US3789967A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Clutch assembly for a vehicle
Assignee: Volkswagen AG
•
Filing: 1972-12-01
•
Granted: 1974-02-05
•
Expires: 1992-12-01
Abstract
Abstract An interlocking device for a clutch that utilizes an actuating mechanism containing a clutch cable and clutch pedal, the interlocking device being designed to automatically adjust the actuating mechanism for friction lining wear and cable elongation, when the clutch pedal is in its rest position. The interlocking device includes a gripping member which is coupled to the clutch pedal and which is adapted to be pivoted about an axis when the pedal is depressed to disengage the clutch. The gripping member has an opening formed therein in which a springmounted pin rides. This pin, which is coupled to the pedal end of the clutch cable, enjoys a certain degree of play in the opening when the clutch pedal is at its rest position, so that it will automatically be moved, under the spring force, relative to the gripping member by a distance and in a direction appropriate to compensate for cable elongation and lining wear. When the clutch pedal is depressed, the gripping member pivots relative to the pin to cause wall portions of the opening to grip the pin in tight frictional engagement to prevent movement thereof and allow for proper actuation of the clutch.
Inventors
- 👤 H Gritzan
- 👤 W Dau
- 👤 P Langer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:32
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D13/00; F16D13/58; F16D13/75; F16D13/752; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20396; Y10T74/20402; Y10T74/20408; Y10T74/20528
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
316 words
In an actuating mechanism for the clutch of a motor vehicle including a clutch pedal, a clutch cable, and means coupling the clutch pedal and the clutch cable together for effecting engagement and disengagement of the clutch upon manipulation of the clutch pedal, the improvement comprising: a gripping member having an opening formed therein; a pin member coupled to the pedal end of the clutch cable and being received in the opening of the gripping member; means coupling the gripping member to the clutch pedal for pivotal movement of the chambeR about an axis, upon manipulation of the pedal, from a predetermined position in which the gripping member opening is generally in axial alignment with the pin member and an actuated position in which the opening and the pin member are axially non-aligned; means for resiliently urging the pin member in a direction away from the clutch cable so as to apply axial tensile force to the clutch cable; and stop means for locating the gripping member at said predetermined position relative to the pin member when the clutch pedal is in the rest position; the cross-sections of the gripping member opening and the pin member being dimensioned such that (1) when the gripping member is at said predetermined position the pin member is free to move axially within the opening in response to the resilent urging means, thereby automatically to compensate for wear of the frictional elements of the clutch and for elongation of the clutch cable, and (2) when the clutch pedal is depressed to move the gripping member to said actuated position, the pin member is held against axial movement relative to the gripping member by engagement of opposed wall portions of the opening with the pin member, thereby to effect movement of the clutch cable in response to further manipulation of the clutch pedal beyond said actuated position of the gripping member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
316 words
In an actuating mechanism for the clutch of a motor vehicle including a clutch pedal, a clutch cable, and means coupling the clutch pedal and the clutch cable together for effecting engagement and disengagement of the clutch upon manipulation of the clutch pedal, the improvement comprising: a gripping member having an opening formed therein; a pin member coupled to the pedal end of the clutch cable and being received in the opening of the gripping member; means coupling the gripping member to the clutch pedal for pivotal movement of the chambeR about an axis, upon manipulation of the pedal, from a predetermined position in which the gripping member opening is generally in axial alignment with the pin member and an actuated position in which the opening and the pin member are axially non-aligned; means for resiliently urging the pin member in a direction away from the clutch cable so as to apply axial tensile force to the clutch cable; and stop means for locating the gripping member at said predetermined position relative to the pin member when the clutch pedal is in the rest position; the cross-sections of the gripping member opening and the pin member being dimensioned such that (1) when the gripping member is at said predetermined position the pin member is free to move axially within the opening in response to the resilent urging means, thereby automatically to compensate for wear of the frictional elements of the clutch and for elongation of the clutch cable, and (2) when the clutch pedal is depressed to move the gripping member to said actuated position, the pin member is held against axial movement relative to the gripping member by engagement of opposed wall portions of the opening with the pin member, thereby to effect movement of the clutch cable in response to further manipulation of the clutch pedal beyond said actuated position of the gripping member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the pin member is formed with teeth means on the surface thereof for engagement with the opposed wall portion of the opening upon depression of the clutch pedal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The mechanism of claim 1 wherein: the free end of the pin member extends through the gripping member; and the resilient urging means comprises a compression spring interposed between the free end of the pin member and the facing surface of the gripping member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the pin member is coupled to the cable by means permitting articulation therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the pin member is coupled to the cable by means permitting uncoupling thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The mechanism of claim 1 wherein: the means coupling the gripping member to the clutch pedal includes a shaft for rotatably supporting the clutch pedal, the shaft and pedal being fixed together for rotation in synchronism upon manipulation of the pedal; and the gripping member comprises a portion of the shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mechanism of claim 6 wherein the gripping member comprises an axially extending projection of the pedal shaft, the opening being formed in said projection through the axis of the shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The mechanism of claim 7 wherein the resilient urging means comprises: a holder member mounted for rotation with the clutch pedal in fixed relation to the gripping member; and a tension spring connected between the holder member and the pin member for applying said tensile force to the clutch cable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The mechanism of claim 8 wherein: the pin member is generally L-shaped, one leg of which is received in the gripping member opening and the other leg of which is coupled to the cable; the holder member is carried by the pedal shaft fo rotation therewith; and the tension spring is connected at one end to said other leg of the pin member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The mechanism of claim 9 further comprising means carried by the holder member for guiding movement of the pin member relative to the gripping member when the gripping member is at said predetermined position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
The mechanism of claim 1 wherein: the means coupling the gripping member to the clutch pedal includes a shaft for rotatably supporting the clutch pedal, the shaft and pedal being fixed together for rotation in synchronism upon manipulation of the pedal; and the gripping member comprises a radially extending member carried by the pedal shaft for rotation coaxially therewith, the opening being formed in a radially outer portion of the radially extending member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the means coupling the gripping member to the clutch pedal comprises: a shaft for rotatably supporting the clutch pedal, the shaft and pedal being fixed together for rotation in synchronism upon manipulation of the pedal; a linking member carried by he shaft for rotation therewith; and means connecting the linking member to the gripping member for imparting said pivotal movement thereto upon manipulation of the clutch pedal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
The mechanism of claim 12 further comprising stationary sleeve means for constraining movement of the pin member to the axial plane; and wherein the coupling means, upon further manipulation of the clutch pedal beyond said actuated position, moves the pin member in the axial plane to effect movement of the clutch cable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the means coupling the gripping member to the clutch pedal comprises: a shaft for rotatably supporting the clutch pedal, the shaft and pedal being fixed together for rotation in synchronism upon manipulation of the pedal; a first linking member carried by the pedal shaft for rotation therewith; and a second linking member pivotally coupled at one end to the first linking member and at the other end to the gripping member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
The mechanism of claim 14 wherein the means coupling the gripping member to the pedal shaft further comprises means carried by the second linking member for supporting the pin member relative to the gripping member and for guiding axial movement of the pin member when the gripping member is at said predetermined position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |