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:
May. 03, 2005
Filed:
Mar. 08, 2002
Andrzej Szadkowski, Southern Pines, NC (US);
Muneer Abusamra, Southern Pines, NC (US);
Ronald B. Morford, Southern Pines, NC (US);
Matthew Girlando, Munich, DE;
Andrzej Szadkowski, Southern Pines, NC (US);
Muneer Abusamra, Southern Pines, NC (US);
Ronald B. Morford, Southern Pines, NC (US);
Matthew Girlando, Munich, DE;
ZF Sachs AG, Schweinfurt, DE;
Abstract
A clutch assembly is provided that includes a flywheel. A clutch cover is secured to the flywheel. An intermediate plate is spaced from the flywheel, and a pressure plate is arranged between the clutch cover and the intermediate plate. The intermediate plate may be secured to the clutch cover by flexible straps or another similar device. The straps retract the pressure plate from an engaged position to a disengaged position. First and second friction discs are respectively arranged between the pressure plate and the intermediate plate and the intermediate plate and the flywheel. The pressure plate forces the intermediate plate and the friction discs toward the flywheel to couple and engine and transmission together. A separator moves the intermediate plate with the pressure plate from the engaged position to the disengaged position thereby permitting self-disengagement of the friction discs from the flywheel. The separator urges the intermediate plate in a direction toward the pressure plate, and preferably centers the intermediate plate between the pressure plate and the flywheel to permit sufficient space for the friction discs to self-disengage from the flywheel.