Patent ID: 6296099
Filing Date: 2001-10-02
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A friction clutch, comprising:a driving member having an axis of rotation;a cover coupled to said driving member for rotation therewith;a pressure plate coupled to said cover for rotation therewith;a driven member coupled to an axially extending driven shaft for rotation therewith, said driven member interposed between said driving member and said pressure plate;a friction surface connected to said driven member, said friction surface engaging said driving member for transmitting torque from said driving member to said driven member;a release assembly extending about the driven shaft;an adjustment mechanism including a stationary annular cam, a rotating annular cam, a cam biasing spring, a fulcrum ring, and an adjustment limiting device,said stationary cam centered about the axis of rotation and rotatably fixed relative to said pressure plate, said stationary cam having a stationary cam surface at an axial end with a plurality of ramps thereon,said rotating cam centered about the axis of rotation and rotatable relative to said pressure plate, said rotating cam having a rotating cam surface at an axial end with a plurality of ramps thereon, said rotating cam disposed between said adjustment limiting device and said stationary cam, said rotating cam surface in contact with said stationary cam surface, said rotating cam rotates with respect to said stationary cam to move an axial end of said rotating cam from a first axial position to a second axial position relative to said pressure plate,said cam biasing spring having a first end and a second end, said first end being received in said rotating cam, said second end of said cam biasing spring being attached to said pressure plate,said fulcrum ring centered about the axis of rotation, said fulcrum ring operatively coupled to said cover,said adjustment limiting device having an axial range of travel from a stop position governed by said pressure plate to a full travel position, said adjustment limiting device cooperating with said rotating cam to control the amount of rotation of said rotating cam relative to said stationary cam; anda radially extending lever interposed between said release assembly and said adjustment mechanism, said lever being operatively disposed at an axial end of said release assembly at a first end and said lever cooperating with said fulcrum ring adjacent to a second end, said lever also cooperating with said adjustment limiting device to move said pressure plate to engage and disengage said driven member, said lever further cooperating with said adjustment limiting device to cause an axial end of said rotating cam being at a first position relative to said pressure plate, prior to wear on said friction surface, to rotate to a second position relative to said pressure plate, after wear has occurred on said friction surface, when the adjustment limiting device has a sufficient adjustment gap to allow the rotating cam to rotate to said second position, where said second position is axially spaced from said first position limited by said adjustment limiting device.