US4497399A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjusting mechanism for a manually operated clutch
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
•
Filing: 1982-12-03
•
Granted: 1985-02-05
•
Expires: 2002-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A manually operated clutch adjusting mechanism has a worm and gear sector drive connection between the manual pedal and the operating cable. The cable urges the gear sector to rotate about its axis when a clutch adjustment is necessary. Rotation of the sector gear causes linear movement of the worm which is connected to a one-way linear to rotary motion transfer mechanism. The linear movement of the worm results in rotation of the worm and therefore the sector gear. The rotation of the sector gear induced by the worm gear is in the same direction as that urged by the cable and therefore reduces the clutch load on the cable and adjusts the clutch accordingly.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard F. Kopich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:06
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05G; G05G1/00; G05G1/30; F; F16; F16D; F16D13/00; F16D13/58; F16D13/75; F16D13/752; G05G23/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20528
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
A clutch adjustment mechanism for a manually operated vehicle clutch having a control cable subject to increased clutch applying spring force when clutch misadjustment is present and a manual pedal pivotally mounted on a bracket secured to the vehicle, said mechanism comprising; a toothed sector resiliently connected to the manual pedal and secured to one end of the control cable; a housing pivotally mounted on the bracket; a shaft slidably and rotatably disposed in said housing with at least one end thereof extending through one end of the housing; a worm disposed on the shaft for rotation therewith and being in mesh with said toothed sector; a two member one-way jaw clutch disposed between said worm and the one end of the housing with one member of the clutch being secured to said shaft and the other member being rotatably disposed on said shaft; and torque arm means secured between said housing and said other member for rotating said other member as said other member is moved linearly with said shaft relative to said housing when said jaw clutch is engaged; said jaw clutch being operable to transmit rotation in one direction only to said worm through said shaft, said cable being operable when the vehicle clutch is engaged to rotate said sector relative to said pedal when said clutch is misadjusted to move said worm and shaft resulting in engagement of said jaw clutch and operation of said adjustment mechanism, and said manual pedal contacting said shaft for linear movement thereof toward disengagement of said jaw clutch when said vehicle clutch is disengaged thereby permitting indexing of said jaw clutch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
A clutch adjustment mechanism for a manually operated vehicle clutch having a control cable subject to increased clutch applying spring force when clutch misadjustment is present and a manual pedal pivotally mounted on a bracket secured to the vehicle, said mechanism comprising; a toothed sector resiliently connected to the manual pedal and secured to one end of the control cable; a housing pivotally mounted on the bracket; a shaft slidably and rotatably disposed in said housing with at least one end thereof extending through one end of the housing; a worm disposed on the shaft for rotation therewith and being in mesh with said toothed sector; a two member one-way jaw clutch disposed between said worm and the one end of the housing with one member of the clutch being secured to said shaft and the other member being rotatably disposed on said shaft; and torque arm means secured between said housing and said other member for rotating said other member as said other member is moved linearly with said shaft relative to said housing when said jaw clutch is engaged; said jaw clutch being operable to transmit rotation in one direction only to said worm through said shaft, said cable being operable when the vehicle clutch is engaged to rotate said sector relative to said pedal when said clutch is misadjusted to move said worm and shaft resulting in engagement of said jaw clutch and operation of said adjustment mechanism, and said manual pedal contacting said shaft for linear movement thereof toward disengagement of said jaw clutch when said vehicle clutch is disengaged thereby permitting indexing of said jaw clutch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
266 words
A clutch adjustment mechanism for a manually operated vehicle clutch having a control cable subject to increased clutch apply spring force when clutch misadjustment is present and a manual pedal pivotally mounted on a bracket secured to the vehicle, said mechanism comprising: a toothed sector resiliently connected to the manual pedal and secured to one end of the control cable; a housing pivotally mounted on the bracket; a shaft slidably and rotatably disposed in said housing with at least one end thereof extending through one end of the housing; a worm disposed on the shaft for rotation therewith and being in mesh with said toothed sector; a one-way jaw clutch disposed between said worm and the one end of the housing and having one member thereof secured to said shaft and another member thereof rotatably disposed on said shaft; and torque arm means secured between said housing and said other member for rotating said other member as said other member is moved linearly with said shaft relative to said housing when said jaw clutch is engaged; said jaw clutch being operable to transmit rotation in one direction only to said worm through said shaft, said cable being operable when the vehicle clutch is engaged to rotate said sector relative to said pedal when said clutch is misadjusted to move said worm and shaft resulting in engagement of said jaw clutch and operation of said adjustment mechanism, and said manual pedal contacting said shaft for linear movement thereof toward disengagement of said jaw clutch when said vehicle clutch is disengaged thereby permitting indexing of said jaw clutch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
266 words
A clutch adjustment mechanism for a manually operated vehicle clutch having a control cable subject to increased clutch apply spring force when clutch misadjustment is present and a manual pedal pivotally mounted on a bracket secured to the vehicle, said mechanism comprising: a toothed sector resiliently connected to the manual pedal and secured to one end of the control cable; a housing pivotally mounted on the bracket; a shaft slidably and rotatably disposed in said housing with at least one end thereof extending through one end of the housing; a worm disposed on the shaft for rotation therewith and being in mesh with said toothed sector; a one-way jaw clutch disposed between said worm and the one end of the housing and having one member thereof secured to said shaft and another member thereof rotatably disposed on said shaft; and torque arm means secured between said housing and said other member for rotating said other member as said other member is moved linearly with said shaft relative to said housing when said jaw clutch is engaged; said jaw clutch being operable to transmit rotation in one direction only to said worm through said shaft, said cable being operable when the vehicle clutch is engaged to rotate said sector relative to said pedal when said clutch is misadjusted to move said worm and shaft resulting in engagement of said jaw clutch and operation of said adjustment mechanism, and said manual pedal contacting said shaft for linear movement thereof toward disengagement of said jaw clutch when said vehicle clutch is disengaged thereby permitting indexing of said jaw clutch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2752009A
Cited
US3177983A
Cited
US3429412A
Cited
US4181209A
Cited
US4227603A
Cited
US4249644A
Cited
US4424890A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-02-05 | 1988-08-06 | 1989-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-02-05 | 1992-08-06 | 1993-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-02-05 | 1996-08-06 | 1997-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |