GB491770A - Improvements in friction clutches - Google Patents

Abstract

491,770. Friction clutches. GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. Feb. 25, 1938, No, 5985. Convention date, Feb. 27, 1937. [Class 80 (ii)] The presser plate 43, Figs. 1 and 2, of a friction clutch is actuated by a Belleville spring 59, the outer edge of which bears against the plate 43 while a circular series of headed projections 65 on the cover plate 31, secured to the driving flywheel 27, pass through openings 63 formed in the spring 59. A ring 75 encircling the projections 65 is disposed between the spring and the heads 67 of the projections 65, while a similar ring 77 is disposed between the spring and the plate 31. The spring is stressed during assembly so as normally to move the plate 43 to engaged position while reacting against the ring 77. To relieve the clutch pressure, the spring is further stressed by inward movement of a control sleeve 105 so that the spring presses against the ring 75. Metal stampings 79 may be arranged on the projections 65 between the spring 59 and the ring 77, some of these stampings having hooked ends engaging recesses 81 in the plate 43 so that the latter is moved positively to disengaged position. As shown in Fig. 1, the projections 65 are in the form of rivets, but they may be in the form of tongues 103, Fig. 15, struck out from the plate 31. In such form, the separate ring 77 may be replaced by a bead 97 formed on the plate 31 and the ring 75 may be in the form of a bead 101 on a plate 99 which is apertured to pass over the tongues 103, the free ends of the latter being subsequently bent to retain the parts. The plate 43 is in driving connection with the plate 31 by the engagement in axial grooves in the former of studs 47, Fig. 1, secured to the latter. The studs may, however, be replaced by tongues struck from the plate 31 or by projections on plates which are riveted or welded to the plate 31. The spring 59, radially inwardly of the openings 63, is formed with radial slots 71 to form fingers 73. In order to secure the fingers to the sleeve 105, a ring 109 is interposed between the fingers and a ring 111, provided with axial lugs 113 engaging recesses in the sleeve 105 and with axial lugs 115 engaging the slots 71, while a ring 117 bearing against the fingers 73 is formed with axial lugs 119 which pass within the fingers and the ring 111 and which have outwardly-turned portions 121 engaging an annular recess in the sleeve 105. In place of the member 117, 119, 121, double coil springs 125, Fig. 17, may have a junction part 123 engaging a hooked part 127 of the sleeve 105 while their free ends engage behind the fingers 73. The plate 31 may be hexagonal, as shown in Fig. 2, or may be square, and may have portions cut away for ventilation purposes. The plate 43 may have fins for circulating air.