Patent ID: 6394254
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A friction clutch for connecting driving and driven shafts, comprising:a pressure plate adapted for operative attachment to said driven shaft for rotation therewith, the pressure plate being axially moveable between an engaged position wherein the pressure plate clamps a friction disk of said driven shaft in engagement against a flywheel of said driving shaft thereby to transmit torque from the driving shaft to the driven shaft and a disengaged position wherein the pressure plate does not clamp said friction disk and no torque is transmitted; a retainer that is axially moveable, the retainer being capable of operative connection to a foot pedal for selectively applying force to the retainer for axial movement thereof; a cover adapted for mounting on the flywheel in stationary axial position relative to the flywheel, the cover including an adjusting ring which is adjustably moveable in axial position; at least one spring interposed between the cover and the retainer for urging the retainer to an axial location wherein the pressure plate is in the engaged position; and at least one lever for actuating said axial movement of the pressure plate in response to axial movement of the retainer, the lever having a pivot fulcrum engaging the adjusting ring, a first bearing surface engaging the retainer for axial movement therewith and a second bearing surface engaging a face on the pressure plate for axially moving the pressure plate, and wherein the pivot fulcrum, first bearing surface, and second bearing surface are formed into the lever and arranged relative to each other such that a lever ratio of a first distance from the pivot fulcrum to the first bearing surface to a second distance from the pivot fulcrum to the second bearing surface is at least about 7.5 for augmenting an axial force applied by the spring to urge the pressure plate toward the engaged position.