Patent ID: 7090062

Claim:
A clutch assembly for rotatably connecting a motor vehicle engine crankshaft with a transmission input shaft, the clutch comprising: a flywheel rotatably disposed on an axis of rotation; a transmission input shaft disposed on the axis of rotation and having a splined portion; a clutch cover fixed to the flywheel; a pressure plate disposed between the clutch cover and the flywheel for axial movement therebetween and rotatably fixed to the cover; a clutch driven disc rotatably fixed to the input shaft through the splined portion and disposed between the flywheel and the pressure plate for axially slidable movement therebetween; a clutch release sleeve slidably and rotatably disposed on the input shaft having a first end disposed between the pressure plate and the cover and having a second end disposed on a side of the cover opposite the pressure plate; a plurality of radially oriented levers distributed about the axis of rotation and having radially inwardly disposed ends engaging the first end of the release sleeve and the levers extending between the release sleeve and the pressure plate; a spring disposed between the sleeve and the cover biasing the pressure plate toward the driven disc; a clutch release bearing assembly connected to the second end of the release sleeve and disposed outside the clutch cover and the clutch release bearing assembly also having an engagement surface, the clutch release bearing assembly having an outer non-rotational race separated from an inner race by bearing members; a clutch housing disposed over the clutch cover and the release bearing; a clutch release shaft rotatably disposed in the clutch housing and pivotable about a second axis oriented at 90 degrees to the axis of rotation, the second axis being closer to the axis of rotation than the clutch release bearing assembly outer race; a clutch release yoke rotatably fixed to the clutch release shaft for rotation therewith and having first and second forks extending adjacent to the release bearing assembly, said forks having an opening; a plurality of bearing support shafts having a first end attached to an inboard side of said first and second forks and a second end having a retention flange; and a plurality of bearing elements rotatably mounted on said bearing support shafts and engaging the engagement surface of the clutch release bearing; and whereby an end load applied to said retention flange is transmitted through said retention flange and through a corresponding support shaft, bypassing said bearing elements such that said bearing elements are protected from said end load.