Dana Corporation

Marvin D Johns

Gordon W Denton

Ronald E Heymann

A self-contained hydraulic unit is provided for controlling operation of a friction clutch assembly. The hydraulic unit is connected to a source of pressure so that when pressure is applied to the unit it responds to actuate a plurality of levers to engage the clutch. Upon removal of pressure from the hydraulic unit, spring means responds to withdraw the levers and disengage the clutch. The hydraulic unit is non-rotatably supported by the friction clutch assembly and includes an axially fixed member and an axially movable member interconnected by a sliding connection. A piston and diaphragm arrangement is provided between the fixed and movable members so that when pressure is introduced into the diaphragm the piston operates to slide the movable member relative to the fixed member by means of the sliding connection thereby actuating the levers to cause engagement of the clutch.

Air pressure loaded clutch

An improved resilient means is provided between cooperating rotary elements of a coupling device to increase the torque capacity of the unit. The resilient means consists of a Belleville stack located in aligned pockets provided in the rotary elements of the coupling device. The operational stability of the Belleville stack is increased by providing suitable guide means which also function as means for making the Belleville stack a self-contained easily replaceable assembly.

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Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America

Marvin D Johns