Abstract: A clutch driven plate assembly for use in an automotive vehicle and having anti-backlash damping adapted to dissipate the irregular impulses of the vehicle internal combustion or diesel engine with the transmission in neutral, the clutch engaged and the engine at idle rpm. The assembly includes a clutch plate, a spring retainer plate secured to the clutch plate, and a hub assembly comprising an inner hub in operative engagement with the transmission input shaft and an outer hub having an integral hub flange with spring windows coinciding with the spring windows of the clutch and spring retainer plates. An intermeshing backlash spline loosely connects said inner and outer hubs to allow limited rlative rotation therebetween and means yieldably resisting relative rotation of said hubs includes a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced recesses in one hub and a plurality of plungers and compression springs in the other hub with the plungers biased by the springs into engagement with complementary recesses.

Abstract: A clutch driven plate assembly for use in an automotive vehicle adapted to dissipate the irregular impulses of the vehicle engine with the transmission in neutral, the clutch engaged and the engine at idle rpm. The assembly comprises a clutch plate, a spring retainer plate secured to the clutch plate, and a hub assembly in operative engagement with the transmission input shaft and including an inner hub, an outer hub having spring windows therein, and a meshing backlash spline connection between said hubs allowing limited relative rotation therebetween; the clutch plate and spring retainer plate having spring windows axially aligned and substantially coinciding with said outer hub spring windows to receive damper springs therein. An axially movable inner cam has a splined opening receiving the splined transmission shaft and projections with 45.degree.

Abstract: A multi-stage torsional damping device for a vehicle clutch having a low-rate primary stage to eliminate transmission gear rattle occurring during neutral transmission position and a normal rate resilient and friction damping stage. The first stage consists of a low spring rate, substantially frictionless floating suspension of an inner hub within an outer hub to allow the outer hub to oscillate with engine impulses. A medium rate substantially frictionless second stage may be utilized to cushion the torque transference from the first stage to the normal rate last stage and provides compaction of some of the compression springs for the last stage for a given deflection without friction until the hub parts abut, and the third stage consists of compaction of all of the compression springs and additional deflection with friction. Alternatively, centrifugal weights may be used to lock the inner and outer hubs together at a predetermined rotation level, after which a normal damping operation is effected.

Abstract: A clutch driven plate assembly for use in an automotive vehicle adapted to dissipate the irregular impulses of the vehicle internal combustion or diesel engine with the transmission in neutral, the clutch engaged and the engine at idle rpm. The assembly includes a clutch plate, a spring retainer plate secured to the clutch plate, and a hub assembly including an inner hub in operative engagement with the transmission input shaft and an outer hub having an integral hub flange with damper spring windows axially aligned with spring windows in the clutch and spring retainer plates, and a backlashing splined connection between said hubs to allow limited relative rotation thereof. A cam retainer is mounted on the inner hub to rotate therewith and has a plurality of spaced camming recesses facing the outer hub; the outer hub having axial passages receiving compression springs and plungers biased by the springs into engagement with the complementary recesses formed in the cam retainer.

Abstract: A clutch driven plate assembly for use in an automotive vehicle adapted to dissipate the irregular impulses of the vehicle internal combustion or diesel engine when the transmission is in neutral, the clutch is engaged and the engine is at idle rpm. The assembly includes a clutch plate, a spring retainer plate secured to the clutch plate, and a hub in operative engagement with the transmission input shaft and having an integral hub flange with spring windows opened to allow an additional rotational travel of the clutch and spring retainer plates relative to the hub. A retainer is journalled on the hub so as to rotate with the clutch plate and has a plurality of equally spaced recesses facing the hub and receiving compression springs and plungers biased by the springs into engagement with complementary recesses formed in the hub flange. Rotation of the clutch plate and retainer relative to the hub causes the plungers to be cammed out of the recesses against the force of the compression springs.

Abstract: A clutch driven plate assembly for use in an automotive vehicle adapted to dissipate the irregular impulses of the vehicle engine when the transmission is in neutral, the clutch is engaged and the engine is at idle rpm. The assembly includes a clutch plate, a spring retainer plate secured to the clutch plate, and a hub in operative engagement with the transmission input shaft and having an integral hub flange with spring windows opened to allow an additional rotational travel of the clutch and spring retainer plates relative to the hub. An axially movable cam member has a splined opening receiving the splined transmission shaft and projections with 45.degree. camming surfaces, a ramp member with cooperating camming surfaces and notches in its periphery encompassing the damper springs located in the plate windows and cam springs positioned in aligned recesses in the cam member and hub to align the splines of the cam member and hub and bias the parts axially apart.

Abstract: A two-stage clutch damper assembly for use in an automotive vehicle adapted to dissipate the irregular impulses of the vehicle engine when the transmission is in neutral, the clutch is engaged and the engine is at idle rpm. The assembly includes a clutch plate, a spring retainer plate secured to the clutch plate, and a hub in operative engagement with the transmission input shaft and having an integral hub flange between the plates with spring windows opened to allow an additional rotational travel of the clutch and spring retainer plates relative to the hub. A cam and detent arrangement between the clutch plate and hub includes detent recesses formed in either a cam, the hub flange or the clutch plate, and a plurality of ramps formed in a retainer secured to the clutch plate, integral with the clutch plate or as spring-biased balls in the hub. A further arrangement includes a cam and ramp having mating helical gear teeth, and axial compression springs acting to yieldably bias the cam and hub apart.

Abstract: A multi-stage torsional damping device for a vehicle clutch having a low-rate primary stage to eliminate transmission gear rattle occurring during neutral transmission position and a normal rate resilient and friction damping stage. The first stage consists of a low spring rate, substantially frictionless floating suspension of an inner hub within an outer hub to allow the outer hub to oscillate with engine impulses. A medium rate substantially frictionless second stage may be utilized to cushion the torque transference from the first stage to the normal rate last stage and provides compaction of some of the compression springs for the last stage for a given deflection with negligible friction until the hub parts abut, and the third stage consists of compaction of all of the compression springs and additional deflection with friction. Alternatively, centrifugal weights may be used to lock the inner and outer hubs together at a predetermined rotation level, after which a normal damping operation is effected.

Abstract: A two-stage clutch damper assembly for use in an automotive vehicle adapted to dissipate the irregular impulses of a vehicle diesel engine when the transmission is in neutral, the clutch is engaged and the engine is at idle rpm. The assembly includes a clutch plate, a spring retainer plate secured to the clutch plate, and a main hub in operative engagement with the transmission input shaft and having an integral hub flange with spring notches opened to allow an additional rotational travel of the clutch and spring retainer plates relative to the hub. An intermediate hub has a radial flange between the clutch plate and main hub and an inner hub is concentric in said intermediate hub and spring-biased away from said main hub. The inner hub is splined onto the transmission input shaft, and the inner and intermediate hubs have interengaging helical teeth so that rotary motion of said intermediate hub results in axial movement of said inner hub.

Abstract: The clutch driven plate assembly includes a hub assembly connectable to a driven shaft and interconnected driven and spring retainer plates rotatably mounted upon the hub assembly. The hub assembly has an inner hub and an outer hub having a driven flange between the plates. A plurality of circumferentially spaced aligned windows are provided in the plates and flange, with at least one compression spring retained within each set of aligned windows thereby defining a yieldable connection between the plates and flange. The inner hub has a cylindrical body provided with a pair of outwardly directed converging hub flanges and the outer hub has a central opening of the same shape as the hub flanges and oversized with respect thereto and loosely receiving the inner hub flanges for limited relative rotation. A back plate is spaced from the inner and outer hubs and secured to the flange, and a resilient spacer is interposed between and bears against the inner and outer hubs and back plate.

Abstract: A hydraulically-actuated wet clutch assembly which is responsive to torque or speed and is adapted to be utilized as a starting clutch for a continuously variable transmission or similar item. This clutch connects the continuously varying means to the driving gears when the engine speed is increased from idle rpm. The clutch will engage as the fluid pressure increases from idle rpm through a pressure responsive valve or directly with a piston area defined between a piston and a cylinder, with the cylinder and attached pressure plate being movable under pressure relative to the piston to engage a clutch plate located between the piston and movable pressure plate.

Abstract: A multi-stage torsional damping device utilized for a clutch driven member comprising a low-rate primary stage to eliminate transmission gear rattle occurring in the neutral transmission position, a medium-rate stage to cushion the torque transference from the low-rate primary stage to a high-rate final stage without impacting the damper parts. The primary stage and second stage are frictionless while the normal high-rate third stage provides friction damping. The device may also have harmonic damping properties to cushion out engine impulses of any differential magnitude that occur during and within its operating range.

Abstract: A clutch driven plate assembly for use in an automotive vehicle having a multi-part hub assembly with the capability of trapping lubricant in the gear teeth when the assembly is subjected to centrifugal force in operation. The hub assembly includes an inner hub in axial splined engagement with the transmission input shaft, an outer hub with an integral radial flange and in splined engagement with the inner hub through helical splines. The inner hub is formed of a light weight non-metallic material, or the outer hub houses an annular spacer formed of an impact and sound-absorbing material to cushion the inner hub upon reciprocation thereof within the outer hub, the outer hub having end plates which act as a dam for lubricant within the intermeshing helical gear teeth.

Abstract: A clutch driven plate assembly for use in an automotive vehicle having a hub assembly with an inner hub in splined engagement with a transmission input shaft, an outer hub, and a hub flange integral with one of the hubs and extending between the clutch and spring retainer plates. Either the inner and outer hubs or the inner hub and transmission input shaft are operatively connected by helical splines or threads allowing relative axial movement between the hubs resulting in a screwing and unscrewing action when the clutch is engaged, the transmission is in neutral and the engine is at idle rpm to dissipate the irregular impulses of the vehicle engine.

Abstract: A clutch driven plate assembly for use in an automotive vehicle adapted to dissipate the irregular impulses of the vehicle engine when the transmission is in neutral, the clutch is engaged and the engine is at idle rpm. The assembly includes an inner hub in operative engagement with the transmission input shaft, an outer hub encompassing the inner hub, cooperating conical teeth on the inner and outer hubs, a back plate in engagement with the inner hub, and resilient means between the back plate and the outer hub.

Abstract: A clutch driven plate assembly for an automotive vehicle wherein the clutch plate has radially extending lobes carrying friction pads of a suitable material, with the pad being mounted on cushioning means so as to present a variable surface contact area to the engaging surfaces of the clutch assembly to decrease the clutching capacity at initial engagement to reduce chatter. As torque demand increases and clutch engagement continues, the clutch capacity is increased by the deforming of the cushioning means to allow the friction pads to flatten against the engaging surfaces and provide a larger contact area.

Abstract: A clutch driven plate assembly for an automotive vehicle wherein the clutch plate has radially extending lobes carrying friction pads of a suitable material, with the pads being mounted on cushioning means so as to present a yieldable friction surface to the engaging surfaces of the clutch assembly.

Abstract: A hub for a clutch driven member utilized in an automotive vehicle clutch assembly wherein the barrel portion of the hub is notched or slotted to receive a segmental barrel portion that is spring loaded to eliminate the backlash space of the splined attachment between the hub and the end of a transmission input shaft.

Abstract: A multiple stage damper for the driven member of a vehicle clutch which eliminates objectionable vibration during both engine idle and while the vehicle is in motion. The damper comprises inner and outer hubs with springs therebetween and additional damper springs between the outer hub and the clutch and spring retainer plates to provide two or more damping stages. A two stage damper results when the springs connecting the inner and outer hubs work simultaneously, while a three stage damper results when a first spring or springs are actuated prior to a second spring or springs providing a sequential damping action.

Abstract: A slack adjuster for vehicle brakes that utilizes an adjustment means actuated by the brake piston rod comprising a load biased rotatable worm shaft and clutch actuated by a reciprocable rack. The piston rod operated by the vehicle brake pedal is operatively connected to the slack adjuster lever and housing through a clevis pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to the lever and connected through a second pivotal connection on the free end of the clevis with an actuating rod that is connected to the reciprocable rack through a lost motion connection.