Exedy Corporation

Toshiya Kosumi

Masaaki Asada

Yoshinobu Fukuda

Hiroshi Mizukami

Hideyuki Imanaka

Hirokazu Wakabayashi

Kozo Uno

In one embodiment, in a multi-plate clutch (100), drive plates (7) and driven plates (8) and (8') are interposed between a flywheel (2) and a clutch pressure assembly (10). The driven plates (8') having contact portions (51) each extending further from projections (27) and further extending radially inwardly therefrom, and contactable at both end in the axial direction of the second cylindrical portion (13). In an alternate embodiment, only one driven plate (8') is provided and a plate member (55) is fixed to a hub flange (6) to limit axial movement between the driven plate (8') and the hub flange (6). In another embodiment a multi-plate clutch (200) includes a cushion ring (60) is disposed between the pressure plate (29) and a diaphragm spring (30). Further, the diaphragm spring (30) has inner circumferential slits (66) and outer circumferential slits (67) to improve air flow therethrough for cooling. The diaphragm spring in another embodiment includes a first diaphragm spring (30A) and a second diaphragm spring (30B) both coated with solid lubricant films.

Multi-plate dry clutch having hub movement limiting means

Reduced-dimension configuration for retaining a diaphragm spring release-load compensating conical spring in a push-type clutch. The clutch diaphragm spring is retained by a support mechanism that includes axially extending, circularly spaced supports, fixed to the clutch cover, that pass through holes formed at the inter-digital vertices of the diaphragm spring fingers. A diaphragm spring annular pivot is provided on the supports, on the clutch cover side of the diaphragm spring. One edge of the conical spring is supported on an engagement surface of the clutch cover, and the other edge is seated on the diaphragm spring. Engagement tabs project from the edge of the conical spring that is supported on the clutch cover. The engagement tabs are engaged into conical spring engagement holes formed in the clutch cover, or in an alternative embodiment, into inter-digital holes of the diaphragm spring not penetrated by the circularly spaced supports. The engagement tabs thus rigidly retain the conical spring against rotation relative to the clutch cover, or in the alternative embodiment, relative to the diaphragm spring. The configuration reduces the axial dimension of the assembly, on the clutch cover side of the diaphragm spring, to the axial height of the conical spring/diaphragm spring annular pivot, thereby reducing the bending moment on the supports when the clutch is operated.

Configuration for retaining clutch cover assembly release-load

The pull-type clutch 1 basically includes a clutch disc assembly 4, a clutch cover assembly 5, a cylindrical or tubular member 21 and a release mechanism 6. The pull-type clutch 1 is designed to restrain the rotational engagement between the release mechanism 6 and the input shaft 3 of the transmission. The cylindrical member 21 is fixedly coupled to the front cover 7 of the transmission and extends around the input shaft 3 in the radial direction spaced apart. The release mechanism 6 is a mechanism for releasing the biasing force by the diaphragm spring 14 of the clutch cover assembly 5. The release mechanism 6 has a sleeve 23 and a bearing 24. The sleeve 23 is supported on an outer surface of the cylindrical member 21 for axial movement. The bearing 24 is disposed within the clutch cover 11 and is located between the sleeve 23 and the retainer 13.

Clutch pressing assembly

The invention relates to a multi-plate clutch mechanism that includes a pressure plate mechanism is fixed to a first cylindrical portion with first and second friction plates disposed between the pressure plate mechanism and a flywheel connected to the first cylindrical portion. The pressure plate mechanism includes a clutch covbr supported on the first cylindrical portion. The first friction plates contact the first cylindrical portion for rotation therewith and the second friction plates contact a hub flange for rotation therewith. At least one of the second friction plates is formed with a radially inwardly extending protrusion that contacts a corresponding recess formed in the hub flange thus restricting axial movement of the hub flange.

in a clutch disk assembly, a pair of power output plates (3) and (4) are disposed on either side of a power input plate (2). The power output plates (3) and (4) arc fixed to a flange (27) of a power output hub (5). A torsion spring (6) is disposed between portions of the power input plate (2) and corresponding portions of the power output plates (3) and (4) such that the torsion spring (6) limits relative rotation between the power input plate (2) and power output plates (3) and (4) within a predetermined angular displacement range. A ring-like plate (33) is disposed between a portion of the power input plate (2) and the power output plate (4). The ring-like plate (33) is formed with a connecting part (36) which extends axially outward through a cutout (24) formed in the power output plate (4). A first friction washer (32) is disposed between a portion of the power input plate (2) and the ring-like plate (33). The first friction washer (32) contacts the power input plate (2). A second friction washer (34) is disposed between the ring-like plate (33) and the power output plate (4). The connecting part (36) has a circumferential length that is smaller that a circumferential length of the cutout (24). Therefore, the ring-lie plate (33) may undergo lied relative rotary displacement with respect to the power output plate (4).

Damper disk assembly

The invention relates to a multi-plate clutch mechanism that includes a pressure plate mechanism is fixed to a first cylindrical portion with friction plates disposed between the pressure plate mechanism and a flywheel connected to the first cylindrical portion. The pressure plate mechanism includes a clutch cover supported on the first cylindrical portion. A pressure plate is disposed between the clutch cover and first and second friction plates and a diaphragm spring is disposed between the clutch cover and the pressure plate. A solid annular ring is disposed between the diaphragm spring and the pressure plate. A portion of a first surface of the solid annular ring is in contact with a corresponding surface of the pressure plate such that in response to movement of the diaphragm spring the solid annular ring flexes in an axial direction, and, in response to flexing in the axial direction a remaining portion of the first surface is moveable in and out of contact with the corresponding surface of the pressure plate.

A release device (3) is arranged around a main input shaft of a transmission, is provided for pulling an inner peripheral portion of a diaphragm spring (9) toward a transmission so as to disengage a clutch (2), and includes a second sleeve (12), a first lever plate (16) and a second lever plate (17). The second sleeve (12) is axially movably. The first lever plate (16) is an annular member, which is fixed to an outer periphery of the second sleeve (12) and has a spherical convex surface (16a) opposed to a transmission. The second lever plate (17) is an annular member, which has a spherical concave surface (17a) in slidable contact with the spherical convex surface (16a) and is in contact with an inner peripheral end of the diaphragm spring (9).

Release device for a pull-type clutch

A clutch cover assembly (1) has release load characteristics which have been smoothed out or flattened by using a secondary conical spring (8) in combination with a diaphragm spring (7). To reduce the overall number of parts in the assembly 1, the pressure plate (6) includes axially extending pins (10) which extend through holes formed in the diaphragm spring (7). The pins (10) are also engaged with a portion of the conical spring (8).

Clutch cover assembly having a diaphragm spring and a secondary biasing

A clutch cover assembly 5 includes a clutch cover 14, a main pressure plate 15, a retaining collar 20, a diaphragm spring 21, a cone spring 16, and an intermediary lever 26. The diaphragm spring 21 presses the retaining collar 20 toward the flywheel 2. The cone spring 16 is placed between the main pressure plate 15 and the retaining collar 20 so as to be compressed axially. The intermadiary lever 26 multiplies the impelling force of the diaphragm spring 21 on the retaining collar 20 in transmitting the force to the main pressure plate 15, according to a predetermined lever ratio.

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Kadoma, Japan

Toshiya Kosumi