GB908671A - Improvements in or relating to hydraulically operated clutches - Google Patents

Abstract

908,671. Friction clutches. REGIE NATIONALE DES USINES RENAULT. Feb. 2, 1959 [Feb. 18, 1958], No. 3611/59. Class 80 (2). To oppose the effect of centrifugal force acting upon a mass of fluid introduced under pressure into a space 7 to engage a clutch and tending to increase the force engaging the clutch, centrifugal masses 19c are formed on extensions of levers 19 through which the clutch engaging force is transmitted to a presser plate 20. The levers 19 pivot on pins 18 fast with a driving clutch housing 8 and engage between a plate 14, axially slidable upon a hub 12, and the presser plate 20, to increase the clutch engaging force applied by the fluid under pressure. Springs 16 bias the plate 14 to the disengaged position, and springs 21 bias the presser plate 20 to the disengaged position. The space 7, to which pressure fluid is introduced through passages 4 . . . 6, is formed on one side by the rotating clutch housing 8 and on the other side by a diaphragm 9 clamped thereto. The size of the masses 19c may be so selected as to exactly negative the effect of centrifugal force acting upon the mass of fluid in the space 7, in order that the clutch engaging force may be constant irrespective of the speed of rotation, or alternatively, the size of the masses 19c may be increased, so that at high speeds, the clutch engaging force is partly relieved; in this form, the clutch may be combined with an hydrodynamic torque converter, the torque which can be transmitted through the clutch being reduced at high speeds when the torque transmitted through the converter is correspondingly reduced by the high speed of operation.