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. 06, 2008
Filed:
Feb. 03, 2005
Muneer Abusamra, Southern Pines, NC (US);
Robert Anthony Sayman, Laurinburg, NC (US);
Charles E. Allen, Jr., Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Winfried Sturmer, Euerbach, DE;
Karl-fritz Heinzelmann, Meckenbeuren, DE;
Ludger Ronge, Eriskirch, DE;
Loren Christopher Dreier, Vass, NC (US);
James Henry Devore, Laurinburg, NC (US);
Ronald Peter Muetzel, Friedrichshafen, DE;
Muneer AbuSamra, Southern Pines, NC (US);
Robert Anthony Sayman, Laurinburg, NC (US);
Charles E. Allen, Jr., Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Winfried Sturmer, Euerbach, DE;
Karl-Fritz Heinzelmann, Meckenbeuren, DE;
Ludger Ronge, Eriskirch, DE;
Loren Christopher Dreier, Vass, NC (US);
James Henry DeVore, Laurinburg, NC (US);
Ronald Peter Muetzel, Friedrichshafen, DE;
Meritor Transmission Corporation, Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
A centrifugal clutch assembly includes a clutch cover attachable to a rotatable input member. Friction plates are clamped between pressure plates in response to rotation of the clutch assembly. Rotation of the clutch assembly causes at least one centrifugal weight to move radially outward to force the pressure plates against the friction plates. The radial position of the centrifugal weights is modified to tailor clutch actuation. This modification of centrifugal weight position causes a corresponding change to engagement characteristics of the clutch assembly allowing clutch actuation to be tailored to operating conditions.