Patent ID: 8151926
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
1. A friction clutch comprising: a clutch shaft; a driving-side rotating member having a first plate and rotating centered around an axial center of the clutch shaft; a driven-side rotating member having a second plate facing the first plate; a pressure plate coupled to the driving-side rotating member so as to rotate together with the driving-side rotating member, wherein the pressure plate is configured to move in a first direction that is a direction from one side of an axial direction of the clutch shaft to the other side thereof to bring the first plate and the second plate into contact with each other; a clutch operator; an operating shaft configured to move in a second direction by receiving a force in a direction opposite to the first direction when the clutch operator is operated; a sub-clutch having a friction plate, a pressing member, and a torque transmission member, the pressing member and the torque transmission member sandwiching the friction plate therebetween, wherein the friction plate has a first friction face on the other side thereof and a second friction face on the one side thereof, and is coupled to the pressure plate so as to rotate together with the pressure plate, wherein the pressing member is arranged so as to face the first friction face and is configured to move in the second direction together with the operating shaft and to contact with the first friction face to press the friction plate in the second direction, and wherein the torque transmission member is arranged so as to face the second friction face and is configured to receive the torque of the pressure plate via the friction plate by being pressure-contacted by the friction plate pressed by the pressing member; a slide shaft coupled to the torque transmission member such as to be rotated together with the torque transmission member and also coupled to the pressure plate such as to move along the axial direction together with the pressure plate, wherein the slide shaft is configured to give a force in the second direction to the pressure plate by receiving a torque from the torque transmission member and moving in the second direction; and a transmission member for transmitting, to the slide shaft, a portion of the force in the second direction applied to the operating shaft without use of the friction plate when the operating shaft moves in the second direction.