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:
Dec. 11, 2007
Filed:
Dec. 23, 2003
Muneer Abusamra, Southern Pines, NC (US);
Ludger Ronge, Eriskirch, DE;
Charles E. Allen, Jr., Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Winfried Sturmer, Euerbach, DE;
Karl-fritz Heinzelmann, Meckenbeuren, DE;
Loren Christopher Dreier, Vass, NC (US);
Robert Anthony Sayman, Laurinburg, NC (US);
James Henry Devore, Laurinburg, NC (US);
Ronald Peter Muetzel, Friedrichshafen, DE;
Muneer AbuSamra, Southern Pines, NC (US);
Ludger Ronge, Eriskirch, DE;
Charles E. Allen, Jr., Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Winfried Sturmer, Euerbach, DE;
Karl-Fritz Heinzelmann, Meckenbeuren, DE;
Loren Christopher Dreier, Vass, NC (US);
Robert Anthony Sayman, Laurinburg, NC (US);
James Henry DeVore, Laurinburg, NC (US);
Ronald Peter Muetzel, Friedrichshafen, DE;
ZF Meritor, LLC, Maxton, NC (US);
Abstract
A centrifugal clutch assembly includes movable centrifugal weight reaction surfaces that provide for actuation at varying rotational speeds. A radially movable front plate with a ramped surface changes the radial position at which the centrifugal weight begins moving the front plate axially to compress a clamp spring and begin clutch actuation. An axially movable back plate moves axially to change the magnitude of compression caused by axial movement of the front plate. The changes to clamping force corresponding to movement of the reaction surfaces of the centrifugal weight change the rotational speed required to beginning and maintain actuation of the clutch assembly.