Patents by Inventor Jerry L. Rathburn

Jerry L. Rathburn has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5031739
    Abstract: A clutch brake is formed from a pair of identically shaped semi-annular halves. One end of each of the halves is formed with a first circumferentially extending protrusion located near the outer circumferential edge thereof. Each of the opposite ends of the halves is formed with a second circumferentially extending protrusion located near the inner circumferential edge thereof. The outer protrusions are disposed adjacent to the inner protrusions in circumferentially overlapping fashion. A pair of radially extending threaded fasteners are used to secure the two clutch brake halves together. The threaded fasteners extend radially through aligned apertures formed in the overlapping outer and inner protrusions. The radially innermost ends of the threaded fasteners extend a sufficient distance so as to engage splines formed on a transmission input shaft upon which the clutch brake is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Flotow, Jerry L. Rathburn, James K. Tarlton, Jr., Martin E. Kummer
  • Patent number: 4503959
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for constructing and adjusting a plurality of release levers of a friction disc clutch. The method ensures that the inner or nose ends of the release levers lie in a common plane upon final clutch assembly. In a preferred embodiment, a rivet is secured to the nose end of each release lever. The resulting lever unit is heat treated in a manner wherein the attached rivet is hardened throughout its entirety, while the lever per se is case hardened to a specified depth.Next, a clutch cover, pressure plate, pressure means for urging the plate, and the plurality of heat treated lever units are installed together to form a clutch cover sub-assembly. Relative movement between the clutch cover and pressure plate is effected against the bias of the pressure means until the levers are in an extreme position relative to the clutch cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Flotow, Jerry L. Rathburn, DeWayne F. Schlosser