Patent ID: 6708807
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
In a clutch for transmission of torque from a rotating input connector means for supplying rotational power to an output connector means for receiving the rotational power, the clutch having frictional surfaces adapted to be engaged at a predetermined engagement speed of rotation of the input connector means, the clutch including a cylindrical housing drum having a plurality of slots defining corresponding arc segments of the cylindrical housing drum, a plurality of clutch plates disposed within the cylindrical housing drum operatively engaged with the input connector means, the plurality of clutch plates including at least one clutch disk having a plurality of flanges engaging the plurality of slots of the cylindrical housing drum, respectively, the improvement in the clutch comprising:a plurality of rectilinear U-shaped wear clips disposed in said slots of said cylindrical housing drum, wherein each of said rectilinear U-shaped wear clips includes first and second legs and a middle portion, the first and second legs extending in a perpendicular direction from the middle portion; first and second pairs of flanges extending outwardly from said first and second legs, respectively, perpendicular to the legs, and forming an outwardly facing rectilinear U-shaped channel on each of said first and second legs, each of said first and second pairs of flanges forming an interference fit with the plurality of slots of the cylindrical housing drum when the wear clips are inserted in the slots; and said slots of said cylindrical housing drum having recessed planar inner edges and recessed planar outer edges such that said rectilinear U-shaped wear clips form a chord across said arc segments of the cylindrical housing drum defined by said slots.