facing the front end of the intermediate wall portion, an external hydraulic mechanism connected to the operation chamber, the cylinder further having an inner wall portion and an outer wall portion, both of a cylindrical shape, which fit in the piston, an auxiliary seal provided between each of the wall portions and the piston, and a drain oil passage formed in the cylinder which connects internal spaces between the inner and intermediate wall portions of the cylinder and between the outer and intermediate wall portions of the cylinder to a discharge site outside the clutch housing

Abstract: A power transmission apparatus suitable for use with a four wheel drive apparatus of an automobile which can prevent spouting of working fluid through a sealing portion or the like and introduction of external air into the apparatus through a sealing portion. The apparatus comprises a hydraulic transmission coupling mechanism of the vane pump type connected to a pair of shafts to transmit driving force between the shafts and having a pump chamber formed therein. A tank is provided in an integral relationship with the coupling mechanism and accommodates working fluid in an enclosed condition therein. A volume variation absorbing mechanism is provided near an axis of rotation of the coupling mechanism for absorbing a variation in volume of the working fluid in the pump chamber.

Abstract: A fluid coupling device is disclosed of the type including a valve plate (31) separating the fluid chamber into an operating chamber (33) and a reservoir chamber (35). The valve plate defines first and second fill openings (43a,43b), flow through which is controlled by a valve member (41) which rotates in the plane of the valve plate in response to variations in temperature. The first (43a) and second (43b) fill openings are disposed in generally the same region of the valve plate (31). The valve member (41) includes first (41a) and second (41b) port covering portions, disposed to cover the fill openings, when the valve member is in a disengaged condition, and to uncover the openings as the valve member moves toward an engaged condition. Having the fill openings in the same region of the valve plate substantially reduces the negative effects of errors in the concentricities of the valve arm, valve plate and the various parts of the device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to annular diaphragm springs for use in clutches and speed changers for automobile vehicles, of the kind having radial fingers separated by orifices alternating with the fingers. According to the invention at least two fingers are each equipped with a fold delimiting a lateral part of the orifice. This stiffens the fingers without increasing the thickness of the diaphragm.

Abstract: In an electromagnetic clutch, the movable clutch plate which acts as an armature is connected to a drive member by a spring plate having a plurality of deformable arms. The deformable arms are rigidly connected to the drive member at one end thereof while the opposite ends of the arms are connected to the clutch plate by rivets with the reduced armature shank portions of the rivets being located in elongated holes in the ends of the arms. The heads of the rivets are located in notches in the drive member to prevent relative rotation of the clutch plate relative to the drive member while permitting axial movement relative thereto.

Abstract: A clutch disc including a disc-like annular facing members arrange to front on each other and a cushioning plate corrugated in circumferential direction. Stiffening plates which are disc-like annular bodies having inside and outside diameters approximately identical with those of facing members and on which slotted holes extending nearly in radial direction are made at plural places in circumferential direction, are glued to fronting surfaces of the facing members. The cushioning plate is disposed between the fronting stiffening plates to make convex portions on its both surfaces contact with portions located between the slotted holes of the stiffening plates, and is fastened by rivets to the contacting portions.

Abstract: A system for controlling a lock-up clutch comprises a lock-up control valve including a spool and a plug in a spool bore. The spool is movable between a lock-up clutch engagement position and a lock-up clutch disengagement position. The plug is axially movably inserted at one end of the spool bore, and has a pressure acting area whose diameter is larger than the maximal diameter of the spool. This pressure acting area is subject to a pressure when the transmission establishes the first or reverse speed. Thus, in the event the transmission establishes the first or reverse speed, the spool is displaced to the lock-up clutch disengagement position by a force applied to the pressure acting area of the plug.

Abstract: A clutch plate assembly (24) for a vehicle driveline includes a spring damping mechanism (28) disposed in parallel with a viscous shear damper mechanism (30) for damping spring recoil. The spring damping mechanism includes a set of pairs of relatively high rate helical compression sprigs (34,36) for transmitting torque and attenuating torsionals when a transmission input shaft (22) is connected to a load and a set of relatively low rate helical compression springs (38) connected in series with the high rate springs (34,36) for attenuating torsionals when the shaft (22) is not connected to a load. The viscous damper mechanism includes an annular housing (48) having first and second radially extending sidewalls (52,54) defining a compartment (48a) having a clutch assembly (50) disposed therein for viscous clutching coaction via a viscous shear oil.

Abstract: To obtain a wide transmission torque adjustable range at a short stroke in a viscous coupling clutch including a first rotatable member and a second rotatable member rotatably and slidably disposed relative to the first rotatable member so as to form a working chamber filled with a viscous fluid, without increasing the clutch size and cost, first and second cylinder assemblies of different diameters are coaxially fixed to the first and second rotatable members, respectively in such a way that a radial thickness of each of the resistance cylinder members changes stepwise along the axial direction thereof to stepwise change the overlap and gap (i.e. viscous coupling) conditions between the first and second cylinder assemblies, when the first rotatable member is moved axially relative to the second rotatable member.

Abstract: A retainer plate of a one-way clutch assembly for retaining the one-way clutch assembly in position between a pair of outer and inner rings. The retainer plate is generally ring-shaped and recessed at a plurality of locations at least at one surface, so that when the retainer plate is brought into contact with the outer ring for having the retainer plate fixedly attached to the outer ring, there are formed a plurality of radially extending flow passages between the retainer plate and the outer ring. Therefore, a part of the lubricant supplied through a supply port of the inner ring may pass through these flow channels to be supplied to thrust bearings and/or to a clutch plate assembly which is provided at the outer periphery of the outer ring.

Abstract: Disclosed is a centrifugal clutch of the type that includes a driving side member, a driven side member and a plurality of clutch shoes each having one end connected to the driving side member, the other end being capable of being friction-engaged with the driven side member, the driving side member and the clutch shoes being integrally formed using a high specific gravity resin type composite material.

Abstract: A motor-driven apparatus for controlling a throttle valve includes first and second clutch plates 11,13 mounted on an output shaft 5 opposite each other, with the second clutch plate rigidly secured to the output shaft. The first clutch plate is urged by a spring 12 toward an output gear 10 rotatably mounted on the output shaft. When the second clutch plate is magnetized, the first clutch plate is attracted to it for engagement causing the second clutch plate to rotate with the first clutch plate and the output gear, thus transmitting the torque of a motor 18 to the output shaft. An axial gap between the second clutch plate and a yoke 15 ensures rotation of the second clutch plate even when foreign substances such as iron particles are trapped in the gap because the foreign substances will easily be displaced out of the gap by centrifugal force during rotation.

Abstract: A torque sensor (10) is provided which avoids the problems of cantilevered screw and nut arrangements previously used in torque sensors. A long gear (15) receives a torque input from a shaft (14) of a primary shafting system (11) used to actuate various devices and the like (A,B,C,D,E). The long gear (15) is simply supported between bearings (17,18) to eliminate cantilevered support. Likewise, a threades shaft (19) receiving a torque input from shaft (13) of the primary shafting system (11) is simply supported between bearings (20,21) and has a travelling gear (22,23) threadably mounted thereon for axial movement along the shaft (19) as a result of differential motion between the long gear (15) and the travelling gear (22,23). Mating conical surfaces (24,26 and/or 25,27) are provided respectively on the travelling gear (22,23) and shaft (19) to cause locking and effect torque transmissions between the shafts (13,14).

Abstract: An automotive transmission lubricated friction clutch is provided having a synchronization ring and matching cone; these parts form a friction pairing. Materials having different friction characteristics and friction wear resistances are used for the friction surfaces forming the friction pairing. A specific friction material is provided having desirable friction characteristics but lacking pores or drainage thread for one friction surface, and a microporous sintered material having a friction-effective area A of 50% <A <90% of the total friction surface and pores with a mean diameter of <300 .mu.m for the other friction surface. Either the synchronization ring or the matching cone are designed to represent one or the other form of friction surface, as desired. Lubricated friction clutches for automotive transmissions can be manufactured according to the invention that have increased life expectancy, shorter shifting times, smaller sizes and reduced manufacturing costs as compared to other clutches.

Abstract: There is disclosed an automotive clutch in which frictional engagement faces of a clutch are provided with an organic composite facing and a sintered metal facing. By this combination, the benefits of both types of facings are obtained without any of the disadvantages that formerly plagued the use of these facings. In the invention, the organic composite facing provides the low temperature service for the clutch with a suitably high coefficient of friction which is relatively constant from ambient to several hundred degrees F. The sintered metal facing provides high temperature service for the clutch. Thus, when the organic composite facings reach their maximum service temperature of around 500 degrees F.

Abstract: In an electromagnetic clutch for selectively transmitting rotation of a pulley to a drive shaft having an armature by magnetic force attracting the armature to the pulley, the pulley is mounted by a bearing on a tubular support projecting from a side wall of a mount and an electromagnetic device is mounted through a supporting plate on the mount for generating a magnetic force to attract the armature to the pulley. In order to make assembly of the clutch easy, the supporting plate supports the electromagnetic device at an outer peripheral region on one surface and comprises a central boss projecting from the surface and extending around the tubular support to have a projecting end, an annular surface region in contact with the side surface of the mount, and a radial inner flange radially inwardly extending from the projecting end to form a central hole through which the tubular support extends.

Abstract: A torque limiting one-way clutch assembly including a bearing housing having a central bore and a number of grooves around the bore, each groove including a recess at one end, a ramp inclined toward the recess, a roller in each of the grooves, a spring assembly mounted on one end of the housing, the spring assembly including a flexible member extending into each of the grooves for bearing the rollers towards the recess, and a torque ring mounted on the outside surface of bearing housing and having an internal diameter smaller than the bearing housing to provide a frictional fit between the torque ring and the outside surface of the bearing housing.

Abstract: In a clutch cover assembly including a diaphragm spring and a coned disc spring, circumferential plural places of the coned disc spring are secured to projecting portions provided on a clutch cover in such a manner as leaving no play at least in a circumferential or axial direction. Since there is no clearance between secured portions of the coned disc spring and projecting portions of the clutch cover, the coned disc spring can be prevented from emitting abnormal sound due to its axial or circumferential vibration.