Claims
- 1. A multi-plate clutch mechanism, comprising:
- a first cylindrical portion configured for connection to a flywheel;
- a hub flange having a second cylindrical portion disposed concentrically within said first cylindrical portion, said hub flange configured to non-rotatably engage an input shaft of a transmission and to axially slide with respect to the input shaft;
- a plurality of first friction plates disposed between said first cylindrical portion and said second cylindrical portion, said first friction plates being circumferentially engaged for rotation with said first cylindrical portion but relatively slidable in the axial direction with respect to said first cylindrical portion;
- a plurality of second friction plates disposed alternatingly adjacent to said first friction plates in the axial direction, said second friction plates being configured to engage said second cylindrical portion for rotation therewith but configured for limited relative axial movement with respect to said second cylindrical portion;
- a pressure plate mechanism fixed to said first cylindrical portion such that said friction plates are disposed between said pressure plate mechanism and the flywheel, said pressure plate mechanism including a clutch cover supported on said first cylindrical portion, a pressure plate disposed between said clutch cover and said first and second friction plates and a diapragm spring disposed between said clutch cover and said pressure plate;
- a resilient member disposed between the flywheel and said pressure plate mechanism, said resilient member operably configured to flex and be elastically deformed in the axial direction in response to movement of said diaphragm spring;
- wherein said resilient member is disposed in an annular recess formed in the flywheel adjacent to one of said first and second friction plates.
- 2. The multi-plate clutch mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a piston plate disposed in said annular recess formed in the flywheel, said piston plate positioned between said resilient member and said one of said first and second friction plates.
- 3. The multi-plate clutch mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said diaphragm spring comprises:
- an annular resilient portion having a plurality of lever portions extending radially inwardly therefrom, each of said lever portions having a body portion and a contact portion, said contact portion being radially inward from said body portion, each adjacent pair of said body portions defining an oblong hole therebetween and each adjacent pair of said contact portions defining a slit therebetween, each of said oblong holes having a circumferential width greater than a circumferential width of said slits and each of said oblong holes having a radial length greater than a radial length of said slits, such that said oblong holes provide a means for supporting said annular resilient portion within said clutch cover and said oblong holes also allow for flow of air.
- 4. The multi-plate clutch mechanism according to claim 3, wherein a contact radius is defined on said contact portions, said contact radius defined a general location for engagement with said pressure plate mechanism, and said contact portions are located within a range of no more than approximately 5 mm radially inwardly from said contact radius.
- 5. The multi-plate clutch mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said radial length of said body portions is approximately two-thirds of said radial length of said contact portions.
Priority Claims (5)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
8-062585 |
Mar 1996 |
JPX |
|
8-062586 |
Mar 1996 |
JPX |
|
8-062587 |
Mar 1996 |
JPX |
|
8-071741 |
Mar 1996 |
JPX |
|
8-135516 |
May 1996 |
JPX |
|
Parent Case Info
The following application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/104,434, filed Jun. 25, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,269, which is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/820,462, filed Mar. 17, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,234.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0735291 |
Oct 1996 |
EPX |
2580752 |
Oct 1986 |
FRX |
1475437 |
Aug 1970 |
DEX |
2300679 |
Nov 1996 |
GBX |
Divisions (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
104434 |
Jun 1998 |
|
Parent |
820462 |
Mar 1997 |
|