Patent ID: 8439763

Claim:
A wedge clutch assembly, comprising: a housing having an upper opening and a lower opening; an inner wedge disposed within the housing, the inner wedge having a passage formed therethrough adapted for receiving a drive shaft, the inner wedge including: an upper externally threaded neck having annular threads formed on a portion thereof; a frustoconical section adjacent the threaded neck, the upper externally threaded neck projecting through the upper opening of the housing, the frustoconical section being disposed within, and covered by, the housing; an increased diameter section depending from the frustoconical section and extending outwardly from the housing through the lower opening formed therethrough, the increased diameter section having a diameter greater than the diameter of the upper externally threaded neck; and a lower section adjacent the increased diameter section, the lower section having a diameter less than the diameter of the increased diameter section; a thrust bearing mounted about a lower portion of the upper externally threaded neck, the thrust bearing abutting the housing when the inner wedge is assembled therewith; at least one wedge clutch spring washer disposed about the neck adjacent the thrust bearing; a fastener threaded on the upper externally threaded neck above the wedge clutch spring washer for adjusting an applied torque to the inner wedge; and a seal flange mounted about an upper portion of the upper externally threaded neck above the fastener; wherein the housing and the inner wedge are adapted for placement within a cavity of a clutch, the seal flange being adapted for sealing an upper end of the cavity from external contamination.