Clutch release mechanism

Claim 2

A clutch release mechanism comprising a clutch release bearing carrier having a support portion constructed to engage a support member and to be axially displaceable relative thereto, a clutch release bearing constructed to engage a release member of a clutch assembly, said carrier having a radially extending flange, said clutch release bearing having a radially extending flange slidably engaging one side of said flange of said carrier, said clutch release bearing being radially displaceable relative to said carrier to accommodate misalignment between the axis of said support member and the axis of rotation of said release member, a clutch release lever having spaced portions engaging the other side of said flange of said carrier, spring means engaging said flange of said bearing constructed to urge said flange of said bearing into engagement with said flange of said carrier.

Claim 3

A clutch release mechanism comprising a clutch release bearing carrier having a support portion constructed to engage a support member and to be axially displaceable relative thereto, a clutch release bearing constructed to engage a release member of a clutch assembly, said carrier having a radially extending flange, said clutch release bearing having a radially extending flange slidably engaging one side of said flange of said carrier, said clutch release bearing being radially displaceable relative to said carrier to accommodate misalignment between the axis of said support member and the axis of rotation of said release member, a clutch release lever having spaced portions engaging the other side of said flange of said carrier, a spring engaging said flange of said bearing and said release lever constructed to urge said flange of said bearing and said release lever into engagement with said flange of said carrier.

Claim 4

A clutch release mechanism comprising a clutch release bearing carrier having a support portion constructed to engage a support member and to be axially displaceable relative thereto, a clutch release bearing constructed to engage a release member of a clutch assembly, said carrier having a radially extending flange, said clutch release bearing having a radially extending flange slidably engaging one side of said flange of said carrier, said clutch release bearing being radially displaceable relative to said carrier to accommodate misalignment between the axis of said support member and the axis of rotation of said release member, a clutch release lever having spaced portions engaging the other side of said flange of said carrier, a spring engaging said flange of said bearing and said release lever constructed to urge said flange of said bearing and said release lever into engagement with said flange of said carrier.

Claim 5

A clutch release mechanism comprising a clutch release bearing carrier having a support portion constructed to engage a support member and to be axially displaceable relative thereto, a clutch release bearing constructed to engage a release member of a clutch assembly, said carrier having a radially extending flange, said clutch release bearing having a radially extending flange slidably engaging one side of said flange of said carrier, said clutch release bearing being radially displaceable relative to said carrier to accommodate misalignment between the axis of saId support member and the axis of rotation of said release member, a clutch release lever having spaced portions engaging the other side of said flange of said carrier, a spring engaging said flange of said bearing and said release lever constructed to urge said flange of said bearing and said release lever into engagement with said flange of said carrier, said spring being spaced apart from said flange of said carrier.

Claim 6

A clutch release mechanism comprising a clutch release bearing carrier having a support portion constructed to engage a support member and to be axially displaceable relative thereto, a clutch release bearing constructed to engage a release member of a clutch assembly, said carrier having a radially extending flange, said clutch release bearing having a radially extending flange slidably engaging one side of said flange of said carrier, said clutch release bearing being radially displaceable relative to said carrier to accommodate misalignment between the axis of saId support member and the axis of rotation of said release member, a clutch release lever having spaced portions engaging the other side of said flange of said carrier, a spring engaging said flange of said bearing and said release lever constructed to urge said flange of said bearing and said release lever into engagement with said flange of said carrier, said spring being spaced apart from said flange of said carrier.

Claim 7

A clutch release mechanism according to claim 3 and including: said clutch release bearing having an inner race constructed to engage said release member of said clutch assembly, said clutch release bearing having an outer race engaging said bearing carrier.

Claim 8

A clutch release mechanism according to claim 3 and including: said clutch release bearing having an inner race constructed to engage said release member of said clutch assembly, said clutch release bearing having an outer race, said flange of said clutch release bearing being affixed to said outer race.

Claim 9

A clutch release mechanism in which: a clutch release bearing carrier has a radially extending flange; spring means extend between a clutch release bearing on one side of the flange and a clutch release lever on the other side of the flange to hold both the bearing and the lever in contact with the flange; the clutch release bearing has limited radial movement relative to the flanges of the bearing carrier so that in use it centers itself about the axis of rotation of the clutch and is held in a centered position by friction at the contacting radially extending surfaces of the bearing and the flange; a plurality of projections formed in the side of the flange of the carrier engaged with the bearing are received within corresponding apertures in the bearing; said apertures being larger than the projections to allow said limited radial movement.

Claim 10

A clutch release mechanism in which: a clutch release bearing carrier has a radially extending flange; spring means extend between a clutch release bearing on one side of the flange and a clutch release lever on the other side of the flange to hold both the bearing and the lever in contact with the flange; the clutch release bearing has limited radial movement relative to the flanges of the bearing carrier so that in use it centers itself about the axis of rotation of the clutch and is held in a centered position by friction at the contacting radially extending surfaces of the bearing and the flange; a plurality of projections formed in the side of the flange of the carrier engaged with the bearing are received within corresponding apertures in the bearing; said apertures being larger than the projections to allow said limited radial movement.

Claim 11

A clutch release mechanism comprising a clutch release bearing carrier having a support portion constructed to engage a support member and to be axially displaceable relative thereto, a clutch release bearing constructed to engage a release member of a clutch assembly, said carrier having a radially extending flange, said clutch release bearing having a radially extending flange slidably engaging one side of said flange of said carrier, said clutch release bearing being radially displaceable relative to said carrier to accommodate misalignment between the axis of said support member and the axis of rotation of said release member, a clutch release lever having spaced portions engaging the other side of said flange of said carrier, a spring engaging said flange of said bearing and said release lever constructed to urge said flange of said bearing and said release lever into engagement with said flange of said carrier, said spring being spaced apart from said flange of said carrier, said flanges having aligned detent means constructed to limit the permissible radial displacement of said bearing relative to said bearing carrier.

Claim 12

A clutch release mechanism comprising a clutch release bearing carrier having a support portion constructed to engage a support member and to be axially displaceable relative thereto, a clutch release bearing constructed to engage a release member of a clutch assembly, said carrier having a radially extending flange, said clutch release bearing having a radially extending flange slidably engaging one side of said flange of said carrier, said clutch release bearing being radially displaceable relative to said carrier to accommodate misalignment between the axis of said support member and the axis of rotation of said release member, a clutch release lever having spaced portions engaging the other side of said flange of said carrier, a spring engaging said flange of said bearing and said release lever constructed to urge said flange of said bearing and said release lever into engagement with said flange of said carrier, said spring being spaced apart from said flange of said carrier, said flanges having aligned detent means constructed to limit the permissible radial displacement of said bearing relative to said bearing carrier.

Claim 13

A clutch release mechanism comprising a clutch release bearing carrier having a support portion constructed to engage a support member and to be axially displaceable relative thereto, a clutch release bearing constructed to engage a release member of a clutch assembly, said carrier having a radially extending flange, said clutch release bearing having a radially extending flange slidably engaging one side of said flange of said carrier, said clutch release bearing being radially displaceable relative to said carrier to accommodate misalignment between the axis of said support member and the axis of rotation of said release member, a clutch release lever having spaced portions engaging the other side of said flange of said carrier, a spring engaging said flange of said bearing and said release lever constructed to urge said flange of said bearing and said release lever iNto engagement with said flange of said carrier, said spring being spaced apart from said flange of said carrier, said clutch release bearing having an inner race constructed to engage said release member of said clutch assembly, said clutch release bearing having an outer race, said flange of said clutch release bearing being affixed to said outer race, said flanges having aligned detent means constructed to limit the permissible radial displacement of said bearing relative to said bearing carrier.

Claim 14

A clutch release mechanism comprising a clutch release bearing carrier having a support portion constructed to engage a support member and to be axially displaceable relative thereto, a clutch release bearing constructed to engage a release member of a clutch assembly, said carrier having a radially extending flange, said clutch release bearing having a radially extending flange slidably engaging one side of said flange of said carrier, said clutch release bearing being radially displaceable relative to said carrier to accommodate misalignment between the axis of said support member and the axis of rotation of said release member, a clutch release lever having spaced portions engaging the other side of said flange of said carrier, a spring engaging said flange of said bearing and said release lever constructed to urge said flange of said bearing and said release lever iNto engagement with said flange of said carrier, said spring being spaced apart from said flange of said carrier, said clutch release bearing having an inner race constructed to engage said release member of said clutch assembly, said clutch release bearing having an outer race, said flange of said clutch release bearing being affixed to said outer race, said flanges having aligned detent means constructed to limit the permissible radial displacement of said bearing relative to said bearing carrier.