Patent ID: 6145642
Filing Date: 2000-11-14
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
For use in a power train, a friction clutch which is subject to wear and compromises;a housing having a wall and being rotatable about an axis;a pressure plate rotatable with and having limited freedom of axial movement relative to said housing;at least one diaphragm spring disposed between said wall and said pressure plate, arranged to bias said pressure plate axially of said housing and away from said wall with a force which tends to vary as a function of the extent of wear upon the friction clutch, said at least one diaphragm spring including an annular portion spaced apart from said axis and prongs extending from said annular portion toward said axis; andmeans for compensating for wear upon the friction clutch by maintaining said diaphragm spring at an at least substantially constant stress condition, including means for moving said at least one diaphragm spring in the direction of said axis from said wall toward said pressure plate, said moving means including a substantially annular array of ramps carried by and extending in a circumferential direction of said housing, and a plurality of portions forming part of said at least one diaphragm spring, each portion cooperating with at least one of said ramps, wherein at least in the engaged condition of the friction clutch, the biasing force generated by the diaphragm spring is transmitted to the housing by said portions.