Centrifugally and spring engaged clutch

Claim 2

A clutch for transmitting rotary drive from an engine to a transmission in which ratio gears are decoupled from said engine and braked to facilitate shifting, comprising rotary input means coupled to said engine and driven thereby, rotary output means coupled to said ratio gears of said transmission, a plurality of clutch plates at least one of said clutch plates being coupled to said input means for rotation therewith and at least one of said clutch plates being coupled to said output means for rotation therewith, a pressure plate movable relative to said clutch plates, wherein said pressure plate has a plurality of angularly spaced bores therein means for shifting said pressure plate to apply engagement pressure to said clutch plates to engage said clutch for transmitting torque from said input means to said output means thereof, means for shifting said pressure plate to relieve said engagement pressure on said clutch plates to disengage said clutch, and rollover means for applying a relatively light pressure to said clutch plates prior to application of said engagement pressure thereto by said pressure plate wherein said rollover means comprises a plurality of compression springs each extending in one of said bores of said pressure plate and bearing against the adjacent one of said clutch plates.

Claim 3

A clutch for transmitting rotary drive from an engine to a transmission in which ratio gears are decoupled from said engine and braked to facilitate shifting, comprising rotary input means coupled to said engine and driven thereby, rotary output means coupled to said ratio gears of said transmission, a plurality of clutch plates at least one of said clutch plates being coupled to said input means for rotation therewith and at least one of said clutch plates being coupled to said output means for rotation therewith, a pressure plate movable relative to said clutch plates, means for shifting said pressure plate to apply engagement pressure to said clutch plates to engage said clutch for Transmitting torque from said input means to said output means thereof, means for shifting said pressure plate to relieve said engagement pressure on said clutch plates to disengage said clutch, and rollover means for applying a relatively light pressure to said clutch plates prior to application of said engagement pressure thereto by said pressure plate, wherein said clutch plates and said pressure plates are annular and disposed for rotation about a single axis and wherein said means for shifting said pressure plate to apply engagement pressure to said clutch plates comprises an annular movable clutch capacity modifying member disposed for rotation about said axis, means for moving said modifying member relative to said pressure plate in response to changes of speed of said input means, and engagement spring means acting between said modifying member and said pressure plate for causing said pressure plate to exert said engagement pressure on said clutch plate as said modifying member moves in response to a predetermined increase of speed of said input means, and wherein said rollover means comprises additional spring means acting directly between said capacity modifying member and said clutch plates independently of said engagement spring means.

Claim 4

A clutch for transmitting rotary drive from an engine to a transmission in which ratio gears are decoupled from said engine and braked to facilitate shifting, comprising rotary input means coupled to said engine and driven thereby, rotary output means coupled to said ratio gears of said transmission, a plurality of clutch plates at least one of said clutch plates being coupled to said input means for rotation therewith and at least one of said clutch plates being coupled to said output means for rotation therewith, a pressure plate movable relative to said clutch plates, means for shifting said pressure plate to apply engagement pressure to said clutch plates to engage said clutch for Transmitting torque from said input means to said output means thereof, means for shifting said pressure plate to relieve said engagement pressure on said clutch plates to disengage said clutch, and rollover means for applying a relatively light pressure to said clutch plates prior to application of said engagement pressure thereto by said pressure plate, wherein said clutch plates and said pressure plates are annular and disposed for rotation about a single axis and wherein said means for shifting said pressure plate to apply engagement pressure to said clutch plates comprises an annular movable clutch capacity modifying member disposed for rotation about said axis, means for moving said modifying member relative to said pressure plate in response to changes of speed of said input means, and engagement spring means acting between said modifying member and said pressure plate for causing said pressure plate to exert said engagement pressure on said clutch plate as said modifying member moves in response to a predetermined increase of speed of said input means, and wherein said rollover means comprises additional spring means acting directly between said capacity modifying member and said clutch plates independently of said engagement spring means.

Claim 5

A clutch as defined in claim 2 further comprising means for relieving said relatively light pressure of said rollover means on said clutch plates when the speed of said rotary input means is below a predetermined value.

Claim 6

A clutch as defined in claim 2 wherein said additional spring means acts between said capacity modifying member and the most adjacent one of said clutch plates and further comprising stop means movable with said capacity modifying member for separating said most adjacent clutch plate from the others of said clutch plates after said modifying member has moved in response to a decrease of speed of said input means to relieve said engagement pressure of said pressure plate on said clutch plates.

Claim 7

A clutch for interconnecting an engine and a transmission of the form having ratio gears which are decoupled from said engine and braked to facilitate shifting, comprising: a rotatable input member having means defining an annular chamber in which fluid is trapped by centrifugal force upon rotation of said input member, a rotatable output member disposed coaxially with respect to said input member and coupled to said ratio gears of said transmission, a plurality of clutch plates disposed between said input member and output member in coaxial relation therewith, a first plurality of said clutch plates being coupled to said input member and a second plurality of said clutch plates being coupled to said output member, an annular pressure plate disposed coaxially with respect to said input and output members adjacent said clutch plates and being movable axially to exert engagement pressure against said clutch plates, an annular capacity modifying member disposed in said chamber of said input member and being movable in an axial direction relative thereto, said capacity modifying member being exposed to said centrifugal pressure of said fluid in said chamber and being movable in response thereto, disengagement spring means acting on said capacity modifying member in opposition to said force of said centrifugal pressure thereon, engagement spring means acting between said capacity modifying member and said pressure plate for transmitting said centrifugal pressure thereon to said pressure plate to engage said clutch, fluid operated piston means for forcibly relieving the pressure of said pressure plate on said clutch plates to disengage said clutch in preparation for shifting said ratio gears of said transmission, fluid pressure operated brake piston means for temporarily stopping rotation of said output member following said disengagement of said clutch, and a plurality of rollover spring means disposed for exerting a relatively small pressure on said clutch plates during the period that said engagement pressure of said engagement spring and said pressure plate thereon is relieved by said fluid operated piston means whereby a relatively small torque is briefly transmitted to said output member following release of said brake means.

Claim 8

A clutch for interconnecting an engine and a transmission of the form having ratio gears which are decoupled from said engine and braked to facilitate shifting, comprising: a rotatable input member having means defining an annular chamber in which fluid is trapped by centrifugal force upon rotation of said input member, a rotatable output member disposed coaxially with respect to said input member and coupled to said ratio gears of said transmission, a plurality of clutch plates disposed between said input member and output member in coaxial relation therewith, a first plurality of said clutch plates being coupled to said input member and a second plurality of said clutch plates being coupled to said output member, an annular pressure plate disposed coaxially with respect to said input and output members adjacent said clutch plates and being movable axially to exert engagement pressure against said clutch plates, an annular capacity modifying member disposed in said chamber of said input member and being movable in an axial direction relative thereto, said capacity modifying member being exposed to said centrifugal pressure of said fluid in said chamber and being movable in response thereto, disengagement spring means acting on said capacity modifying member in opposition to said force of said centrifugal pressure thereon, engagement spring means acting between said capacity modifying member and said pressure plate for transmitting said centrifugal pressure thereon to said pressure plate to engage said clutch, fluid operated piston means for forcibly relieving the pressure of said pressure plate on said clutch plates to disengage said clutch in preparation for shifting said ratio gears of said transmission, fluid pressure operated brake piston means for temporarily stopping rotation of said output member following said disengagement of said clutch, and a plurality of rollover spring means disposed for exerting a relatively small pressure on said clutch plates during the period that said engagement pressure of said engagement spring and said pressure plate thereon is relieved by said fluid operated piston means whereby a relatively small torque is briefly transmitted to said output member following release of said brake means.