Abstract: A friction torque transmitting device includes a flywheel and a housing, wherein a pressure plate and a driven plate are sandwiched between the housing and the flywheel. The driven plate is coupled to an axially extending drive shaft. A friction bracket assembly is secured to the torque transmitting device at an outer periphery by a pair of spaced dowels. The friction bracket assembly extends about a drive shaft for only a limited circumferential extent, so that each bracket of the assembly may be removed from the drive shaft without disassembly of the device. Each of the brackets include friction surfaces in order to frictionally engage the elements of the device. A forward bracket includes a guide member extending from the forward bracket that cooperates with another member of the device, such as the housing, to provide increased stability. A rearward bracket includes a guide member extending from the rearward bracket which cooperates with the forward bracket for increased stability.

Abstract: An improved friction assembly includes a pressure plate having a plurality of axially extending vanes which extend substantially from an inner diameter to an outer diameter of the pressure plate. The pressure plate rotates about an output drive shaft. The pressure plate is enclosed in a housing and a cover, wherein the cover is contoured to partially enclose the pressure plate and to allow air to flow from outside the cover to an inner diameter of the pressure plate. A retainer assembly is positioned circumferentially about the output drive shaft. A plurality of coil springs extend radially between the retainer assembly and the cover, at least some of the coil springs being angled to urge the retainer assembly towards the pressure plate. A plurality of levers cooperate with the retainer assembly providing axial movement of the pressure plate, the pressure plate engaging and disengaging the driven disc.

Abstract: An anti-rattle device for a multiple disc friction clutch assembly also doubles as a clutch disc separator device. In a preferred form, the device is formed of spring steel, and is adapted to be received on a radially extending lug of a clutch plate. The device has an elongate body adapted to extend generally tangentially to the circumference of the clutch plate. The device includes a lug-receiving slot in one of two elongate boundary edges, and is adapted to be trapped between the circumferential contours of a clutch cover bracket and the clutch plate. The device is installed on the lug without special tools, and is retained on the lug solely by friction.

Abstract: An improved wear compensation device for manual or automatic adjustment for wear in a spring loaded friction clutch. An annular circumferentially extending cam track on the clutch cover or the adjusting ring or both is used to move the adjusting ring towards the clutch pressure plate when the adjusting ring is turned relative to the cover.

Abstract: A clutch adjusting ring defines an operative position for members which are movable to force a drive disc into a driven disc. The adjusting ring is threadably adjustable within the interior of a clutch cover to accommodate wear on the discs. A seal is provided between the clutch cover and adjusting ring to prevent contaminants or rust from interfering with thread operation. The seal also prevents lubrication from escaping or evaporating between the threaded members.

Abstract: A self-adjusting mechanism for a friction clutch of the type having movable pressure plate, adjusting ring, release sleeve, and release lever having ends engaging adjusting ring and release sleeve with intermediate point on release lever engaging pressure plate. Release yoke is engagable with release sleeve to move release sleeve away from pressure plate, release yoke having a selected free play distance between unengaged and engaged positions with respect to release sleeve, free travel distance decreasing as friction surfaces wear. Mechanism includes: sensing mechanism to sense a decrease in free travel distance as engagement occurs and adjusting mechanism responsive to sensing mechanism to cause adjusting ring to advance toward pressure plate as disengagement subsequently occurs, compensating for decrease in free travel distance.

Abstract: A clutch has an adjusting ring defining an operative position for a spring which is movable to force a drive disc into a driven disc. The adjusting ring is threadably adjustable within the interior of a flywheel housing to allow adjustment of the position of the adjusting ring spring to accommodate wear on the discs. The flywheel housing has a plurality of spaced gaps where there are no threads. The gaps accommodate debris and ensure that the threads on the adjusting ring and the flywheel housing do not bind, and prevent adjustment. The threads are of the buttress-type, having a cross-sectional shape that is less likely to bind. Finally, the lead of the thread is increased such that there are a relatively small number of thread turns per unit length. The resulting adjusting ring remains easily adjustable, and less likely to bind than prior art structures.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a release mechanism for a wet clutch of the type including a clutch pack having interleaved driven and intermediate disks, the driven disks being attached to a rotatable shaft and the intermediate disks being attached to a driven hub, a pressure plate disposed so as to apply clamping pressure to the clutch pack so as to cause the interleaved disks to frictionally engage each other, and a spring to apply the clamping pressure to the pressure plate, the release mechanism including: an air operated diaphragm operatively connected to the pressure plate to draw the pressure plate from the clutch pack and release the clamping pressure therefrom.

Abstract: A first shaft which is, for example, the output shaft of a clutch, is coupled to a second shaft which, for example, is the input shaft of a transmission, by a splined coupling. The splined coupling includes a first sleeve having internal splines for splining with the first shaft and external splines for splining with the internal splines of a second sleeve which internal splines also spline with the external splines of the second shaft. A first spring extending between the first sleeve and first shaft biases the first sleeve toward the second shaft, while a second spring extending between the first sleeve and second sleeve biases the second sleeve toward the second shaft. In order to decouple the first shaft from the second shaft so that, for example, a clutch may be removed from a drive train without removing a transmission, the first and second sleeves are pushed to a retracted position, collapsing the first and second springs.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically sensing when the friction elements of a clutch are excessively worn and for generating a signal in response thereto is disclosed. The clutch includes a bearing housing which is adapted to be moved between engaged and disengaged positions. A shift assembly is provided for moving the bearing housing to the disengaged position. The shift assembly includes a pair of fingers which are normally spaced apart from the bearing housing when the clutch is engaged and the friction elements are not worn. However, when the friction elements become worn, the bearing housing engages the fingers of the shift assembly when the clutch is in the engaged position. A sensor is mounted in the bearing housing for generating a signal when the fingers are in contact therewith. The signal may be an electrical signal which is fed to a control circuit.

Abstract: A backing plate for connection to a clutch disc includes a pair of spaced friction material portions (or pads). A central channel extends between the two portions to allow air to flow over and cool a central area of the friction material. Clearances are defined at radially inner and outer areas of the channel and receive rivets to secure the backing plate to a clutch disc. The rivets are positioned radially between the radially inner and radially outer edge of the friction material, such that the backing plate is firmly secured to the clutch disc to prevent bowing. The improved backing plate ensures that the backing plate remains firmly secured to the clutch disc, and that the friction material is adequately cooled such that it efficiently transmits rotational forces from a drive source to a driven shaft.

Abstract: A self-contained friction clutch having a low inertia driven disc assembly is disclosed. The clutch includes a cover having a friction plate secured thereto in spaced apart fashion. The cover and the friction plate are secured to a flywheel as a unit, with the friction plate being disposed adjacent to the flywheel. Radial and circular grooves are formed in the face of the flywheel adjacent to the friction plate to permit cooling air to flow therebetween. A pressure plate is disposed between the cover and the friction plate for rotation therewith and axial movement relative thereto. Friction pads are secured to the adjacent faces of the friction plate and the pressure plate. A driven disc assembly is disposed between the friction plate and the pressure plate. The driven disc assembly includes a support plate extending between the pads secured to the friction plate and the pressure plate.

Abstract: A clutch driven disc assembly includes a ventilated support plate and friction element to reduce the build up of heat during use. The support plate includes a plurality of radially extending paddles. A pair of friction elements are secured to the opposed sides of each of the paddles. Each paddle has a plurality of generally parallel slots formed therethrough. The slots may extend generally radially or generally circumferentially relative to the paddle. Each of the friction elements includes a corrugated backing plate having a friction facing secured thereto. The corrugations define a plurality of raised channels in the backing plate. The raised channels are formed such that they are aligned with the slots formed through the support plate when the friction elements are secured to the paddle. Such alignment provides a plurality of channels for the passage of air therethrough as the driven disc assembly rotates during use.

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: 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: An internally assisted friction clutch having both engagement springs and assister springs extending between a cover and a release sleeve is disclosed. The radially directed forces exerted by the springs continually center and rotatably drive the release sleeve co-axially relative to the cover under normal operating conditions. In order to prevent excessive relative rotation, a plurality of protrusions are formed on the release sleeve which extend into respective recesses formed on the cover. The recesses are sized to be significantly larger than the protrusions so as to cause engagement only when four to five degrees of relative rotational movement or more occurs between the release sleeve and the cover.

Abstract: A drive assembly is adapted for engagement with a driven clutch plate of a heavy-duty truck. The drive assembly incorporates a drive pin comprising a shank inserted into a flywheel, and a spindle which extends radially inwardly from the flywheel. A drive head is rotatably mounted on the spindle, which incorporates a groove containing a compressible friction ring for assuring frictional retention of the head. The drive pin includes a shoulder situated intermediate shank and spindle, the shoulder incorporating a frustoconical portion to provide a tapered bearing surface for rotatably supporting the drive head on the spindle. The shoulder also contains a radially extending annulus which faces the shank, the annulus adapted for limiting depth of insertion of the shank into the flywheel. In the same preferred form, the drive head has a tapered counterbore to matingly engage the frustoconical portion, and also contains a plurality of chamfered surfaces adjacent opposed ends of the head.

Abstract: A clutch cover assembly including a clutch cover and pressure plate axially movable relative thereto and unitarily rotatable therewith. A release collar within the cover actuates a plurality of levers which move the pressure plate toward and away from its engaged position. A plurality of engagement springs act between the cover and the collar to spring load the clutch. Three assister springs are disposed equidistantly about the collar and engage the latter and an inwardly facing surface carried by the cover. When the pressure plate is in its engaged position, the assister springs are disposed perpendicular to the clutch axis. When the collar is moved toward the clutch disengaged position, the assister springs are tilted away from their engaged position and begin to generate a force axially in the direction of movement of the release collar and assist in the axial movement thereof.