Clutch Plate Patents (Class 192/113.26)
  • Patent number: 8919520
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to durability enhancement techniques for a dry-clutch vehicle transmission. A cooling system that provides a direct convective cooling path to friction surfaces is disclosed. Also disclosed is a continuously variable clutch wear compensation assembly configured to adjust the position of clutch assembly components on-demand or as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eli Avny, Matthew John Shelton, Steven Gerald Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140291108
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dry-clutch transmission having various cooling techniques. Some techniques include forming different structural features on transmission components so as to create an organized air flow. The disclosed techniques are applicable to both opened and closed transmission housings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventor: John Edward Brevick
  • Patent number: 6823975
    Abstract: The centrifugal clutch includes one or more clutch plates having a plurality of air impeller vanes to circulate air through the centrifugal clutch during its operation in order to extend the useful life of the clutch. A pressure plate includes a plurality of air impeller vanes formed by alternating raised impeller vane portions and impeller vane channels, with the weighted levers of the centrifugal clutch aligned with the raised portions of the air impeller vanes of the pressure plate. A fixed plate may also include a plurality of air impeller vanes formed on a side surface of the fixed plate by alternating raised impeller vane portions and impeller vane channels. A floating plate may also include a plurality of air impeller channels formed internally within the floating plate and having openings at the outer and inner edges of the floating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Horstman Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: William A. Martin
  • Publication number: 20040206595
    Abstract: A dry multi-disc clutch includes a plurality of friction discs interposed between a drive-side clutch outer and a driven-side clutch center and power is transmitted from the clutch outer to the clutch center by pushing these friction discs using a pressure plate. Fins which enhance a flow of air are formed on the clutch outer and the pressure plate and, at the same time, passages which allow the communication of air are formed in the clutch outer and the pressure plate. With such a clutch structure it is possible to efficiently radiate the friction heat, which is generated when the clutch is connected, and the heat transmitted from the engine and, at the same time, it is possible to discharge the wear powder that is generated when the clutch is connected. As a result, it is possible to stabilize the clutch performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Wakabayashi, Yoshinobu Shiomi
  • Patent number: 6793057
    Abstract: A rotary friction system, comprising: a flywheel, which comprises: a disk, comprising a plurality of coaxially disposed arcuate shaped recesses and a plurality of radially disposed channels; arcuate shaped pads matingly mounted therein the arcuate shaped recesses; a clutch disk, comprising: another disk, which comprises a plurality of coaxially disposed arcuate shaped cutouts; a plurality of other arcuate shaped pads, each of the other arcuate shaped pads having a raised step portion; the other arcuate shaped pads mounted thereon the other disk, having adjacent ones of the raised portions interleaved about the other disk, extending matingly therethrough the arcuate shaped cutouts in opposing directions; the flywheel adjacent the clutch disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Inventor: Robert P. Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6578691
    Abstract: A ultra-low stiction torque transfer device (10) having a pair of relatively rotatable members (14, 16) actuated by a fluid-actuated diaphragm actuator (72). The diaphragm (72) features a circular or annular planar extensible web (74) having an O-ring (76, 78) positioned at each peripheral edge hereof for sealing a fluid communication space (86). Each O-ring (76, 78) is received, but not clamped, between a groove (87, 89) having an inclined wall (107, 109) and a lip (88, 90) overhanging the groove (87, 89). A portion of each O-ring (76, 78) makes a sealing contact with the respective inclined wall (107, 109) to seal the fluid communication space (86). The web (74) is extended by the application of fluid pressure to the fluid communication space (86). The extending web (74) moves a piston (18) which urges the relatively rotatable members into frictional engagement. As the web (74) extends, each O-ring (76, 78) rotates and translates within its respective groove (87, 89).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Mach III Clutch, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald F. Ashbrook
  • Patent number: 6352147
    Abstract: An intermediate disk for a motor vehicle clutch with friction surfaces on both sides includes two disk parts. On the sides of the disk parts remote of the friction surfaces, the disk parts have spacers which laterally define recesses between the disk parts. This arrangement of the intermediate disk provides a large heat-releasing surface even when the intermediate disk has small dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Andreas Orlamünder, Achim Link