Radially adjustable clutch release bearing assembly

Claim 1

A self-aligning clutch release bearing and carrier sleeve assembly including a carrier sleeve which defines a first axis and a bearing adapted to be brought into engagement with rotating clutch fingers or the like of a clutch mechanism, which clutch fingers rotate about a second axis which may not be exactly coincidental with said first axis, said bearing and carrier sleeve assembly being adapted to adjust the rotational orientation of the bearing to coincide with the second axis of rotation of said clutch fingers, said bearing and carrier sleeve asembly comprising: a bearing including a pair of annular raceway-defining members, a generally annular thrust face for engagement with said clutch fingers and an annular radially inwardly extending shoulder portion of reduced axial extend relative to and integrally inwardly extending from one of said raceway-defining members; and mounting means for grippingly engaging said shoulder portion for mounting the bearing to said carrier sleeve; and mounting means defining recess means for complementary form for receiving said shoulder portion therewith; said shoulder portion terminating at a position radially spaced apart from a radially innermost end of said recess means; said recess means being configured for engaging said shoulder portion with a controlled amount of frictional force for permitting a predetermined amount of radial movement of said bearing relative to said carrier sleeve in response to engagement of the thrust face with the clutch fingers while in use, said predetermined amount of movement being sufficient to bring the first axis into coaxial alignment with second axis, while substantially preventing both radial movement in the absence of radially acting forces sufficient to overcome said controlled amount of frictional force encountered in use, and axial movement of said bearing relative to said carrier sleeve; wherein said mounting means comprises first and second generally annular mounting members each having an annular inner surface of like diameter sized for non-rotatable engagement with said carrier sleeve at axially spaced locations on a complementary diameter surface portion thereof, and means on said carrier sleeve and on each of said first and second annular mounting members respectively for positioning said first and second annular members thereon in a spaced apart condition to define therebetween said recess means for receiving said shoulder portion.