Clutch housing and bearing assembly and method of making the same

Abstract

A method of making a dynamically balanced integral clutch housing and bearing assembly from a flat sheet metal disc by a roller spinning tool. A bearing and the metal disc is mounted on rotating die means between headstock and tailstock die form assemblies of a spinning machine. The spinning tool presses the disc against an end of the bearing to provide a bottom web wall of a cup-shaped bearing housing. The spinning tool then moves in a series of passes along the bearing outer race and along the headstock die form thereby rolling, forming and ironing rotating outer metal portions of the disc against the bearing and die, and forming an annular circumferential flange wall of the bearing housing which terminates in an annular shoulder. The bearing is telescopically mounted and retained within the bearing housing by the side and web walls and retaining shoulder. The spinning tool continues to pressure work outer portions of the metal disc and forms a larger cup-shaped clutch housing extending from and integrally connected to the annular retaining shoulder. A pulley then is secured to the bearing housing side wall by roller spinning metal from the side wall to form a pair of annular bead formations locking the pulley in position. The clutch housing and bearing assembly produced has a cup-shaped bearing housing with a cylindrical side wall terminating in an end web wall and an annular retaining shoulder. A bearing is telescopically mounted within the bearing housing and retained therein by the side wall, web wall and annular shoulder. A larger cup-shaped clutch housing has a cup wall integrally connected to the annular shoulder of the bearing housing, with the cup wall terminating in an annular flange adapted to be engaged by friction shoes of a clutch mechanism.