US3876049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-adjusting release mechanism for friction clutches
Assignee: Lipe Rollway Corp
•
Filing: 1973-09-24
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1993-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A self-adjusting release mechanism for disengaging a friction clutch. As wear occurs on the clutch disc facings, repositioning of parts of the release mechanism is required for proper operation. The mechanism includes inner and outer sleeves in threaded engagement with one another, the outer sleeve being operably connected to the release levers and the inner sleeve being connected to the release bearing. A pair of ring members are mounted on the inner sleeve in adjacent but spaced relation to one another and one of these members is formed with ratchet teeth while the other member includes pawls that bridge the space and engage the teeth. When the wear on the disc facings reaches a particular point, the space between the ring members decreases slightly causing the pawls to rotate the ring member with the ratchet teeth. This movement is transmitted to the inner sleeve which rotates relative to the outer sleeve whereby an axial adjustment between the two is effected to compensate for the wear.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald F Linn
- 👤 George L Wishart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:01
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D23/00; F16D23/12; F16D13/00; F16D13/58; F16D13/75; F16D13/755; F16D23/14; F16D23/143
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
In a friction clutch for connecting driving and driven shafts, the clutch having means for normally effecting a driving connection between the shafts and release levers actuatable to disengage said driving connection, the improvement comprising a first sleeve member axially slidable on the driven shaft, a second sleeve member threadedly engaging the first sleeve member, means on the second sleeve member engageable with the release levers for actuating same whereby axial movement of the first sleeve member in one direciton operates to correspondingly move the second sleeve member and actuate the release levers, a first adjustment effecting member non-rotatably mounted on the first sleeve member, and a second adjustment effecting member mounted on the first sleeve member in confronting relation to the first adjustment effecting member, the second adjustment effecting member normally moving axially with the first sleeve member and including means to positively limit the extent of its axial movement in one direction, the first and second adjustment effecting members coacting when the driving connection wears to rotate the first sleeve member relative to the second sleeve member thereby causing relative axial movement between said members which compensates for the wear.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
In a friction clutch for connecting driving and driven shafts, the clutch having means for normally effecting a driving connection between the shafts and release levers actuatable to disengage said driving connection, the improvement comprising a first sleeve member axially slidable on the driven shaft, a second sleeve member threadedly engaging the first sleeve member, means on the second sleeve member engageable with the release levers for actuating same whereby axial movement of the first sleeve member in one direciton operates to correspondingly move the second sleeve member and actuate the release levers, a first adjustment effecting member non-rotatably mounted on the first sleeve member, and a second adjustment effecting member mounted on the first sleeve member in confronting relation to the first adjustment effecting member, the second adjustment effecting member normally moving axially with the first sleeve member and including means to positively limit the extent of its axial movement in one direction, the first and second adjustment effecting members coacting when the driving connection wears to rotate the first sleeve member relative to the second sleeve member thereby causing relative axial movement between said members which compensates for the wear.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A friction clutch as defined in claim 1 wherein the first adjustment effecting member is provided with ratchet teeth and the second adjustment effecting member is provided with at least one pawl in engagement with the teeth, the pawl being operable when the driving connection wears to rotate the first sleeve member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A friction clutch as defined in claim 1 including a cover, and wherein the movement limiting means of the second adjustment effecting member comprises at least one outwardly projecting arm arranged to abut against the cover.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
212 words
In a friction clutch for connecting driving and driven shafts, the clutch having means for normally effecting a driving connection between the shafts and release levers actuatable to disengage said driving connection, the improvement comprising a first sleeve axially slidable on the driven shaft, a second sleeve threaded on the first sleeve adjacent one end thereof, means on the second sleeve engaging the release levers whereby axial movement of the first sleeve in one direction operates to correspondingly move the second sleeve and actuate the levers, a first ring member non-rotatably mounted on the first sleeve, said ring member having an annulus of ratchet teeth in one face thereof, and a second ring member mounted on the first sleeve for axial and rotational movement relative thereto, the second ring member being adjacent to but spaced from the first ring member and being provided with a plurality of pawls which bridge the space between the members and engage the ratchet teeth, the first and second ring members being operable when the wear on the clutch driving connection reaches a particular point to move closer together whereby the pawls rotate the first ring member and first sleeve relative to the second sleeve causing relative axial movement between the sleeves which compensates for the wear.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
212 words
In a friction clutch for connecting driving and driven shafts, the clutch having means for normally effecting a driving connection between the shafts and release levers actuatable to disengage said driving connection, the improvement comprising a first sleeve axially slidable on the driven shaft, a second sleeve threaded on the first sleeve adjacent one end thereof, means on the second sleeve engaging the release levers whereby axial movement of the first sleeve in one direction operates to correspondingly move the second sleeve and actuate the levers, a first ring member non-rotatably mounted on the first sleeve, said ring member having an annulus of ratchet teeth in one face thereof, and a second ring member mounted on the first sleeve for axial and rotational movement relative thereto, the second ring member being adjacent to but spaced from the first ring member and being provided with a plurality of pawls which bridge the space between the members and engage the ratchet teeth, the first and second ring members being operable when the wear on the clutch driving connection reaches a particular point to move closer together whereby the pawls rotate the first ring member and first sleeve relative to the second sleeve causing relative axial movement between the sleeves which compensates for the wear.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A friction clutch as defined in claim 4 wherein the second ring member normally moves axially with the first sleeve member, said ring member including means to positively limit the extent of its axial movement in one direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A friction clutch as defined in claim 5 including a cover, and wherein the movement limiting means of the second ring member comprises at least one outwardly projecting arm arranged to abut against the cover.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |