Patent ID: 9593725
Date: 2017-03-14
CPC Classifications: F16D

Claim:
1. In an automatic adjustment mechanism ( 20 ) for axially changing a positional relationship between a clutch pack ( 14 ) including an array of interposed members having facing surfaces and a clutch actuation mechanism, wherein the automatic adjustment mechanism ( 20 ) decreases an axial dimension between adjacent members of the array to compensate for wear of the facing surfaces that occurs when repeatedly engaged and disengaged under a clutch apply load within a self-adjusting clutch ( 10 ), the clutch ( 10 ) for transmitting power using frictionally engaging members of the clutch pack ( 14 ) for securing and releasing driving continuity between a driving shaft ( 44 ) and a driven shaft ( 46 ), wherein the driving shaft ( 44 ) and driven shaft ( 46 ) are rotatable about a common axis and support the array of interposed members having facing surfaces spaced along the common axis and co-axial with the driving and driven shafts ( 44 , 46 ), where some members of the array are constrained to rotate with one of the driving and driven shafts ( 44 , 46 ) and other members of the array are constrained to rotate with the other of the driving and driven shafts ( 44 , 46 ) while being movable along the common axis, the clutch actuation mechanism for moving the members toward one another for mutual engagement of the facing surfaces of the members when the clutch ( 10 ) is engaged, the improvement comprising: a reaction plate ( a plurality of pawls (