Wedging centrifugal lock up clutch with torque limiter

Claim 1

A clutch mechanism for a hydrokinetic device including impeller and turbine members, an annular disc fixed to said turbine member, a plurality of shoe assemblies mounted in said disc, separate cam members secured to said disc, said assemblies including follower means in engagement with said cam members, said assemblies having a frictional surface theron, centrifugal force acting to urge said assemblies into engagement with said impeller member at a given speed of rotation, said assemblies moving along said cam means after initial engagement whereby said devices are wedged between said disc and said impeller member to increase the torque capacity of the clutch in self-energizing manner, torque limiting means to limit the maximum torque capacity of the clutch, said torque limiting means comprising said cam members resiliently movable with respect to said disc whereby the angle of said cam with respect to said impeller varies under load wherein said cam members comprise flexible members secured in apertures in said disc.