Motor vehicle clutch control mechanism

Claim 1

An apparatus for controllably operating a motor vehicle clutch, said apparatus comprising a hydraulic master cylinder, a hydraulic slave cylinder and a conduit interconnecting the master cylinder and the slave cylinder, said hydraulic slave cylinder being disposed concentric to an input shaft from said motor vehicle clutch to a gearbox, said slave cylinder comprising a pair of spaced apart concentrically disposed inner and outer tubular members, the inner tubular member projecting beyond the outer tubular member, an annular piston disposed reciprocably between said inner tubular member and said outer tubular member, a throw-out bearing for actuating said clutch, said throw-out bearing having an inner race disposed around said inner tubular member and an outer race, a tubular throw-out bearing carrier slidably disposed around said inner tubular member and having an end in engagement with said piston and another end forming a rim in which is mounted the outer race of said throw-out bearing, biasing means constantly urging said throw-out bearing outwardly in a direction engaging the inner race of said throw-out bearing with a release mechanism for said clutch, a shipping and installation strap comprising an annular portion attached to the outer race of said throw-out bearing and a pair of strips having each an end integrally formed with said annular portion attached to said throw-out bearing, said strips having each another end attached to said slave cylinder casing for preventing linear displacement of said throw-out bearing under the action of said biasing means, each of said strips having a portion of reduced strength such that upon first linear displacement actuation of said throw-out bearing by said slave cylinder each of said strips breaks at said portion of reduced strength, whereby said slave cylinder is free to operate normally, and a tubular dust cover longitudinally displaceable in unison with said throw-out bearing, said dust cover having a terminal flange portion in sliding engagement with the peripheral surface of said outer tubular member, wherein said portion of said strap attached to said throw-out bearing outer race is also attached to said dust cover.

Claim 2

An apparatus for controllably operating a motor vehicle clutch, said apparatus comprising a hydraulic master cylinder, a hydraulic slave cylinder and a conduit interconnecting the master cylinder and the slave cylinder, said hydraulic slave cylinder being disposed concentric to an input shaft from said motor vehicle clutch to a gearbox, said slave cylinder comprising a pair of spaced apart concentrically disposed inner and outer tubular members, the inner tubular member projecting beyond the outer tubular member, an annular piston disposed reciprocably between said inner tubular member and said outer tubular member, a throw-out bearing for actuating said clutch, said throw-out bearing having an inner race disposed around said inner tubular member and an outer race, a tubular throw-out bearing carrier slidably disposed around said inner tubular member and having an end in engagement with said piston and another end forming a rim in which is mounted the outer race of said throw-out bearing, biasing means constantly urging said throw-out bearing outwardly in a direction engaging the inner race of said throw-out bearing with a release mechanism for said clutch, a shipping and installation strap comprising an annular portion attached to the outer race of said throw-out bearing and a pair of strips having each an end integrally formed with said annular portion attached to said throw-out bearing, said strips having each another end attached to said slave cylinder casing for preventing linear displacement of said throw-out bearing under the action of said biasing means, each of said strips having a portion of reduced strength such that upon first linear displacement actuation of said throw-out bearing by said slave cylinder each of said strips breaks at said portion of reduced strength, whereby said slave cylinder is free to operate normally, and a tubular dust cover longitudinally displaceable in unison with said throw-out bearing, said dust cover having a terminal flange portion in sliding engagement with the peripheral surface of said outer tubular member, wherein said portion of said strap attached to said throw-out bearing outer race is also attached to said dust cover.