Heat dissipating means for use with friction clutches of motor vehicles

Claim 2

Heat dissipating means for use with friction clutches of motor vehicles, comprising a bell housing having an internal surface defining part of a boundary of a chamber, a friction clutch disposed in said housing, port means in said bell housing comprising two ports opening into said internal surface and positioned therein so one port is nearer to the radial periphery of said friction clutch housed therein than the other port during use of the heat dissipating means; heat exchange means disposed outside said housing including conduit means interconnecting said two ports and disposed to bring fluid flowing therethrough into a heat exchange relationship with a cooling medium; the arrangement being such that fluid heated by operation of said friction clutch housed therein flows from said one port to said other port through said conduit means and is cooled by being brought into heat exchange relationship with the cooling medium, said clutch including a shaft extending from the housing, and baffle means disposed within said housing between said ports and having central opening means therein forming an air passage, and said shaft extending therethrough.

Claim 3

Heat dissipating means for use with friction clutches of motor vehicles comprising an elongated bell housing having a front portion and rear portion with an internal surface defining the boundary of a chamber, a friction clutch disposed in said housing having a radially outwardly extending periphery, a first port means disposed in the front portion of said housing and in juxtaposition with the edge portion of said outwardly extending periphery, another port means disposed in the rear portion of said housing, heat exchange means disposed outside said housing including conduit means interconnecting said two port means and disposed to permit the natural circulation of fluid from said one port means to said another port means to dissipate heat generated by said clutch, including a shaft extending through the housing, baffle means disposed within the housing between said ports, said baffle means having central opening means therein forming an air passage, and said shAft extending therethrough.

Claim 4

Heat dissipating means for use with friction clutches of motor vehicles comprising an elongated bell housing having a front portion and rear portion with an internal surface defining the boundary of a chamber, a friction clutch disposed in said housing having a radially outwardly extending periphery, a first port means disposed in the front portion of said housing and in juxtaposition with the edge portion of said outwardly extending periphery, another port means disposed in the rear portion of said housing, heat exchange means disposed outside said housing including conduit means interconnecting said two port means and disposed to permit the natural circulation of fluid from said one port means to said another port means to dissipate heat generated by said clutch, including a shaft extending through the housing, baffle means disposed within the housing between said ports, said baffle means having central opening means therein forming an air passage, and said shAft extending therethrough.

Claim 5

Heat dissipating means for use with friction clutches of motor vehicles, comprising a ball housing having an internal surface defining part of a boundary of a chamber, a friction clutch disposed in said housing and including a peripheral wall enclosing the interior of said clutch, openings in said peripheral wall for the passage of air expelled by centrifugal force from the interior of the clutch, port means in said bell housing comprising two ports opening into said internal surface and positioned therein so one port is in the region of the bell housing into which air is expelled through said openings and the other port is remote from said region during use of the heat dissipating means; heat exchange means disposed outside said housing including conduit means interconnecting said two ports and disposed to bring fluid flowing therethrough into a heat exchange relationship with a cooling medium; the arrangement being such that fluid heated by operation of said friction clutch housed therein flows from said one port to said other port through said conduit means and is cooled by being brought into heat exchange relationship with the cooling medium.

Claim 6

Heat dissipating means for use with friction clutches of motor vehicles, comprising a ball housing having an internal surface defining part of a boundary of a chamber, a friction clutch disposed in said housing and including a peripheral wall enclosing the interior of said clutch, openings in said peripheral wall for the passage of air expelled by centrifugal force from the interior of the clutch, port means in said bell housing comprising two ports opening into said internal surface and positioned therein so one port is in the region of the bell housing into which air is expelled through said openings and the other port is remote from said region during use of the heat dissipating means; heat exchange means disposed outside said housing including conduit means interconnecting said two ports and disposed to bring fluid flowing therethrough into a heat exchange relationship with a cooling medium; the arrangement being such that fluid heated by operation of said friction clutch housed therein flows from said one port to said other port through said conduit means and is cooled by being brought into heat exchange relationship with the cooling medium.

Claim 7

Heat dissipating means of claim 1 wherein said fluid is air.

Claim 8

Heat dissipating means of claim 1 wherein said heat exchange means includes a hollow casing with its interior being in communication with said ports through said conduit means.

Claim 9

Heat dissipating means of claim 1 wherein the improvement further comprises said two ports being spaced apart axially of said bell housing.