Resilient mount for clutch shaft pilot bearing

Claim 2

In combination, a releasable torque-transmitting coupling adapted to be driven from an engine, a transmission input shaft substantially aligned with said releasable torque-transmitting coupling and having a drive gear thereon in meshing engagement with other transmission gears, and pilot bearing means coacting between said releasable torque-transmitting coupling and a portion of said transmission input shaft for rotatably supporting said input shaft on said mechanical device, the improvement wherein said pilot bearing means includes a recess within said releasable torque-transmitting coupling and said input shaft has a pilot portion thereon disposed within said recess, and said pilot bearing means further includes resilient bushing means positioned within said recess surrounding said pilot portion of said input shaft for permitting radial floating movement of said pilot portion relative to said releasable torque-transmitting coupling.

Claim 3

In combination, a flywheel adapted to be driven from an engine, a transmission input shaft substantially aligned with said flywheel and having a drive gear thereon in meshing engagement with other transmission gears, clutch means coacting between said flywheel and said transmission input shaft for permitting said transmission input shaft to be selectively driven from said flywheel, and pilot bearing means coacting between said flywheel and a portion of said transmission input shaft for rotatably supporting said input shaft on said flywheel, the improvement wherein said pilot bearing means includes a central bore formed within said flywheel and said input shaft has a pilot portion thereon disposed within said bore, and said pilot bearing means further includes resilient bushing means positioned within said bore surrounding said pilot portion of said input shaft for permitting radial floating movement of said pilot portion relative to said flywheel.

Claim 4

In combination, a flywheel adapted to be driven from an engine, a transmission input shaft substantially aligned with said flywheel and having a drive gear thereon in meshing engagement with other transmission gears, clutch means coacting between said flywheel and said transmission input shaft for permitting said transmission input shaft to be selectively driven from said flywheel, and pilot bearing means coacting between said flywheel and a portion of said transmission input shaft for rotatably supporting said input shaft on said flywheel, the improvement wherein said pilot bearing means includes a central bore formed within said flywheel and said input shaft has a pilot portion thereon disposed within said bore, and said pilot bearing means further includes resilient bushing means positioned within said bore surrounding said pilot portion of said input shaft for permitting radial floating movement of said pilot portion relative to said flywheel.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 2, in which the resilient bushing means includes an annular ring of elasTomeric material.

Claim 6

The combination according to claim 3, in which the resilient bushing means also permits relative angular movement between the rotational axis of said flywheel and the rotational axis of said transmission input shaft.

Claim 7

The combination according to claim 3, in which the resilient bushing means includes spaced inner and outer support rings with said ring of elastomeric material being positioned between and fixedly secured to said inner and outer support rings.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 5, in which the flywheel is provided with a recess extending axially inwardly from one end thereof, said clutch means including a clutch disk slidably splined to the input shaft and disposed for axial movement relative to the flywheel for frictionally engaging same, and actuator means coacting with said clutch disk for causing same to be moved axially into frictional engagement with said flywheel, said actuator means including a shift collar disposed in surrounding relationship to said input shaft and movable axially relative thereto, whereby in case of a misalignment between the flywheel axis and that of the input shaft, the clutch disks can follow the flywheel and not be adversely affected by such misalignment.

Claim 9

The combination according to claim 5, in which the outer support ring is fixedly secured relative to said flywheel, and in which a sleeve bushing is disposed between the inner support ring and the pilot portion of said input shaft.