Patent ID: 6053297
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
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 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 located at a first radial distance from the axis operably disposed between the biasing member and one of the pressure plate and the cover, 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 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, including a torsional spring and a housing,the spring being coiled around an inner diameter portion of the housing and the spring arcuately overlapping itself and the spring having a first end connected to the second annular cam ring and the spring having a second end connected to the housing, andthe housing having an inner diameter portion serving as a spool for the torsional spring, and the housing having a first flange extending radially outwardly from the inner diameter portion and the housing having a second flange extending radially outward from the inner diameter portion with the inner diameter portion, the first flange and the second flange and the inner diameter portion defining a channel in which the torsional spring is disposed and retained therein and the housing being rotatively fixed relative to the pressure plate.