US3859866A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Clutch actuating mechanism
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1973-11-05
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Granted: 1975-01-14
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Expires: 1993-11-05
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure relates to a clutch actuating system having means for establishing initial free play without using an external gauge. A clutch system in accordance with this invention may have a clutch pedal, a clutch release lever and a Bowden wire assembly interconnecting the pedal and the lever. The sheath portion of the Bowden wire has one of its ends secured to a bracket adjacent the clutch release lever. The other end of the sheath is secured to the vehicle fire wall adjacent the clutch pedal where an externally threaded fitting at the second end of the sheath fits within a tubular housing bolted to the fire wall. The end of the tubular housing has four angularly spaced apart slots in its end face. A special adjustment nut on the threaded fitting has four axially extending projections arranged to engage the tubular housing. During initial installation of the clutch actuating mechanism, the adjustment nut is rotated to remove slack in the Bowden wire. When the nut is tightened finger tight and no more slack remains in the Bowden wire assembly, the projections on the nut will engage the end of the tubular housing. The nut is then turned through a few degrees in either direction until the projections drop into the slots in the end of the tubular housing. The adjustment nut is then pulled into seated engagement with the end of the housing and held by a spring clip. The length of the projections provides and assures the appropriate amount of free play in the clutch actuating system.
Inventors
- 👤 Grazia Victor S De
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:59
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C1/00; F16C1/10; F16C1/22; F16D; F16D23/00; F16D23/12; G; G05; G05G; G05G7/00; G05G7/02; G05G7/10; F16C2361/00; F16C2361/43; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20396; Y10T74/20402; Y10T74/2045; Y10T74/20462; Y10T74/20528
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
An actuating mechanism having a first movable member, a second movable member and connecting means operatively interconnecting said first and second movable members; support means supporting said connecting means; a stationary support structure; adjustment means constructed to connect said support means to said support structure; said adjustment means including an adjustment element connected to said support means; said adjustment element having an axially extending gauge portion; said support structure having a gauge receiving portion; said adjustment element being displaceable from a first position wherein said gauge portion engages said support structure and is spaced apart from said gauge receiving portion to a second position wherein said gauge portion is seated in said gauge receiving portion; retaining means constructed to hold said adjustment element in engagement with said support structure when said gauge portion is seated in said gauge receiving portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
An actuating mechanism having a first movable member, a second movable member and connecting means operatively interconnecting said first and second movable members; support means supporting said connecting means; a stationary support structure; adjustment means constructed to connect said support means to said support structure; said adjustment means including an adjustment element connected to said support means; said adjustment element having an axially extending gauge portion; said support structure having a gauge receiving portion; said adjustment element being displaceable from a first position wherein said gauge portion engages said support structure and is spaced apart from said gauge receiving portion to a second position wherein said gauge portion is seated in said gauge receiving portion; retaining means constructed to hold said adjustment element in engagement with said support structure when said gauge portion is seated in said gauge receiving portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An actuating mechanism according to claim 1 and including: said retaining means comprising resilient means engageable with both said adjustment element and said support structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
145 words
An actuating mechanism having a first movable member, a second movable member and connecting means operatively interconnecting said first and second movable members; support means supporting said connecting means; said support means having a threaded portion; a support structure having a bore coaxially arranged relative to said threaded portion; a nut threadedly engaging said threaded portion of said support means; said nut having an axially extending gauge portion; said support structure having a gauge receiving portion; said nut being displaceable from a first position wherein said gauge portion engages the end of said support structure and said gauge portion is angularly spaced from said gauge receiving portion to a second position wherein said gauge portion is seated in said gauge receiving portion; means constructed to hold said nut in engagement with said support structure when said gauge portion is seated in said gauge receiving portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
145 words
An actuating mechanism having a first movable member, a second movable member and connecting means operatively interconnecting said first and second movable members; support means supporting said connecting means; said support means having a threaded portion; a support structure having a bore coaxially arranged relative to said threaded portion; a nut threadedly engaging said threaded portion of said support means; said nut having an axially extending gauge portion; said support structure having a gauge receiving portion; said nut being displaceable from a first position wherein said gauge portion engages the end of said support structure and said gauge portion is angularly spaced from said gauge receiving portion to a second position wherein said gauge portion is seated in said gauge receiving portion; means constructed to hold said nut in engagement with said support structure when said gauge portion is seated in said gauge receiving portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
An actuating mechanism according to claim 3 and including: said retaining means comprising a spring clip engageable with both said nut and said support structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
157 words
An actuating mechanism having a first movable member, a second movable member and connecting means operatively interconnecting said first and second movable members; support means supporting said connecting means; said support means having a threaded portion; a support structure having a tubular portion surrounding said threaded portion; a nut threadedly engaging said threaded portion of said support means; said nut having a pilot portion situated within said tubular portion; said nut having an axially extending gauge portion; said support structure having a gauge receiving portion; said nut being displaceable from a first position wherein said gauge portion engages the end of said support structure and said gauge portion is angularly spaced from said gauge receiving portion to a second position wherein said gauge portion is seated in said gauge receiving portion; resilient retaining means constructed to resiliently urge said nut into engagement with said support structure when said gauge portion is seated in said gauge receiving portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
157 words
An actuating mechanism having a first movable member, a second movable member and connecting means operatively interconnecting said first and second movable members; support means supporting said connecting means; said support means having a threaded portion; a support structure having a tubular portion surrounding said threaded portion; a nut threadedly engaging said threaded portion of said support means; said nut having a pilot portion situated within said tubular portion; said nut having an axially extending gauge portion; said support structure having a gauge receiving portion; said nut being displaceable from a first position wherein said gauge portion engages the end of said support structure and said gauge portion is angularly spaced from said gauge receiving portion to a second position wherein said gauge portion is seated in said gauge receiving portion; resilient retaining means constructed to resiliently urge said nut into engagement with said support structure when said gauge portion is seated in said gauge receiving portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
141 words
An actuating mechanism having a first movable member, a second movable member and motion transmiTting means operatively interconnecting said first and second movable members; support means supporting said connecting means; a stationary support structure; adjustment means constructed to connect said support means to said support structure; said adjustment means including an adjustment element connected to said support means; said adjustment element having an axially extending gauge portion; said support structure having a gauge receiving portion; said adjustment element being displaceable from a first position wherein said gauge portion engages said support structure and is spaced apart from said gauge receiving portion to a second position wherein said gauge portion is seated in said gauge receiving portion; retaining means constructed to hold said adjustment element in engagement with said support structure when said gauge portion is seated in said gauge receiving portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
141 words
An actuating mechanism having a first movable member, a second movable member and motion transmiTting means operatively interconnecting said first and second movable members; support means supporting said connecting means; a stationary support structure; adjustment means constructed to connect said support means to said support structure; said adjustment means including an adjustment element connected to said support means; said adjustment element having an axially extending gauge portion; said support structure having a gauge receiving portion; said adjustment element being displaceable from a first position wherein said gauge portion engages said support structure and is spaced apart from said gauge receiving portion to a second position wherein said gauge portion is seated in said gauge receiving portion; retaining means constructed to hold said adjustment element in engagement with said support structure when said gauge portion is seated in said gauge receiving portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An actuating mechanism according to claim 6 and including: said retaining means comprising a spring engageable with both said adjustment element and said support structure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2903904A
Cited
US3112820A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-13 | 1978-07-15 | 1979-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-13 | 1982-07-15 | 1983-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-13 | 1986-07-15 | 1987-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |