Patent ID: 8695775
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
1. A centrifugal clutch, comprising: a clutch housing rotatable around an axis line, the clutch housing including a closed end and an open end; a clutch boss arranged inside the clutch housing and rotatable around the axis line; a plate group including a plurality of friction plates rotated with the clutch housing and a plurality of clutch plates facing the plurality of friction plates and rotated with the clutch boss, the plurality of clutch plates being arranged on the clutch boss so as to be displaceable in the direction of the axis line toward the plurality of friction plates; a pressure member coaxially arranged on an outer side of the plate group that is closer to the open end of the clutch housing than to the closed end of the clutch housing, the pressure member being directly supported by the clutch housing and displaceable in the direction of the axis line while being rotated with the clutch housing, the pressure member being displaced toward the plate group in the direction of the axis line to directly or indirectly press the plate group toward the closed end of the clutch housing and put the plate group in a pressed-contact state; a retainer facing a surface on an outer side of the pressure member opposite to an inner side of the pressure member facing the plate group, the retainer directly supported by the clutch housing so as to be displaceable in the direction of the axis line while being rotated with the clutch housing, and the retainer forming a space with the pressure member that narrows with increased radial distance from the axis line; a plate spring provided at the open end of the clutch housing and extending between the clutch housing and the retainer on an outer side of the retainer opposite to an inner side of the retainer facing the pressure member, the plate spring extending in a direction which is inclined relative to the direction of the axis line from a first end portion toward a second end portion in a centrifugal direction, and the first end portion being fixed directly or indirectly to the clutch housing on the outer side of the plate group while the second end portion directly or indirectly biases the retainer toward the pressure member; a pressing body arranged in the space formed between the pressure member and the retainer, the pressing body being revolved around the axis line with the rotation of the clutch housing, and the pressing body being moved outwardly in the centrifugal direction while pressing the pressure member toward the plate group by centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the clutch housing; and a clutch release mechanism configured to press the pressure member axially away from the plate group and release the pressed-contact state of the plate group when actuated by an actuation member.