Abstract:
A release mechanism for a pull-type clutch assembly, including a throw-out bearing with an inner cylindrical portion extending in a direction axially inwardly of the clutch assembly. A retaining basket is provided having a flat annular ring portion surrounding an opening receiving the cylindrical portion of the bearing therethrough, the basket having a ring with an inner and A pressure plate receives the basket therein, the pressure plate having radially extending resilient fingers extending outwardly and a clutch disk is disposed adjacent the pressure plate in contact therewith being adapted to be coupled to the flywheel of a vehicle. The bearing has a groove into which the pressure plate having a groove into which the outer surface of the ring snap-fits.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a release mechanism for a friction clutch used in automobiles. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art including Information Disclosed Under 37 C.F.R. 1.97 AND 1.98 
         [0004]    Pull type clutches are well known in the art. They generally include a release mechanism that pulls a radially inner portion of a diaphragm spring toward a transmission to disengage the clutch. 
         [0005]    One such apparatus includes a pressure plate and one pushes on the clutch pedal to make it operate. The pressure plate is mounted to the engine and a release bearing is mounted to the pressure plate on the transmission side. The release bearing can be disengaged by pushing it and releasing the snap ring and inserting a screwdriver between the bearing and the pressure plate, thus releasing the same from the wedge collar. This releases the pressure plate from the transmission. However, in some designs, the snap ring retaining the wedge collar to the pressure plate expands in high RPM use applications. If one shifts very fast, under adverse conditions such as often experienced in racing, the bearing can jump out of place causing the snap ring to jump out of place and be exposed, damaging parts and resulting in breakdown of the clutch mechanism requiring removal of the transmission. 
         [0006]    There is a need for improving the release bearing and snap ring so that the transmission can be secured to the pressure plate, operate under high RPM conditions or adverse conditions and be quickly and easily released from the pressure plate. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is an object of this invention to provide a release for a pull type clutch which operates in high RPM and other adverse conditions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The above-mentioned features and objects of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a pull type clutch mechanism in accordance with the teachings of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the retaining basket alone of the clutch mechanism of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the basket of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a view taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view illustrating the assembly of the throw out bearing of  FIG. 1  to the retaining basket mounted to the pressure plate of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a plan view illustrating the assembly of the parts of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the assembled parts in  FIG. 6  mounted to the transmission and engine of a vehicle; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a modified retaining basket in accordance with the teachings of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the bracket of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24  are perspective views of further modifications of the basket of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0019]      FIGS. 11 ,  13 ,  15 ,  17 ,  19 ,  21 ,  23  and  25  are side views of the respective baskets of  FIGS. 10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0020]    Clutch assembly  10  is shown in exploded view in  FIG. 1 . Assembly  10  includes a throw-out bearing  11 , a retaining basket  12 , a pressure plate  13 , a clutch disk  14  and a flywheel  15 . 
         [0021]    Clutch assembly  10  is adapted to be secured to flywheel  15  using suitable bolts  16  extending through aligned holes  17 ,  18  in spring  13  and flywheel  15  and then to the motor (not shown). 
         [0022]    As is well known in the art, a spline shaft (not shown) extends from the vehicle transmission (not shown) through aligned holes  19  to  22  in bearing  11 , basket  12 , pressure plate  13  and flywheel  15  into engagement with spline  23  in hole  22  of the clutch disk  14 . 
         [0023]    The retaining basket  12 , as seen in  FIG. 2 , has a generally flat annular ring portion  24  with an integral split ring  25 , of lesser diameter than ring portion  24 . 
         [0024]    As seen in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , ring portion  24  is formed of arcuate segments  26 , one spaced from another by gaps  28 . These segments  26  are integral with ring portion  24  by means of solid connecting portions  27 . 
         [0025]    These portions  27  are generally open and oval spaced from adjacent portions  27  and open at top communicating with gaps  28 . This arrangement, as will be discussed, results in the maximum amount of ring  25  across the top or upper end of basket  12 , as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , with respect to the flexibility required to allow the basket  12  to snap into position as will be discussed. 
         [0026]    In assembly of basket  12  to pressure plate  13 , as seen in  FIG. 5 , basket  12 , the ring  25  facing downwardly in  FIG. 5 , is pressed down into hole  21  in pressure plate  13 . Pressure plate  13  has a diaphragm spring  29  ( FIG. 1 ) comprised of a plurality of resilient spaced fingers extending inwardly into collar  30  ( FIG. 7 ). Collar  30  has an undercut  31  surrounding hole  21 . Ring  26  snaps under undercut  31  as shown. 
         [0027]    Referring again to  FIG. 5 , throw-out bearing  11  is now press-fit down into the hole  20  through basket  12 . The final installed position is shown in  FIG. 6 . However, as seen in  FIG. 7 , bearing  11  has a downwardly extending cylindrical portion  36  with an outer annular groove  32  into which ring  26  snap-fits. Bearing  11  terminates at top in a bracket  33  and the upper body portion  34  rotates with respect to cylindrical portion  36  by means of a ball bearing assembly  35  as is well known in the art. 
         [0028]    Pressure plate  13  has an annular groove  31  into which ring  26  snap-fits as seen in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0029]    In this manner, the throw-out bearing  11  is attached to the basket  12  and thus to the pressure plate  13 . The bracket  33  of the throw-out bearing  11  is tied to the yoke of the transmission (not shown), as is well known in the art, and thus this pushes the bearing  11  in and out to activate the clutch (not shown). 
         [0030]    When the bearing  11  is assembled to basket  12 , as seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , it can rotate but cannot be pulled out. When it is desired to disengage the throw-out bearing  11  from basket  12 , a screwdriver or similar tool (not shown) is inserted under throw-out bearing  11  (in the area  37  ( FIG. 7 ) and the bearing  11  is pried up to release the same. 
         [0031]    If desired, one or more annular spring washers (not shown) as is well known art may be disposed between the throw-out bearing  11  and collar  30 , to take up any slop between the parts. 
         [0032]    It can be seen that the parts illustrated in  FIG. 1  can be quickly and easily assembled. When the retaining bracket  11  is released from the pressure plate  13 , the entire assembly can be disengaged from the transmission. 
         [0033]    Although a preferred configuration for the retaining basket  11  is disclosed, variations thereof may occur to an artisan. Thus, as shown in  FIGS. 8 to 25 , and more particularly to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a first modified basket  40  is shown having a flat annular ring portion  41  with a plurality of spaced segments  42  integral with ring portion  41  and terminating in a ring  43  (similar to ring  26 ) comprising of arcuate portions  45  separating by gaps  44 . The segments  42  are generally rectangular. 
         [0034]    Another embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Here, basket  46  has a flat annular ring portion  47  and a plurality of spaced segments  48  integral with ring portion  47  terminating in a ring  49 . Ring  49  is formed of spaced portions  50 , which may be slightly arcuate, separated by gaps  51 . It is noted that segments  48  are elongated rectangles and the gaps  51  are wider than gaps  44  in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0035]    Another retaining basket embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . Here, basket  52  also has a flat annular ring portion  53  and a plurality of spaced segments  54  terminating in a ring  55 . It is noted that the gaps  56  between the arcuate segments  57  forming ring  55  communicate with an oval-shaped opening  58  between adjacent segments  54 . 
         [0036]    Another retaining basket embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . Here, basket  59  has a flat annular ring portion  60  with a plurality of spaced segments  61 . Segments  61  terminate in a ring  62  comprising of spaced arcuate segments  63  separated by gaps  64 ,  65 . Gaps  64  are elongated slots and gaps  65  communicate with rounded openings  66  between adjacent segments  61 . A pair of such segments  61  having openings  66  therebetween are separated by elongated gaps  64 . 
         [0037]    Another variation of the retaining basket is shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 . Here, basket  67  has a flat annular ring portion  68  with integral spaced segments  69 . A gap  70  separates the arcuate ring segments  71  forming ring  72 . Generally, circular openings  73  communicating with gaps  70  are provided between adjacent segments  69 . 
         [0038]    Another basket embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 . Here, basket  74  has a flat annular ring portion  75  with integral spaced segments  76  terminating in a ring  77 . Ring  77  is formed of curved portions  78  separated by gaps  79 . Gaps  79  communicate with generally circular openings  80  between adjacent segments  76 . 
         [0039]    Another basket embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21 . Here, basket  81  has a flat annular ring portion  82  with a plurality of integral spaced segments  83 . Segments  83  are generally rectangular terminating in a ring  84 . Ring  84  is formed of a plurality of spaced arcuate segments  85  separated by gaps  86 . As seen, gaps  86  are elongated slots. 
         [0040]    Another embodiment of the retaining basket is shown in  FIGS. 22 and 23 . Here, basket  87  has a flat annular ring portion  88  and a plurality of integral spaced segments  89 . Segments  89  terminate in a ring  90  comprised of a plurality of spaced arcuate segments  91  separated by gaps  92 . Gaps  92  communicate with generally oval-shaped cut-out openings  93  between adjacent segments  89 . 
         [0041]    A final embodiment of the basket is shown in  FIGS. 24 and 25 . Here, basket  94  has a flat annular ring portion  95  with a plurality of spaced segments  96  terminating in a ring  97 . Ring  97  is comprised of a plurality of arcuate segments  98  which may be crimped as shown separated by gaps  99 . Gaps  99  communicate with generally circular cut-out openings  100  between adjacent segments  96 . 
         [0042]    The operation of all of the baskets in  FIGS. 8 to 25  is identical to the operation of basket  12  of  FIG. 1  and further discussion or elaboration is deemed unnecessary. It can be seen that there is disclosed an improved wedge collar assembly for a pull-type clutch assembly having the snap ring integral with the wedge collar. The segmented ring of the snap ring of the invention expands uniformly and cannot jump out of place. 
         [0043]    Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, along with various modifications of the basket  12 , variations thereof may occur to an artisan and the scope of the invention should only be limited by the scope of the appended claims.