Abstract An apparatus comprises a holder fixedly mounted on a main drive shaft, a spring member retained in the holder to move a clutch disc to its neutral position when the clutch is disengaged, an adjusting member supported by the holder and governed by the holder with respect to the amount of its axial movement, and a dished spring member interposed between a free end of the spring member and an end face of spline hub of the clutch disc and having an outer conical slanting face in engagement with the free end of the spring member and an inner conical slanting face in engagement with the end face of the spline hub. A plurality of hornlike extensions extending from the slanting portion of the dished spring member have distal ends in elastic engagement with the inner face of the adjusting member. Upon a clutch disengaging operation, the dished spring member forcibly brings the clutch disc to its neutral position. The space between the friction surface of a flywheel and the friction facing of the clutch disc in its neutral position is always kept constant by automatic adjustment.
In a friction clutch including a flywheel, a pressure plate, a clutch disc provided on its outer peripheral portion with friction facings interposed between the flywheel and the pressure plate, and a main drive shaft supporting the clutch disc movably only in its axial direction, an apparatus comprising: a holder fixedly supported on the main drive shaft, spring means retained in the holder to move the clutch disc to its neutral position when the clutch is disengaged, an adjusting member supported by the holder and governed by the holder with respect to the amount of its axial movement, and a dished spring member interposed between a free end of the spring means and an end face of spline hub of the clutch disc, the dished spring member having a conical outer slanting face in engagement with the free end of the spring means and a conical inner slanting face in engagement with the end face of the spline hub, the dished spring member further including a plurality of hornlike extensions extending from its slanting portion and having distal ends in elastic engagement with the inner face of the adjusting member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
In a friction clutch including a flywheel, a pressure plate, a clutch disc provided on its outer peripheral portion with friction facings interposed between the flywheel and the pressure plate, and a main drive shaft supporting the clutch disc movably only in its axial direction, an apparatus comprising: a holder fixedly supported on the main drive shaft, spring means retained in the holder to move the clutch disc to its neutral position when the clutch is disengaged, an adjusting member supported by the holder and governed by the holder with respect to the amount of its axial movement, and a dished spring member interposed between a free end of the spring means and an end face of spline hub of the clutch disc, the dished spring member having a conical outer slanting face in engagement with the free end of the spring means and a conical inner slanting face in engagement with the end face of the spline hub, the dished spring member further including a plurality of hornlike extensions extending from its slanting portion and having distal ends in elastic engagement with the inner face of the adjusting member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein a plurality of shims are disposed between the inner bottom face of the holder and the spring means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the holder bears against and is supported by an end face of inner ring of a pilot bearing rotatably supporting an end of the main drive shaft on the flywheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spring means comprises in combination a plurality of dished springs with their conical slanting faces oritented in opposite directions alternately.