Patent ID: 6102181
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A clutch for rotatably connecting a motor vehicle engine crankshaft with a transmission input shaft, the clutch comprising:a flywheel rotatably disposed on an axis of rotation;a transmission input shaft disposed on the axis of rotation and having a splined portion;a clutch cover fixed to the flywheel;a pressure plate disposed between the clutch cover and the flywheel for axial movement therebetween and rotatably fixed to the cover;a clutch driven disc rotatably fixed to the input shaft through the splined portion and disposed between the flywheel and the pressure plate for axially slidable movement therebetween;a clutch release sleeve slidably disposed over the input shaft having a first end disposed between the pressure plate and the cover and having a second end disposed on a side of the cover opposite the pressure plate;a plurality of radially oriented levers distributed about the axis of rotation and having radially inwardly disposed ends engaging a first end of the release sleeve and the levers extending between the release sleeve and the pressure plate;a spring disposed between the pressure plate and the cover biasing the pressure plate toward the driven disc;a clutch release bearing connected to a second end of the release sleeve and disposed outside the clutch cover and the bearing also having an engagement surface;a clutch housing disposed over the clutch cover and the release bearing;a clutch release shaft rotatably disposed in the clutch housing and pivotable about a second axis oriented at 90.degree. to the axis of rotation;a clutch release fork rotatably fixed to the clutch release shaft for rotation therewith and having first and second arms extending adjacent to the release bearing; anda plurality of rollers with one roller rotatably disposed on an inboard side of each of the first and second arms of the clutch release fork and in engagement with the engagement surface of the release bearing, the rollers each including a dowel pin with a first end received by a respective fork arm, the dowel pin having a second end encircled by a rotatively mounted tire, the tire having a through bore and a bushing fixedly mounted therein, and a retainer disposed between the pin and the tire for preventing axial displacement of the tire from the second end of the dowel pin.