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. 10, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 13, 1996
Mark Jennings, Auburn, IN (US);
Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
An adjustment mechanism for a frictional clutch for a motor vehicle includes a stationary annular cam, a rotating annular cam, a cam spring, an axially oriented friction pin, and a cam location finger. The stationary annular cam is centered about an axis of rotation and is rotatably fixed relative to a clutch pressure plate. The stationary annular cam has a plurality of cam surfaces. The rotating annular cam is also centered about the axis of rotation and is rotatable relative to the stationary annular cam. The rotating annular cam has a plurality of cam surfaces which engage the cam surfaces of the stationary annular cam. The engaged cams are configured for placement between the pressure plate and the biasing member. The stationary annular cam and the rotating annular cam together define an effective thickness of the pressure plate with the effective thickness increasing with relative rotation between the pressure plate and the rotating annular cam in a first direction and decreasing with relative rotation in a second direction. The cam spring is disposed between the stationary annular cam and the rotating annular cam and induces relative rotation between the two in the first direction. The axially oriented friction pin is sized to be press fit into an aperture in the pressure plate. The pin has a first end and a second end. The cam location finger has a first end engaging a one of the cams closest to the biasing member. The cam location finger has a second end engaging the friction pin. The cam location fingers limit the effective thickness of the pressure plate.