Spacer for worn clutch brakes

Claim 1

An improved heavy duty vehicle having a clutch assembly being operatively connected to a transmission drive shaft projecting from a transmission housing of said vehicle, said clutch assembly being disposed within a bell housing that is mechanically coupled to said transmission housing and encloses said clutch assembly, said bell housing including at least one inspection opening therein adjacent said transmission housing, said clutch assembly including a clutch release bearing housing slideably disposed about said drive shaft, said release bearing housing being operated by a clutch release fork through a clutch pedal linkage, said vehicle including a plate-like clutch brake disposed about said drive shaft so as to be continuously rotated said transmission housing, said clutch brake being adapted for longitudinal therewith and being positioned intermediate said release bearing housing and sliding movement on said drive shaft such that said release bearing housing functions to engage said clutch brake and to move the same into frictional engagement with a flat surface of said transmission housing each time said clutch assembly is operated to change gears, the improvement comprising: a spacer having a plate portion fixedly secured to a foot portion at one end thereof; a U-shaped opening in the opposite end of said plate portion; and at least one opening in said foot portion adapted to receive securing means whereby when said clutch brake wears to the point where it no longer operates normally, said plate portion of said spacer can be inserted through said inspection opening and interposed between said clutch brake and said transmission housing and said securing means can be inserted through said at least one opening in said foot portion and secured to said bell homing to extend the useful life of said clutch brake.

Claim 10

A method of extending the useful life of a clutch brake in a heavy duty vehicle having a clutch assembly positioned in a operative relationship with a transmission drive shaft projecting from a transmission housing of said vehicle, said clutch assembly being disposed within a bell housing mechanically coupled to said transmission housing, said bell housing including an inspection opening therein adjacent said transmission housing, said clutch assembly including a clutch release bearing housing slideably disposed about said drive shaft, said release bearing housing being operated by a clutch release fork through a clutch pedal linkage, said vehicle including a plate-like clutch brake disposed about said drive shaft so as to be continuously rotated therewith and being positioned intermediate said release bearing housing and said transmission housing, said clutch brake being adapted for longitudinal sliding movement on said drive shaft such that said release bearing housing functions to engage said clutch brake and move the same into frictional engagement with a flat surface of said transmission housing thereby stopping the rotation of said drive shaft each time said clutch assembly is operated to shift gears, said method comprising: forming a spacer having a plate portion with a U-shaped opening in one end thereof and a foot portion connected to the opposite end thereof; passing said plate portion of said spacer through said inspection opening in said bell housing between said clutch brake and said transmission housing with said drive shaft being disposed in said U-shaped opening in one end of said plate portion; and securing said foot portion to said bell housing whereby the useable life of said clutch brake can be extended.

Claim 11

A method of extending the useful life of a clutch brake in a heavy duty vehicle having a clutch assembly positioned in a operative relationship with a transmission drive shaft projecting from a transmission housing of said vehicle, said clutch assembly being disposed within a bell housing mechanically coupled to said transmission housing, said bell housing including an inspection opening therein adjacent said transmission housing, said clutch assembly including a clutch release bearing housing slideably disposed about said drive shaft, said release bearing housing being operated by a clutch release fork through a clutch pedal linkage, said vehicle including a plate-like clutch brake disposed about said drive shaft so as to be continuously rotated therewith and being positioned intermediate said release bearing housing and said transmission housing, said clutch brake being adapted for longitudinal sliding movement on said drive shaft such that said release bearing housing functions to engage said clutch brake and move the same into frictional engagement with a flat surface of said transmission housing thereby stopping the rotation of said drive shaft each time said clutch assembly is operated to shift gears, said method comprising: forming a spacer having a plate portion with a U-shaped opening in one end thereof and a foot portion connected to the opposite end thereof; passing said plate portion of said spacer through said inspection opening in said bell housing between said clutch brake and said transmission housing with said drive shaft being disposed in said U-shaped opening in one end of said plate portion; and securing said foot portion to said bell housing whereby the useable life of said clutch brake can be extended.