Patent ID: 6129191
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A friction clutch for a motor vehicle comprising:a cover having an axis of rotation;a pressure plate coupled to the cover for rotation therewith about the axis and having a frictional engagement surface substantially normal to the axis and having a plurality of cooling blades extending from the pressure plate on a side opposite the frictional engagement surface with the blades being located at a first radial distance from the axis;a biasing member interposed between the cover and the pressure plate biasing the pressure plate toward an engaged pressure plate position;an adjustment mechanism centered about the axis and operably disposed between the biasing member and the pressure plate, the adjustment mechanism including:a first annular cam rotatably fixed with respect to the pressure plate,a second annular cam rotatable relative to the first annular cam and both cams having a plurality of mutually engaged cam surfaces configured such that rotation of the second cam relative to the first cam in a first direction increases a height of the adjustment mechanism, anda torsional spring and housing assembly operably disposed between the first annular cam and the second annular cam and including:a torsional spring anda housing receiving the torsional spring and having a flange disposedover the blades of the pressure plate,wherein the flange and the blades and the side of the pressure plate opposite the frictional engagement surface in combination form radially outwardly extending air flow channels of an impeller fan which force air radially outwardly past the pressure plate when the pressure plate is rotating about the axis.