Clutch housing with wide lever spring retention slots and clutch housing with axially off-set tabs

Abstract

The present invention broadly comprises a clutch housing including a substantially cylindrical housing wall and an opening in the housing wall. The opening is operatively arranged to accept at least a portion of a lever spring for a clutch assembly and at least a portion of a protrusion for a torque-transmitting element in the assembly. The present invention also broadly comprises a clutch housing including a first and second protrusions extending from a substantially cylindrical housing wall, axially displaced from each other, and arranged to engage a torque-transmitting element in a clutch assembly. The first protrusion is arranged to receive torque from the element and to support the clutch housing in an axial direction. The second protrusion is arranged to preload a lever spring. The present invention further includes a clutch assembly with the preceding clutch housings.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective back view of a clutch housing with present invention spring retention openings;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the housing of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective back view of a clutch housing with present invention radial protrusions;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the housing of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4A is a partial side view of a present invention clutch housing showing another orientation of protrusions;

FIG. 5 is an exploded back view of a present invention dual clutch assembly;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the assembly of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a back view of the assembly of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 5, along line 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a detail of area 9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a detail of area 10 in FIG. 8; and,

FIG. 11 is a detail of area 11 in FIG. 6.

Claims

1. A clutch housing, comprising: a substantially cylindrical housing wall; and, an opening in said housing wall, said opening operatively arranged to accept at least a portion of a lever spring for a clutch assembly and at least a portion of a protrusion for a torque-transmitting element in said assembly.

2. The housing of claim 1 wherein said opening defines a first edge and said at least a portion of a lever spring is arranged to contact said first edge.

3. The housing of claim 2 wherein said at least a portion of a protrusion is arranged to contact said at least a portion of a lever spring.

4. The housing of claim 3 wherein said at least a portion of a protrusion is arranged to preload said lever spring.

5. The housing of claim 1 wherein said opening defines a second edge and said at least a portion of a protrusion is arranged to contact said second edge.

6. The housing of claim 5 wherein said wall is arranged to transfer torque to said at least a portion of a protrusion and wherein said at least a portion of a protrusion is arranged to support said torque-transmitting element in an axial direction.

7. The housing of claim 1 wherein said first and second edges are axially separated.

8. The housing of claim 1 wherein said opening comprises an axial width, said wall comprises a thicknesses, and said axial width is greater than said thickness.

9. The housing of claim 1 wherein said torque-transmitting element is an inner-clutch housing.

10. The housing of claim 1 wherein said opening and said protrusion further comprise respective pluralities of openings and protrusions.

11. A clutch housing, comprising: a first protrusion extending from a substantially cylindrical housing wall; and,a second protrusion extending from said wall, said second protrusion axially displaced from said first protrusion and said first and second protrusions arranged to engage a torque-transmitting element in a clutch assembly.

12. The housing of claim 11 wherein said torque-transmitting element further comprises an opening with a first edge and said first protrusion is arranged to engage said first edge.

13. The housing of claim 11 wherein said first protrusion is arranged to receive torque from said torque-transmitting element and to support said clutch housing in an axial direction.

14. The housing of claim 11 wherein said assembly further comprises a lever spring, said torque-transmitting element further comprises an opening with a second edge, and said second protrusion is arranged to urge at least a portion of said lever spring against said second edge.

15. The housing of claim 14 wherein said second protrusion is arranged to preload said lever spring.

16. The housing of claim 14 wherein said protrusion is arranged to receive torque from said torque-transmitting element.

17. The housing of claim 11 further comprising: a longitudinal end; and, wherein said first and second protrusions are first and second tabs, respectively, arranged proximate said longitudinal end.

18. The housing of claim 11 further comprising respective pluralities of said first and second protrusions.

19. The housing of claim 11 wherein said torque-transmitting element comprises an outer clutch housing.

20. A clutch assembly comprising: an inner clutch housing with first and second protrusions extending radially outward from a substantially cylindrical inner housing wall and axially displaced one to the other; and,an outer clutch housing with a plurality of openings in a substantially cylindrical outer housing wall, where said first and second protrusions are at least partially engaged with said plurality of openings.

21. The assembly of claim 20 further comprising: a lever spring engaged with said plurality of openings; and, wherein said plurality of openings further comprises respective first edges and said first protrusion urges said spring against said first edges.

22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein said first protrusion is arranged to preload said lever spring.

23. The assembly of claim 21 wherein said first protrusion is arranged to accept torque.

24. The assembly of claim 21 wherein said plurality of openings further comprises respective second edges and said second protrusion is arranged to contact said second edges.

25. The assembly of claim 24 wherein said outer clutch housing is arranged to accept torque and said second protrusion is arranged to accept said torque and to support said inner clutch housing in an axial direction.

26. The assembly of claim 20 wherein said first and second edges are axially offset.

27. The assembly of claim 20 wherein said inner clutch housing further comprises a longitudinal end and wherein said first and second protrusions are first and second tabs, respectively, disposed proximate said longitudinal end.

28. The assembly of claim 20 wherein said first and second protrusions comprise respective pluralities of said first and second protrusions.