Patent ID: 7202426

Claim:
A clutch system comprising: a clutch pedal that is moved between a normal position and a depressed position; a master cylinder that is operatively connected to the clutch pedal, the master cylinder having a cylindrical tubular body portion and a reciprocal rod portion, wherein the body portion contains a fluid that flows into the cylinder when the rod portion is extended from the body portion and that flows out of the cylinder when the rod portion is retracted into the body portion; a switch having a sensor attached to the body portion and a metallic ring attached to the rod portion, the sensor and ring of the switch being operative to open and close an electrical circuit when they are moved relative to each other, the sensor and ring of the switch being retained in a non-contacting relationship, wherein the sensor detects changes in magnetic flux as the metallic ring is moved relative to the sensor; a slave cylinder that is connected to the master cylinder by a fluid conduit so that forces applied to the master cylinder are transferred to the slave cylinder by a fluid contained in the fluid conduit; and a clutch that is released and engaged by the slave cylinder.