Patent ID: 6325193
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
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;a diaphragm spring 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, the adjustment mechanism including:a first annular cam rotatably fixed with respect to the pressure plate and the cover,a second annular cam rotatable relative to the first annular cam and both the first and second annular cams each 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 and the second annular cam also defining a cam lock engagement surface extending radially inwardly of the cam surfaces and facing the pressure plate and concentric with the axis, anda cam spring connected to the second annular cam and connected to the first annular cam so as to induce relative rotation therebetween; and an adjustment limiting mechanism including:a guide pin fixed in the pressure plate and axially extending from the pressure plate on a side opposite the frictional engagement surface;a cam lock having a radially extending cam lock flange with the cam lock flange axially disposed between the pressure plate and the cam lock engagement surface and the cam lock flange defining a flange engagement surface facing and complementary to the cam lock engagement surface and the cam lock having an aperture therein slidably receiving the guide pin,a bias spring engaging the cam lock and biasing the cam lock away from the pressure platewherein when the clutch is in a released condition, the flange engagement surface is biased into engagement with the cam lock engagement surface by the bias spring with sufficient force to prevent rotation of the second cam relative to the first cam.