Patent ID: 7147093
Filing Date: 2006-12-12
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
1. A centrifugal clutch, comprising: a housing which is rotatable about an axis, said housing having a plurality of first supporting areas which each extend radially with respect to said axis; a pressing plate which is axially movable with respect to said housing and is coupled to said housing for rotation about said axis; an axially extending support sleeve fixedly connected to said housing; a guide sleeve axially guided in said support sleeve; a supporting element which is fastened to said guide sleeve and is axially movable with respect to said housing together with said guide sleeve, said supporting element having a plurality of second supporting areas which each extend radially with respect to said axis, each said second support area being separated from a respective said first support area by an axial distance which decreases with radial distance from said axis, wherein said support sleeve and said guide sleeve are arranged and dimensioned so that said guide sleeve is substantially only axially movable relative to said support sleeve, thereby substantially preventing tilting of said supporting element; and a plurality of centrifugal members supported between respective pairs of first and second support areas, each said centrifugal member being radially displaceable by centrifugal force along the respective pair of support areas to exert force along a force transmission path between said supporting element and said pressing plate a wear compensating device in said force transmission path between said supporting element and said pressing plate.