Patent ID: 6394251
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A friction clutch, for a motor vehicle, comprising a reaction plate adapted to be mounted on a driving shaft for rotation with the driving shaft, a friction disc (100), carrying at its outer periphery at least one friction liner (101) and arranged to be mounted on a driven shaft for rotation with the driven shaft, a pressure plate (11), a cover plate (12, 112, 212, 312) fixed on the reaction plate, axially acting clutch engaging means (13) which are controlled by declutching means and which act between, firstly, the cover plate (12, 112, 212, 312) and, secondly, the pressure plate (11) through secondary abutment means (17) and primary abutment means (18), the pressure plate (11) being fixed with respect to the cover plate (12, 112, 212, 312) for rotation with the cover plate while being displaceable axially with respect to the cover plate and being subjected to the action of resilient return means biasing the pressure plate (11) axially towards the cover plate (12, 112, 212, 312), said clutch further including a wear take-up device including ramp means (14), ramps (16) of the ramp means (14) are disposed circumferentially, the ramp means being located axially between the abutment means (17) and the pressure plate (11) and adapted to cooperate with counter-ramp means (15), a set of teeth (19) with which a tangentially disposed worm (23) cooperates, the ramp means (14) being fixed to said set of teeth (19) for rotation therewith, means (20) being provided for driving the worm (23) in rotation and being rendered operational by wear in the friction liner or liners (101) when the clutch is engaged, said worm driving means comprising a ratchet wheel fixed in rotation to the worm (23) and controlled through a control tongue (36), the course of travel of which, with respect to the ratchet wheel (20) during the declutching operation, is limited by a control abutment, the worm (23) and the means (20) for driving the worm in rotation being carried by a support member (22) which is fixed to the cover plate (12, 112, 212, 312), wherein the control abutment (33, 133, 233, 333), like the primary abutment means (18), is arranged on the cover plate (12, 112, 212, 312).