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. 29, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 18, 1997
Christopher D Cole, Fort Wayne, IN (US);
Daniel V Gochenour, Auburn, IN (US);
Martin E Kummer, Auburn, IN (US);
Mark Jennings, Auburn, IN (US);
Other;
Abstract
An adjustment mechanism for a frictional clutch for a motor vehicle includes a pressure plate, a first annular cam member, a second annular cam member, a cam spring, a cam control finger, an anti-rotation feature, and a control finger drag spring. The pressure plate has an axis of rotation and an engagement surface substantially normal to the axis of rotation. The first annular cam member is concentric with the axis of rotation and has a plurality of first ramped cam surfaces. The first annular cam member is rotatively fixed with respect to the pressure plate. The second annular cam member is rotatable relative to the first annular cam member and has a plurality of second ramped cam surfaces in engagement with the first ramped cam surfaces. The second annular cam member, together with the first annular cam member, define an effective pressure plate thickness. The second annular cam member also has an engagement step at its outer periphery. The cam spring is functionally disposed between the cam members and rotatively biases the cam members toward an increased cam height. The cam control finger is slidably disposed within an aperture in the pressure plate. The cam control finger has a shank portion which is disposed in the aperture in the pressure plate and is axially oriented for axial slidable displacements relative to the pressure plate. The cam control finger also includes an engaging portion radially extending from the shank portion and in engagement with the second annular cam member. The anti-rotation feature engages the finger thereby preventing rotation of the finger relative to the pressure plate. The control finger drag spring biases the finger into engagement with the side of the aperture and induces a frictional drag force resisting axial displacement of the control finger.