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:
Jan. 21, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 06, 2002
Applicant:
Inventor:
Leo Joseph Esper, Howell, MI (US);
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
F16D 5/536 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
F16D 5/536 ;
Abstract
A clutch assembly having multiple separator plates and friction plates. The separator plates include springs for causing sequential engagement of the friction plates and/or a gradual engagement of friction plates by tipping one of the separator plates during the initial clutch engagement. This allows for a controlled gradual engagement of the clutch in a relatively short time.