Automatic piston adjuster

Claim 2

In a transmission; drive means having a first and a second torque transmitting means; friction plate drive establishing means operably connecting said torque transmitting means having apply face means axially movable from a released position through a clearance travel distance to an engaged position to transmit operating torque between said first and second torque transmitting means; one of said torque transmitting means including a cylinder; a preassembled secured subassembly including a piston member supporting said apply face means for engaging said drive establishing means, a retainer member positioned adjacent the outer side of said piston, return springs seated and compressed between said piston and retainer members and one-way friction fastener means having a portion on one member and a fastener portion on the other member relatively slidable and interengaging to hold any relative positions between the members in the absence of a moving force, to permit relative movement of said fastener portion following movement of said retainer member toward said piston member in response to light force and to prevent relative movement of said portions when said springs bias said retainer member away from said piston member, initially positioned to secure said subassembly together and hold said springs compressed substantially in the released position of said piston member relative to said retainer member; said subassembly being positioned in said cylinder with said outer side of said piston member facing said drive establishing means, said retainer member being secured to said one torque transmitting means to position said piston member and said apply face means in released position; stop means on one of said members to limit relative movement of a portion of said friction fastener means and said one member to said clearance travel distance as the piston member moves from said released to engaged position and operative as said friction plate drive establishing means wears requiring a further increment of movement from the released to the engaged position to move said portion of said friction fastener means a distance equal to the further increment of movement to limit return movement to said clearance travel distance for uniform timed engagement during the life of said friction drive means.

Claim 3

In a transmission; drive means having a first and a second torque transmitting means; friction plate drive establishing means operably connecting said torque transmitting means havIng apply face means axially movable from a released position through a clearance travel distance to an engaged position to transmit operating torque between said first and second torque transmitting means; one of said torque transmitting means including a cylinder; a preassembled secured subassembly including a piston supporting said apply face means for engaging said drive establishing means and fastener receiving means on the outer side of said piston, a retainer positioned adjacent the outer side of said piston, return springs seated and compressed between said piston and retainer and one-way friction fastener means slidable engaging said fastener receiving means to hold any relative position in the absence of a moving force, to permit movement of said friction fastener means toward said piston in response to a light force and to prevent movement away from said piston in response to the heavy return spring force, initially positioned to engage said retainer to secure said subassembly together and hold said springs compressed substantially in the released position of said piston relative to said retainer; said subassembly being positioned in said cylinder with said outer side of said piston facing said drive establishing means, said retainer being secured to said one torque transmitting means to position said piston and said apply face means in released position; stop means on said retainer to limit movement of said friction fastener means away from said retainer to said clearance travel distance as the piston moves from said released to engaged position and operative as said friction plate drive establishing means wears requiring a further increment of movement from the released to the engaged position to move said friction fastener on said post toward said piston a distance equal to the further increment of movement of limit return movement to said clearance travel distance for uniform timed engagement during the life of said friction drive means.

Claim 4

In a transmission; drive means having a first and a second torque transmitting means; friction plate drive establishing means operably connecting said torque transmitting means havIng apply face means axially movable from a released position through a clearance travel distance to an engaged position to transmit operating torque between said first and second torque transmitting means; one of said torque transmitting means including a cylinder; a preassembled secured subassembly including a piston supporting said apply face means for engaging said drive establishing means and fastener receiving means on the outer side of said piston, a retainer positioned adjacent the outer side of said piston, return springs seated and compressed between said piston and retainer and one-way friction fastener means slidable engaging said fastener receiving means to hold any relative position in the absence of a moving force, to permit movement of said friction fastener means toward said piston in response to a light force and to prevent movement away from said piston in response to the heavy return spring force, initially positioned to engage said retainer to secure said subassembly together and hold said springs compressed substantially in the released position of said piston relative to said retainer; said subassembly being positioned in said cylinder with said outer side of said piston facing said drive establishing means, said retainer being secured to said one torque transmitting means to position said piston and said apply face means in released position; stop means on said retainer to limit movement of said friction fastener means away from said retainer to said clearance travel distance as the piston moves from said released to engaged position and operative as said friction plate drive establishing means wears requiring a further increment of movement from the released to the engaged position to move said friction fastener on said post toward said piston a distance equal to the further increment of movement of limit return movement to said clearance travel distance for uniform timed engagement during the life of said friction drive means.

Claim 5

In a transmission; drive means having a first and a second torque transmitting means; friction plate drive establishing means operably connecting said torque transmitting means having apply face means axially movable from a released position through a clearance travel distance to an engaged position to transmit operating torque between said first and second torque transmitting means; one of said torque transmitting means including a cylinder; a preassembled secured subassembly including a piston supporting said apply face means for engaging said drive establishing means and a fastener post on the outer side of said piston, a retainer having openings positioned on said piston with the fastener posts extending through said openings, return springs seated and compressed between said piston and retainer and one-way friction fasteners slidable on said posts against said retainer to secure said preassembled subassembly together and hold said springs compressed substantially in the released position of said piston relative to said retainer; said subassembly being positioned in said cylinder with said outer side of said piston facing said drive establishing means, said retainer being secured to said one torque transmitting means to position said piston and its apply face means in released position; stop means on said retainer to limit movement of said friction fastener away from said retainer to said clearance travel distance as the piston moves from said released to engaged position and operative as said friction plate drive establishing means wears requiring a further increment of movement from the released to the engaged position to move said friction fastener on said post toward said piston a distance equal to the further increment of movement to limit return movement to said clearance travel distance for uniform timed engagement during the life of said friction drive means.

Claim 6

In a transmission; drive means having a first and a second torque transmitting means; friction plate drive establishing means operably connecting said torque transmitting means having apply face means axially movable from a released position through a clearance travel distance to an engaged position to transmit operating torque between said first and second torque transmitting means; one of said torque transmitting means including a cylinder; a preassembled secured subassembly including a piston supporting said apply face means for engaging said drive establishing means and a fastener post on the outer side of said piston, a retainer having openings positioned on said piston with the fastener posts extending through said openings, return springs seated and compressed between said piston and retainer and one-way friction fasteners slidable on said posts against said retainer to secure said preassembled subassembly together and hold said springs compressed substantially in the released position of said piston relative to said retainer; said subassembly being positioned in said cylinder with said outer side of said piston facing said drive establishing means, said retainer being secured to said one torque transmitting means to position said piston and its apply face means in released position; stop means on said retainer to limit movement of said friction fastener away from said retainer to said clearance travel distance as the piston moves from said released to engaged position and operative as said friction plate drive establishing means wears requiring a further increment of movement from the released to the engaged position to move said friction fastener on said post toward said piston a distance equal to the further increment of movement to limit return movement to said clearance travel distance for uniform timed engagement during the life of said friction drive means.

Claim 7

In a transmission; drive means having a first and a second torque transmitting means; friction plate drive establishing means operably connecting Said torque transmitting means having apply face means axially movable from a released position through a clearance travel distance to an engaged position to transmit operating torque between said first and second torque transmitting means; one of said torque transmitting means including a cylinder; a preassembled secured subassembly including a piston supporting said apply face means for engaging said drive establishing means and a fastener post on the outer side of said piston, a retainer having openings positioned on said piston with the fastener posts extending through said openings, return springs seated and compressed between said piston and retainer and one-way friction fasteners slidable on said posts toward said piston in response to a light force and gripping said post sufficiently to prevent relative movement in the absence of a moving force and having grip intensifying point positioned against said retainer plate so the spring force tightens the fastener grip on the post and secures said preassembled subassembly together and holds said springs compressed substantially in the released position of said piston relative to said retainer; said subassembly being positioned in said cylinder wtih said outer side of said piston facing said drive establishing means, said retainer being secured to said one torque transmitting means to position said piston and said apply face means in released position; stop means on said retainer to limit movement of said friction fastener away from said retainer to said clearance travel distance as the piston moves from said released to engaged position; said friction fastener having a grip releasing portion and a fastener moving portion cooperating with said stop means and operative as said friction plate drive establishing means wears requiring a further increment of movement from the released to the engaged position to initially engage said grip releasing portion to release said friction fastener and then to engage said moving portion to move said friction fastener on said post toward said piston a distance equal to the further increment of movement to limit return movement to said clearance travel distance for uniform timed engagement during the life of said friction drive means.

Claim 8

In a transmission; drive means having a first and a second torque transmitting means; friction plate drive establishing means operably connecting Said torque transmitting means having apply face means axially movable from a released position through a clearance travel distance to an engaged position to transmit operating torque between said first and second torque transmitting means; one of said torque transmitting means including a cylinder; a preassembled secured subassembly including a piston supporting said apply face means for engaging said drive establishing means and a fastener post on the outer side of said piston, a retainer having openings positioned on said piston with the fastener posts extending through said openings, return springs seated and compressed between said piston and retainer and one-way friction fasteners slidable on said posts toward said piston in response to a light force and gripping said post sufficiently to prevent relative movement in the absence of a moving force and having grip intensifying point positioned against said retainer plate so the spring force tightens the fastener grip on the post and secures said preassembled subassembly together and holds said springs compressed substantially in the released position of said piston relative to said retainer; said subassembly being positioned in said cylinder wtih said outer side of said piston facing said drive establishing means, said retainer being secured to said one torque transmitting means to position said piston and said apply face means in released position; stop means on said retainer to limit movement of said friction fastener away from said retainer to said clearance travel distance as the piston moves from said released to engaged position; said friction fastener having a grip releasing portion and a fastener moving portion cooperating with said stop means and operative as said friction plate drive establishing means wears requiring a further increment of movement from the released to the engaged position to initially engage said grip releasing portion to release said friction fastener and then to engage said moving portion to move said friction fastener on said post toward said piston a distance equal to the further increment of movement to limit return movement to said clearance travel distance for uniform timed engagement during the life of said friction drive means.

Claim 9

In a transmission; drive means having a first and a second torque transmitting means; friction drive means operably connecting said first and second torque transmitting means having plate means operably connected to said first and second torque transmitting means and including an apply plate rotatably fixed to said second torque transmitting means and axially movable from a released position through a clearance travel distance to an engaged position to transmit operating torque between said first and second torque transmitting means; said second torque transmitting means including a cylinder; a preassembled secured subassembly including a piston having an apply face for engaging said apply plate and fastener posts on the outer side of said piston, a retainer plate having openings positioned on said piston with the fastener posts extending through said openings, return springs seated and compressed between said piston and retainer plate and one-way friction fasteners slidable on said posts against said retainer plate to secure said preassembled subassembly together and hold said springs compressed substantially in the released position of said piston relative to said retainer plate; said subassembly being positioned in said cylinder with said outer side of said piston facing said plate means, said retainer plate being secured to said second torque transmitting means to position said piston and its apply face in released position so said apply plate is in released position releasing said plate means; stop means on said retainer plate to limit movement of said friction fastener away from said retainer means to said clearance travel distance as the piston moves from said released to engaged position and operative as said friction plate means wears requiring A further increment of movement of the apply plate from the released to the engaged position to move said friction fastener on said post toward said piston a distance equal to the further increment of movement to limit return movement to said clearance travel distance during the life of said friction drive means for uniform timed engagement during the life of the transmission.

Claim 10

In a transmission; drive means having a first and a second torque transmitting means; friction drive means operably connecting said first and second torque transmitting means having plate means operably connected to said first and second torque transmitting means and including an apply plate rotatably fixed to said second torque transmitting means and axially movable from a released position through a clearance travel distance to an engaged position to transmit operating torque between said first and second torque transmitting means; said second torque transmitting means including a cylinder; a preassembled secured subassembly including a piston having an apply face for engaging said apply plate and fastener posts on the outer side of said piston, a retainer plate having openings positioned on said piston with the fastener posts extending through said openings, return springs seated and compressed between said piston and retainer plate and one-way friction fasteners slidable on said posts against said retainer plate to secure said preassembled subassembly together and hold said springs compressed substantially in the released position of said piston relative to said retainer plate; said subassembly being positioned in said cylinder with said outer side of said piston facing said plate means, said retainer plate being secured to said second torque transmitting means to position said piston and its apply face in released position so said apply plate is in released position releasing said plate means; stop means on said retainer plate to limit movement of said friction fastener away from said retainer means to said clearance travel distance as the piston moves from said released to engaged position and operative as said friction plate means wears requiring A further increment of movement of the apply plate from the released to the engaged position to move said friction fastener on said post toward said piston a distance equal to the further increment of movement to limit return movement to said clearance travel distance during the life of said friction drive means for uniform timed engagement during the life of the transmission.

Claim 11

The invention defined in claim 5 and said stop means being a pair of ears formed by slitting and displacing a portion of said retainer plate contiguous with said opening so the facing ear and retainer plate surfaces are spaced apart by said clearance travel distance.

Claim 12

The invention defined in claim 5 and said one-way friction fastener being an annular resilient member having a central hole providing an inner rim around said hole having a sharp gripping edge and an adjacent sliding portion and an outer rim having a release abutment portion and between said inner and outer rims a wide V radial section having inner and outer conical portions connected at an apex facing said retainer plate and operative on relative movement on said post with the apex side toward said retainer plate to flex said friction fastener for sliding movement over said post to engage said retainer plate, on said retainer plate engaging said apex flexing said friction fastener so said gripping edge more tightly grips said post to hold said return springs compressed and on apply movement of said post relative to said retainer plate to move said friction fastener away from said retainer plate to cause said release abutment portion to initially engaging said stop means to flex said friction fastener to reduce the gripping and then to engaging said sliding portion to slide said friction fastener relative to said post a distance equal to an increment of movement.

Claim 13

In a transmission; drive means having a first and a second torque transmitting means; friction drive means operably connecting said first and second torque transmitting means having friction plate means operably connected to said first and second torque transmitting means and including an apply plate rotatably fixed to said second torque transmitting means and axially movable from a released position through a clearance travel distance to an engaged position to transmit operating torque between said first and second torque transmitting means; said second torque transmitting means including a cylinder; a preassembled secured subassembly including a piston having an apply face for engaging said apply plate and fastener posts on the outer side of said piston, a retainer having openings, return springs seated between said piston and retainer, a one-way friction fastener positioned over each opening on the side of the retainer remote from said piston and slidable on each post toward said piston and gripping against movement in the opposite direction, stop means on said remote side of said retainer limiting movement of said friction fasteners away from said retainer to said clearance travel distance, said retainer being positioned with said posts extending through said openings and friction fasteners and said friction fasteners gripping said posts to hold said retainer compressing said springs in the initial released position relative to said piston as a secured preassembled subassembly; said subassembly being positioned in said cylinder with said outer side of said piston facing said friction plate means, said retainer being secured to said second torque transmitting means to position said piston and its apply face in said initial released position so said apply plate is in released position releasing said friction plate means; said stop means permitting piston movement through said clearance travel distance to engage said friction plate means before significant wear occurs without moving said friction fasteners on said posts and operative as said friction plate means wears requiring a further increment of movement of said piston from the released to the engaged posItion to move said friction fasteners on said posts toward said piston a distance equal to the further increment of movement to limit return movement to said clearance travel distance for uniform timed engagement during the life of said friction drive means.

Claim 14

In a transmission; drive means having a first and a second torque transmitting means; friction drive means operably connecting said first and second torque transmitting means having friction plate means operably connected to said first and second torque transmitting means and including an apply plate rotatably fixed to said second torque transmitting means and axially movable from a released position through a clearance travel distance to an engaged position to transmit operating torque between said first and second torque transmitting means; said second torque transmitting means including a cylinder; a preassembled secured subassembly including a piston having an apply face for engaging said apply plate and fastener posts on the outer side of said piston, a retainer having openings, return springs seated between said piston and retainer, a one-way friction fastener positioned over each opening on the side of the retainer remote from said piston and slidable on each post toward said piston and gripping against movement in the opposite direction, stop means on said remote side of said retainer limiting movement of said friction fasteners away from said retainer to said clearance travel distance, said retainer being positioned with said posts extending through said openings and friction fasteners and said friction fasteners gripping said posts to hold said retainer compressing said springs in the initial released position relative to said piston as a secured preassembled subassembly; said subassembly being positioned in said cylinder with said outer side of said piston facing said friction plate means, said retainer being secured to said second torque transmitting means to position said piston and its apply face in said initial released position so said apply plate is in released position releasing said friction plate means; said stop means permitting piston movement through said clearance travel distance to engage said friction plate means before significant wear occurs without moving said friction fasteners on said posts and operative as said friction plate means wears requiring a further increment of movement of said piston from the released to the engaged posItion to move said friction fasteners on said posts toward said piston a distance equal to the further increment of movement to limit return movement to said clearance travel distance for uniform timed engagement during the life of said friction drive means.

Claim 15

The invention defined in claim 8 and said stop means being a pair of ears formed by slitting and displacing a portion of said retainer plate contiguous with said opening so the facing ear and retainer plate surfaces are spaced apart by said clearance travel distance.

Claim 16

The invention defined in claim 8 and said one-way friction fastener being an annular resilient member having a central hole providing an inner rim around said hole having a sharp gripping edge and an adjacent sliding portion and an outer rim having a release abutment portion and between said inner and outer rims a wide V radial section having inner and outer conical portions connected at an apex facing said retainer plate and operative on relative movement on said post with the apex side toward said retainer plate to flex said friction fastener for sliding movement over said post to engage said retainer plate, on said retainer plate engaging said apex flexing said friction fastener so said gripping edge more tightly grips said post to hold said return springs compressed and on apply movement of said post relative to said retainer plate to move said friction fastener away from said retainer plate to cause said release abutment portion to initially engaging said stop means to flex said friction fastener to reduce the gripping and then to engaging said sliding portion to slide said friction fastener relative to said post a distance equal to an increment of movement.