Patent ID: 6814207
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A friction disc clutch assembly for an automotive vehicle driveline having an engine, a geared transmission and vehicle traction wheels, the clutch being engageable and disengageable to control torque delivery from the engine to the traction wheels through the transmission, the clutch assembly comprising:a rotary counter-thrust plate connected drivably to the engine and defining an engine flywheel; a clutch assembly cover connected to and rotatable with the flywheel and defining therewith a clutch housing; a thrust plate in the clutch housing, the thrust plate being connected drivably to the clutch housing for rotary motion while accommodating axial displacement relative to the flywheel; a clutch disc assembly having a hub portion, a torque input shaft for the transmission being adapted to be drivably connected to the hub portion; friction material carried by a peripheral portion of the clutch disc assembly, the friction material being disposed between juxtaposed annular friction surfaces on the thrust plate and the flywheel; a Belleville spring lever in the housing, a radial inward portion of the spring lever being positioned for displacement under an axially extending force, a radial outward portion of the spring lever being engageable with the thrust plate, an intermediate portion of the spring lever being fulcrumed on the housing; pressure balance springs disposed between the thrust plate and the clutch housing, the pressure balance springs opposing the force applied to the thrust plate by the Belleville spring lever; and means for adjusting the effective spring force of the pressure balance springs whereby the net force applied to the thrust plate is controlled to effect a desired clutch capacity for a given set of operating torque requirements; the pressure balance springs being carried by the thrust plate, each pressure balance spring having a cap, a pull rod extending through the pressure balance spring and through the thrust plate, the spring cap being connected to the pull rod, the spring cap engaging the flywheel, the force of the balance spring opposing the force applied to the thrust plate by the spring lever.