Automatic clutch wear adjuster

Claim 2

A self-adjusting clutch release bearing assembly operated by a clutch release fork, the clutch including clutch release levers adapted to be engaged by a release bearing to disengage the clutch, said bearing assembly comprising a bearing carrier adapted to axially reciprocate on the driven shaft and including a sleeve encompassing the driven shaft and supporting the release bearing, a collar telescoped over said sleeve and adapted to move relative thereto, means to limit movement of said collar away from said clutch, said clutch release fork being operatively connected to said collar, a pair of opposed one-way clutches between said sleeve and collar, and biasing means urging said one-way clutches apart so that at least one clutch is always engaged with said collar and sleeve and, at other times, both clutches are engaged with said collar and sleeve.

Claim 3

A self-adjusting clutch release bearing assembly as set forth in claim 1 adjacent a transmission, including means in said sleeve and said collar to allow relative axial movement but prevent relative rotation therebetween.

Claim 4

A self-adjusting clutch release bearing assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said transmission includes a support sleeve projecting therefrom and encompassing said driven shaft, said bearing carrier adapted to axially reciprocate on said support sleeve.

Claim 5

A self-adjusting clutch release bearing assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said movement limiting means comprises a reactor having an outer cylindrical wall partially encompassing said collar and an inner cylindrical wall joined by a base portion, and biasing means between said reactor base portion and said collar.

Claim 6

A self-adjusting clutch release bearing assembly as set forth in claim 4, including means in said collar and reactor to limit relative axial movement therebetween.

Claim 7

A self-adjusting clutch release bearing assembly as set forth in claim 5, in which said motion limiting means includes a pair of oppositely disposed pins projecting radially outwardly from said collar, said outer reactor wall having a pair of oppositely disposed axially elongated slots receiving the outer ends of the pins.

Claim 8

A self-adjusting clutch release bearing assembly as set forth in claim 4, in which said outer reactor wall has an inwardly extending offset acting as a stop to be engaged by the rear end of said collar, and a stop shoulder on the transmission adapted to be engaged by said reactor base portion.

Claim 9

A self-adjusting clutch release bearing assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which the interior surface of said collar adjacent the rear end is cut away to provide a recess, and said pair of one-way clutches include a pair of oppositely inclined surfaces formed in said recess, a plurality of balls adapted to engage each inclined surface and wedge between the inclined surface and the exterior surface of said sleeve, said inclined surfaces diverging from a central intersection and each converging toward said sleeve.

Claim 10

A self-adjusting clutch release bearing assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein said sets of balls provide a forward set toward said bearing and a rearward set adjacent said reactor stop edge, such that said rearward set is in operative engagement upon forward movement of said collar and said forward set is in operative engagement upon rearward movement of said collar, said reactor engaging said stop shoulder and said stop edge engaging said rearward set upon rearward movement of said collar relative to said reactor.

Claim 11

A self-adjusting clutch release bearing assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein wear of the clutch friction facings will result in greater travel of said clutch release arms to push said carrier toward said stop shoulder, such that upon engagement of said reactor with said shoulder and engagement of said rearward set of balls with said reactor stop edge, further movement of said levers will cause said movable sleeve to shift rearwardly relative to said collar to alter the length of said bearing assembly, said forward set of balls overrunning upon movement of said movable sleeve relative to said collar.

Claim 12

A self-adjusting clutch release bearing assembly as set forth in claim 8, in which said clutch biasing means includes at least one spring engaging and biasing both sets of balls apart.

Claim 13

A self-adjusting clutch release bearing assembly as set forth in claim 11, including a reactor having an outer cylindrical wall and an inner cylindrical wall joined by a base portion, said outer wall partially encompassing said collar and said inner wall terminating in a stop edge adapted to engage one set of balls.

Claim 14

A self-adjusting clutch release bearing assembly as set forth in claim 12, including spring biasing means between said reactor base portion and said collar, said outer reactor wall having an inwardly extending offset adapted to act as a stop for said collar, and a stop shoulder on said transmission adapted to be engaged by said reactor base portion.

Claim 15

A self-adjusting clutch release assembly as set forth in claim 13, including a pair of oppositely disposed pins on said collar, and said outer reactor wall having a pair of oppositely disposed axially elongated slots receiving said pins to limit relative axial movement between said collar and reactor.

Claim 16

A self-adjusting clutch release bearing assembly as set forth in claim 1, including a bellows seal encompassing said collar and in sealing engagement with said collar and transmission, and a second seal on said collar and in contact with said sleeve.

Claim 17

A self-adjusting clutch release bearing assembly as set forth in claim 1, including a "C" shaped spacer adapted to be positioned on said sleeve between said bearing and said collar when said assembly is packaged prior to installation to preserve a predetermined adjusted length of the assembly.

Claim 18

A self-adjusting clutch release bearing assembly operated by a clutch release fork and positioned on a driven shaft between a clutch and a transmission for a vehicle, the clutch including clutch release arms adapted to be engaged by a release bearing to disengage the clutch and said transmission including a stationary sleeve extending towards said clutch and encompassing the driven shaft, said bearing assembly comprising a bearing carrier axially reciprocable on said stationary sleeve and including a movable sleeve encompassing said stationary sleeve and supporting the release bearing on the end adjacent said clutch, a collar telescoped over said movable sleeve and operatively connected to said release fork, means to permit relative axial movement between said movable sleeve and collar but prevent relative rotation therebetween, said release fork preventing rotation of said collar, a reactor having an outer cylindrical wall partially encompassing said collar and an inner cylindrical wall joined by a base portion, said outer reactor wall having an offset providing a stop for the rear end of said collar, a pair of oppositely disposed pins extending outwardly from said collar, said outer reactor wall having a pair of axially elongated slots receiving said pins to limit relative axial movement between said collar and reactor, a compression spring extending between said reactor base portion and said collar, a stop shoulder on said transmission adapted to be engaged by said reactor base portion, said collar being cutaway at the rear portion of its interior surface to provide a pair of inclined surfaces diverging from a central point with each surface converging toward the exterior surface of said movable sleeve, a plurality of balls adapted to engage each inclined surface to form a one-way clutch between each inclined surface and said movable sleeve, a flat washer engaging each set of balls, and spring biasing means between and urging said washers outwardly against said sets of balls such that at least one set of balls and, at other times, both sets of balls are in continuous engagement with said collar and sleeve, said reactor inner wall terminating in a stop edge adapted to extend into said cut-away portion of the collar and engage the adjacent set of balls when said collar is retracted into said reactor, a bellows seal encompassing said collar and reactor and in sealing engagement with said collar and transmission, and a second seal on the front end of said collar in contact with said movable sleeve.

Claim 19

A self-adjusting clutch release bearing assembly operated by a clutch release fork and positioned on a driven shaft between a clutch and a transmission for a vehicle, the clutch including clutch release arms adapted to be engaged by a release bearing to disengage the clutch and said transmission including a stationary sleeve extending towards said clutch and encompassing the driven shaft, said bearing assembly comprising a bearing carrier axially reciprocable on said stationary sleeve and including a movable sleeve encompassing said stationary sleeve and supporting the release bearing on the end adjacent said clutch, a collar telescoped over said movable sleeve and operatively connected to said release fork, means to permit relative axial movement between said movable sleeve and collar but prevent relative rotation therebetween, said release fork preventing rotation of said collar, a reactor having an outer cylindrical wall partially encompassing said collar and an inner cylindrical wall joined by a base portion, said outer reactor wall having an offset providing a stop for the rear end of said collar, a pair of oppositely disposed pins extending outwardly from said collar, said outer reactor wall having a pair of axially elongated slots receiving said pins to limit relative axial movement between said collar and reactor, a compression spring extending between said reactor base portion and said collar, a stop shoulder on said transmission adapted to be engaged by said reactor base portion, said collar being cutaway at the rear portion of its interior surface to provide a pair of inclined surfaces diverging from a central point with each surface converging toward the exterior surface of said movable sleeve, a plurality of balls adapted to engage each inclined surface to form a one-way clutch between each inclined surface and said movable sleeve, a flat washer engaging each set of balls, and spring biasing means between and urging said washers outwardly against said sets of balls such that at least one set of balls and, at other times, both sets of balls are in continuous engagement with said collar and sleeve, said reactor inner wall terminating in a stop edge adapted to extend into said cut-away portion of the collar and engage the adjacent set of balls when said collar is retracted into said reactor, a bellows seal encompassing said collar and reactor and in sealing engagement with said collar and transmission, and a second seal on the front end of said collar in contact with said movable sleeve.

Claim 20

A self-adjusting clutch release bearing assembly as set forth in claim 17, including a "C" shaped spacer adapted to be positioned on said movable sleeve between said release bearing and said collar when said assembly is packaged prior to installation to preserve the predetermined adjusted length of the assembly.

Claim 21

A self-adjusting clutch release bearing assembly as set forth in claim 17, wherein said sets of balls provide a forward set toward said bearing and a rearward set adjacent said reactor stop edge, such that said rearward set is in operative engagement upon forward movement of said collar and said forward set is in operative engagement upon rearward movement of said collar, said reactor engaging said stop shoulder and said stop edge engaging said rearward set upon rearward movement of said collar relative to said reactor.

Claim 22

A self-adjusting clutch release bearing assembly as set forth in claim 19, wherein wear of the clutch friction facings will result in greater travel of said clutch release arms to push said carrier toward said stop shoulder, such that upon engagement of said reactor with said shoulder and engagement of said rearward set of balls with said reactor stop edge, further movement of said levers will cause said movable sleeve to shift rearwardly relative to said collar to alter the length of said bearing assembly, said forward set of balls overrunning upon movement of said movable sleeve relative to said collar.

Claim 23

A self-adjusting clutch release bearing assembly as set forth in claim 17, in which said rotation preventing means comprises a key in said movable sleeve received in an axial keyway in said collar.