US3983983A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable throw-out lever assembly
Assignee: National City Bank
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Filing: 1974-06-07
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Granted: 1976-10-05
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Expires: 1994-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A throw-out lever assembly for use in a clutch mechanism of a motor vehicle and including a support and a fulcrum assembly mounted on the support. A throw-out lever is operably connected to the fulcrum assembly being adapted at one end for engagement with a clutch actuator and at its opposite end for engagement with a throw-out bearing of the clutch assembly. The fulcrum assembly includes a fulcrum member for pivotally engaging the throw-out lever between its ends. The fulcrum member is adjustably mounted on the support for selectively positioning the throw-out lever in a selected angular orientation with respect to the throw-out bearing for applying an optimum force on the throw-out bearing to disengage the clutch mechanism upon actuation of the clutch actuator.
Inventors
- 👤 William L. Steiskal
- 👤 Duane M. DePuy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 09:16
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D23/00; F16D23/12; F16D23/14; F16D2023/141
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A throw-out lever assembly for use in a clutch mechanism comprising, a support, a fulcrum assembly mounted on said support and comprising a fulcrum member, a throw-out lever pivotally mounted between its ends on said fulcrum member and having one end adapted for engagement with a clutch actuator and its opposite end adapted for engagement with a throw-out bearing of the clutch mechanism, and said fulcrum assembly further comprising separate means connected between said fulcrum member and said support to adjustably mount said fulcrum member on said support in a selected stationary position for positioning said throw-out lever in a selected angular orientation with respect to said throw-out bearing, whereby optimum force may be applied to said throw-out bearing to disengage said clutch mechanism upon actuation of the clutch actuator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A throw-out lever assembly for use in a clutch mechanism comprising, a support, a fulcrum assembly mounted on said support and comprising a fulcrum member, a throw-out lever pivotally mounted between its ends on said fulcrum member and having one end adapted for engagement with a clutch actuator and its opposite end adapted for engagement with a throw-out bearing of the clutch mechanism, and said fulcrum assembly further comprising separate means connected between said fulcrum member and said support to adjustably mount said fulcrum member on said support in a selected stationary position for positioning said throw-out lever in a selected angular orientation with respect to said throw-out bearing, whereby optimum force may be applied to said throw-out bearing to disengage said clutch mechanism upon actuation of the clutch actuator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A lever assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said fulcrum assembly separate means includes a base detachably mounted on said support, and said fulcrum member is adjustably mounted on said base.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A lever assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein said fulcrum assembly separate means includes locking means between said base and said fulcrum member for securing said fulcrum member in a selected position with respect to said base.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A lever assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said throw-out lever includes a socket, and said fulcrum member comprises a stud having an enlarged frusto-conical head adapted for pivotal engagement with said throw-out lever within said socket.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A lever assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein said base comprises a sleeve having an axially extending bore, and said fulcrum member includes an elongated shank adapted for adjustable connection to said base within said bore.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A lever assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein said sleeve includes exterior threads adapted for threaded engagement with complementary threads formed in said support, and said shank includes exterior threads adapted for threaded connection with complementary threads within said bore.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
A lever assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein said base includes a threaded bore, said fulcrum member includes an enlarged head at one end for pivotal engagement with said throw-out lever, and an elongated threaded shank at its opposite end for threaded connection with complementary threads formed in said bore to enable said fulcrum member to move relative to said base for pivotally supporting said throw-out lever in a selected angular position with respect to said throw-out bearing, and a lock nut threadedly mounted on said shank and adapted for seated, abutting engagement with said base to lock said fulcrum member in a selected position with respect to said base.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
96 words
A lever assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said fulcrum member includes a head adapted for fulcrumed support of said throw-out lever between its opposed ends, and said fulcrum member is movable relative to said support for moving said head toward and away from said support to change the position of the fulcrum point between said throw-out lever and said fulcrum member such that an imaginary line extending through the fulcrum and the point of engagement of said throw-out lever with said throw-out bearing is substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the throw-out bearing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
A lever assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means to adjustably mount said fulcrum member on said support comprises an elongated shank, said shank being formed with threads cooperable with complementary threads carried by said support, said shank being formed with a screwdriver slot in its end remote from said throw-out lever, and said separate means further comprising a lock nut mounted on said threaded shank and cooperable with said support, whereby said shank is adjusted with respect to said support with the use of a screwdriver in said slot and by manipulation of said lock nut.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a throw-out lever assembly for retro-fitting to a clutch of the type wherein the lever is pivotally mounted on a stationary fulcrum between its ends with one end cooperable with the clutch and the other end cooperable with actuator means for the clutch, and a support for the fulcrum, the improvement comprising a fulcrum member and separate means connected between the fulcrum member and the support to mount said fulcrum member adjustably along a line generally parallel to axis of the clutch, whereby motion of said actuator means and said fulcrumed lever will produce an optimum force to operate said clutch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a throw-out lever assembly for retro-fitting to a clutch of the type wherein the lever is pivotally mounted on a stationary fulcrum between its ends with one end cooperable with the clutch and the other end cooperable with actuator means for the clutch, and a support for the fulcrum, the improvement comprising a fulcrum member and separate means connected between the fulcrum member and the support to mount said fulcrum member adjustably along a line generally parallel to axis of the clutch, whereby motion of said actuator means and said fulcrumed lever will produce an optimum force to operate said clutch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
The combination of claim 10, wherein said fulcrum member comprises a head at one end cooperable with said lever to pivotally mount said lever thereon and an elongated shank, said separate means includes means to mount said shank on said support and a lock nut mounted on said threaded shank between said head and said support, and a screwdriver slot formed in the end of said shank remote from said head.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 11, wherein said fulcrum member head is of a frustro-conical shape.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination of claim 11, said shank being formed with external threads, and said adjustable mounting means further comprising a sleeve interposed between said fulcrum member threaded shank and said support, and said sleeve being formed with internal threads cooperable with said shank threads and with external threads cooperable with complementary threads formed in said support.
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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) | 1979-10-05 | 1980-04-05 | 1980-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-10-05 | 1984-04-05 | 1984-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-10-05 | 1988-04-05 | 1988-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |