The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 11, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 04, 1996
Daniel V Gochenour, Auburn, IN (US);
Mark Jennings, Auburn, IN (US);
Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
A clutch assembly with an automatically adjusting mechanism includes a clutch cover, a pressure plate, an actuating lever, a rotating cam ring, a stationary cam ring, and an adjusting spring disposed between the rotating cam ring and the clutch cover. The clutch cover has an axis of rotation. The pressure plate is concentric with the axis of rotation and has an engagement surface disposed opposite the clutch cover. The actuating lever is disposed between the clutch cover and the pressure plate. The rotating cam ring assembly is also concentric with the axis of rotation and includes a plurality of discrete arcuate incline segments, as well as a spring engagement feature fixed relative to at least one of the arcuate incline segments. The stationary cam ring is also concentric with the axis of rotation and is rotatably fixed relative to the clutch cover. The stationary cam ring has a backside in engagement with one of the pressure plate and the actuating lever. The stationary cam ring has a plurality of arcuate incline segments which are in axial engagement with the discrete incline segments of the rotating cam ring. Relative rotation between the rotating cam ring and the stationary cam ring in a first direction increases an effective thickness of the cover and the pressure plate. A torsional bias spring is disposed between the rotating cam ring and the clutch cover and biases the rotating cam ring relative to the stationary cam in a direction tending to increase the effective thickness of the pressure plate.