Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
In a clutch assembly including an intermediate plate, a cover, and a pressure plate disposed therebetween, a driven disc between said pressure plate and said intermediate plate, said intermediate plate containing an aperture therethrough, said aperture positioned radially outwardly of said driven disc; means for axially locating said intermediate plate relative to said driven disc, comprising: (a) an axially extending rod having one end thereof affixed to said cover, said rod extending through said aperture, (b) a cylindrical sleeve piloted on said rod and extending through said aperture, said sleeve containing abutment means at opposite ends thereof, said abutment means being disposed for contacting respective sides of said intermediate plate; and (c) means on said sleeve for engaging said rod to restrict axial movement of said sleeve relative to said rod to one direction only.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
In a clutch assembly including an intermediate plate, a cover, and a pressure plate disposed therebetween, a driven disc between said pressure plate and said intermediate plate, said intermediate plate containing an aperture therethrough, said aperture positioned radially outwardly of said driven disc; means for axially locating said intermediate plate relative to said driven disc, comprising: (a) an axially extending rod having one end thereof affixed to said cover, said rod extending through said aperture, (b) a cylindrical sleeve piloted on said rod and extending through said aperture, said sleeve containing abutment means at opposite ends thereof, said abutment means being disposed for contacting respective sides of said intermediate plate; and (c) means on said sleeve for engaging said rod to restrict axial movement of said sleeve relative to said rod to one direction only.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The clutch assembly of claim 1 wherein said means on said sleeve for engaging said rod comprises radially inwardly extending tangs on an internal bore of said sleeve, each of said tangs also extending axially in a direction against which movement of said sleeve along said rod is prevented.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The clutch assembly of claim 1 wherein said means on said sleeve for frictionally engaging said rod comprises a circumferentially extending, radially inwardly extending, lip on an internal bore of said sleeve for gripping said rod in one axial direction only; said lip being angularly disposed in said one axial direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The clutch assembly of claim 1 wherein said means on said sleeve for engaging said rod comprises a plurality of circumferentially disposed, radially inwardly extending, serrations along an internal bore of said sleeve, the serrations extending angularly in one axial direction along said rod; whereby said sleeve is restricted from axial movement along said one direction relative to said rod.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The clutch assembly of claims 2, 3, or 4 further comprising a driven member to which said cover is affixed, wherein the opposite end of said rod relative to said end fixed to said cover is disposed for contact with said driven member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The clutch assembly of claim 5 wherein said abutment means comprises radially extending flanges, each flange containing a surface disposed for contacting said respective sides of said intermediate plate, said surfaces being axially spaced a distance greater than the width of the intermediate plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The clutch assembly of claim 6, wherein said sleeve contains an annular groove, and wherein one of said flanges on said sleeve is a snap ring in engagement with said groove.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The clutch assembly of claim 6 wherein spring means are interposed between one of said two flanges on said sleeve and said intermediate plate, said means urging said intermediate plate against the second of said two flanges on said sleeve.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for axially locating at least one intermediate plate relative to a driven disc in a multiple disc clutch, said clutch including a cover, a driven disc between said pressure plate and said one intermediate plate, said intermediate plate containing an aperture therethrough; said apparatus comprising: (a) a rod having one end thereof affixed to said cover, said rod extending axially through said aperture, (b) a cylindrical sleeve piloted on said rod and also extending through said aperture, said sleeve containing abutment means at opposite ends thereof, said abutment means being disposed for contacting respective sides of said intermediate plate; and (c) means on said sleeve for engaging said rod to restrict axial movement of said rod relative to said sleeve to one direction only.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for axially locating at least one intermediate plate relative to a driven disc in a multiple disc clutch, said clutch including a cover, a driven disc between said pressure plate and said one intermediate plate, said intermediate plate containing an aperture therethrough; said apparatus comprising: (a) a rod having one end thereof affixed to said cover, said rod extending axially through said aperture, (b) a cylindrical sleeve piloted on said rod and also extending through said aperture, said sleeve containing abutment means at opposite ends thereof, said abutment means being disposed for contacting respective sides of said intermediate plate; and (c) means on said sleeve for engaging said rod to restrict axial movement of said rod relative to said sleeve to one direction only.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means on said sleeve for engaging said rod comprises radially inwardly extending tangs on an internal bore of said sleeve, each of said tangs also extending axially in a direction against which movement of said sleeve along said rod is prevented.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means on said sleeve for frictionally engaging said rod comprises a circumferentially extending, radially inwardly extending, lip on an internal bore of said sleeve for gripping said rod in one axial direction only; said lip being angularly disposed in said one axial direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means on said sleeve for engaging said rod comprises a plurality of circumferentially disposed, radially inwardly extending, serrations along an internal bore of said sleeve, the serrations extending angularly in one axial direction along said rod; whereby said sleeve is restricted from axial movement along said one direction relative to said rod.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 10, 11, or 12 further comprising a driven member to which said cover is affixed, wherein the opposite end of said rod relative to said end affixed to said cover is disposed for contact with said driven member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said abutment means comprises radially extending flanges, each flange containing a surface disposed for contacting said respective sides of said intermediate plate, said surfaces being axially spaced a distance greater than the width of the intermediate plate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said sleeve contains an annular groove, and wherein one of said flanges on said sleeve is a snap ring in engagement with said groove.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein spring means are interposed between one of said two flanges on said sleeve and said intermediate plate, said means urging said intermediate plate against the second of said two flanges on said sleeve.