Abstract: A compound flywheel assembly for compensating a wear on a clutch disc includes a first flywheel peripherally carrying a ring gear via which the assembly is cranked in starting the engine, afforded a certain amount of angular backlash; a second flywheel bearing the friction facing, connected to the first flywheel so as to be angularly fixed yet axially movable; a clutch wear-gauging mechanism provided peripherally in an end surface of the first flywheel opposite the peripheral margin of the pressure plate sandwiching the clutch disc; and an adjusting mechanism. The wear on the clutch disc is gauged by the clutch wear-gauging mechanism in contacting the pressure plate peripheral margin meanwhile the pressure plate is pressing the clutch disc against the second flywheel.

Abstract: A compound flywheel assembly self-adjusting to compensate in operation wear on a clutch disc pressed to an end friction facing of the flywheel assembly by a clutch pressure plate. It comprises a first flywheel peripherally carrying a ring gear via which the assembly is cranked in starting the engine, afforded a certain amount of angular backlash; a second flywheel bearing the friction facing, connected to the first flywheel so as to be angularly fixed yet axially movable relative thereto; a clutch wear-gauging mechanism provided peripherally in an end surface of the first flywheel opposite the peripheral margin of the pressure plate sandwiching the clutch disc; and an adjusting mechanism. Wear on the clutch disc is gauged by the clutch wear-gauging mechanism in contacting the pressure plate peripheral margin meanwhile the pressure plate is pressing the clutch disc against the second flywheel.

Abstract: An inertial brake unit for an air clutch includes a concentric inertial brake chamber in a rotary joint for the air clutch, a disc brake, a piston and a pressure chamber. The brake unit also includes a pneumatic pressure control mechanism so that the piston can brake the disc when pressurized air is supplied to said pressure chamber at the time of disengaging the clutch.

Abstract: A friction clutch operated by a fluid pressure comprises an axially unmovable input shaft; a flywheel fixed to the input shaft; a clutch disc opposed to a friction surface of the flywheel; an output shaft connected to the clutch disc and disposed coaxially to the input shaft; a pressure plate for pressing a friction facing of the clutch disc onto the flywheel; a forcing mechanism of a fluid pressure type for forcing and moving the pressure plate through a bearing toward the flywheel; a forcing mechanism of a fluid pressure type for forcing the flywheel toward the clutch disc through a bearing; a stationary member to which said both forcing mechanisms are fixed; and a pressure controlling mechanism for changing the pressures for both forcing mechanisms correspondingly to each other.

Abstract: A pneumatic clutch apparatus includes a pneumatic clutch disposed at the rear of a transmission and has a pneumatic actuator for engaging and disengaging the clutch; a rotary passage adapted to rotate together with the clutch and connected to the actuator; a stationary passage stationary with respect to the clutch and connected to a pneumatic pressure control mechanism disposed outside the clutch; and a rotary joint including a connecting passage for connecting the rotary passage and the stationary passage together; the rotary joint having a rotary portion to which the rotary passage is fixed and a stationary portion to which the stationary passage is fixed, and the stationary portion being fixed to a housing of the transmission and rotatably supporting the rotary portion.

Abstract: A supply pressure control device for an air clutch providing a valve for controlling a pressure of compressed air supplied to the air clutch, providing a pneumatic feed-back mechanism giving an air clutch supply pressure to said valve in the direction of reducing pressure, providing a control spring elastically urging said valve in the direction of increasing pressure against the pneumatic feed-back mechanism, providing a spring bearing changing an urging force of the control spring, interconnecting the spring bearing to a clutch pedal in order to actuate the spring bearing in the direction of weakening the urging force of the control spring when the clutch pedal is stepped on, and providing a stepping force loading mechanism withstanding the stepping-on of the clutch pedal.

Abstract: A diaphragm type vacuum actuator movably providing in a case a rod having piston plates, the piston plates being connected to an inner peripheral surface of the case by means of two diaphragms so as to divide a case inside into a first chamber and a second chamber and form an intermediate chamber in between the both diaphragms, and the rod being made movable by subjecting one of said first and second chambers to vacuum and by opening the other thereof to atmospheric pressure; characterized by that air passages are formed in the piston plates, one ends of the air passages are interconnected to the intermediate chamber, and the other ends thereof are interconnected to chambers under atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a cushioning plate assembly of a clutch disc comprising a plurality of cushioning plates adapted to be disposed between a flywheel and a pressure plate and fixed to an outer peripheral portion of a clutch plate of a clutch disc; a front facing to be pressed to the flywheel and fixed to portions of the cushioning plates; and a rear facing to be pressed to the pressure plate and fixed to another portions of the cushioning plates; said cushioning plates having elastically deformable portions which deform so that substantially full surfaces of the facings may be pressed against the flywheel and the pressure plate respectively in engaged condition of the clutch.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a pneumatic clutch suitable for a heavy automobile. The clutch comprises a flywheel; a clutch cover fixed to the flywheel; a pressure plate axially movably connected to the clutch cover; a clutch disc disposed between the flywheel and the pressure plate and splined to an output shaft; an annular pneumatic actuator disposed between the pressure plate and the clutch cover and operable to force the pressure plate against the clutch disc; and a pneumatic line including an inching valve and a rotary joint around the output shaft and connecting a compressed air source to the actuator, said inching valve being connected to a clutch pedal and being operable to reduce a pneumatic pressure supplied to the actuator in accordance with lowering operation of the pedal.

Abstract: For ensuring a safer and more satisfactory operation of a clutch system, clutch release clearance may be maintained constant by the integration into the system of a clearance adjuster. This adjuster may provide a warning when the clutch facing has undergone excessive wear.