Patent ID: 6321893
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: G05G,Y10T

Abstract:
A clutch actuation system of a vehicle for actuating a clutch lever of a clutch system in response to the actuation of a clutch pedal in a vehicle cab, said vehicle cab having a firewall separating an engine compartment of said vehicle from an interior of said vehicle cab, comprising:a clutch pedal shaft attached to said clutch pedal, said clutch pedal shaft lying on a first axis of rotation, said first rotational axis extending laterally relative to said vehicle cab when said clutch actuation system is operably installed on said vehicle;a first bearing member pivotably supporting a first shaft end of said clutch pedal shaft such that said shaft can pivot within said first bearing member, said clutch pedal being attached to said shaft proximate to said first bearing member, and said first bearing member being attached to said vehicle cab and being entirely within said vehicle cab when said clutch actuation system is operably installed on said vehicle;a second bearing member pivotably supporting a second shaft end of said shaft such that said shaft can pivot within said second bearing member, said second bearing member being adapted to attach to said firewall such that said second bearing member has a portion of said second bearing member located on one side of said firewall within said vehicle cab, another portion of said second bearing member is located on the other side of said firewall in said engine compartment, and said second shaft end extends through said second bearing member and through said firewall when said clutch actuation system is operably installed on said vehicle;a clutch pedal lever attached to said second shaft end such that as said clutch pedal pivots about said first rotational axis, said clutch lever correspondingly pivots about said first rotational axis via said shaft, and said clutch pedal lever being located within said engine compartment when said clutch actuation system is operably installed on said vehicle;a clutch return spring biasing said clutch pedal;a clutch cable firewall bracket being adapted to attach to said vehicle within said engine compartment proximate to said clutch pedal lever; anda clutch cable for pulling said clutch lever, said clutch cable having first and second cable ends, at least a portion of said clutch cable being surrounded by a cable housing, said cable housing having first and second cable housing ends, said first cable housing end being attached to said clutch cable firewall bracket, said first cable end being connected to said clutch pedal lever such that said clutch cable moves relative to said cable housing when said clutch pedal lever pivots about said first rotational axis, said second cable end being connected to said clutch lever such that said clutch cable actuates said clutch lever when said clutch pedal lever pivots about said first rotational axis in response to said clutch pedal pivoting about said first rotational axis via said shaft, said clutch cable and cable housing being located entirely outside of said vehicle cab when said clutch actuation system is operably installed on said vehicle.