Patent ID: 7198144

Claim:
A manually adjustable clutch assembly, comprising: a housing having a cover that has a pivot ring; a clutch having a plurality of clutch plates that are shifted in an axial direction between an engaged torque transferring position and a disengaged non-torque transferring position; a pressure plate that is moveable relative to the clutch in the axial direction, the pressure plate having a contamination excluding baffle; an adjusting ring having a first inclined portion that engages a second inclined portion on the pressure plate, the adjusting ring having a fulcrum, and the baffle being disposed radially inboard of the adjusting ring; a clutch release system having a diaphragm spring and an axially shifted release bearing assembly, the release bearing assembly having an anti-friction bearing, the diaphragm spring engaging the fulcrum of the adjusting ring and being pivoted on the pivot ring of the cover when the release bearing assembly is shifted to shift the clutch between the engaged position and disengaged position; and an adjusting gear engaging the adjusting ring to cause the adjusting gear to move circumferentially relative to the pressure plate wherein the first and second inclined portions change the axial spacing of the fulcrum relative to the clutch, the adjusting gear having an axis of rotation oriented in the axial direction and being accessible from outside of the housing to allow the clutch to be manually adjusted without opening the housing.