Patent ID: 7140482
Filing Date: 2006-11-28
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, said pressing plate being substantially fixed against rotation with respect to said housing at all times; a supporting element which is axially movable with respect to said housing, said supporting element being constructed separately from the pressing plate and 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 the axis; 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 in a clutch engaging direction along a force transmission path between the supporting member and the pressing plate; an actuating force transmission arrangement between the support element and the pressing plate; and a guide arrangement which guides the supporting member during axial movement of the supporting element with respect to the housing, wherein said guide arrangement comprises a first guide member which is fixed with respect to said housing, and a second guide member which is fixed with respect to said supporting element, said second guide member being axially displaceable in the first guide member.