USRE22635E - Clutch plate - Google Patents

Description

P' w. v. THELANDER Re. 22,635-

' CLUTCH PLATE Original Filed Nov. 25 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 17, 1945. w. v. THE LANDER Re. 22,

CLUTCH PLATE Origi nal Filed Nov. 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Reiasued Apr. 17, 1945 CLUTCH PLATE W. Vincent Thelander, Auburn, Ind.

Original No. 2,337,135, datc'd Deceniber 21, 1943, Serial No. 400,310, June 28, 1941, which is a division of Serial No. 366,960, November 25 1940, now Patent No. 2

$16,820, dated April 20,

1943. Application for reissue December-1, 1944,

Serial No. 566,232

20 Claims.

This invention relates to clutches generally and is more particularly concerned with improvements i automotive type friction clutches, this application being a division of my copending application, Serial No. 366,960, filed November 25, 1940, now Patent No. 2,316,820, issued April 20, 1943.

One of the principal object of my invention consists in the pro-vision of a clutch plate of sectional construction utilizing a number of small sheet metal stampings to build upthe outer annular portion on which the annular facings are mounted, it being possible to produce these stampings with much less waste than is involved in the stain-ping of large disks, and it being also possible to produce these stampings from salvaged scrap material, so that the present structure is made available at a much lower cost than would otherwise be possible.

An important object of the invention consists in the provision of a clutch plate embodying an improved mush construction between the friction facings, a salient feature of which lies in the provision of flat leaf-springs which can be produced to the desired uniformity at much lower cost than specially shaped leaf-springs, and the use of which as compared with the conveitional struck-out ears commonly provided as integral portions of clutch plate means an appreciable saving in cost by reason of the fact that it makes possible the use of ordinary sheet metal stampings for the plate proper instead of spring steel. With the present construction there is no difficulty in obtaining clutch plates in quantity production of uniform thickness in the facing portionand with the facings in substantial parallelism throughout the circumference, whereas with the other earlier constructions mentioned, such uniformity in thickness and parallelism of facing was not obtained, and as a result such plates when installed would not give as good per formance nor would they last as long as could otherwise be expected, I

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a rear view of a clutch plate made in accordance with my invention showing approximately half of the hub housing plate broken away so as to better illustrate the hub/construction and also showing approximately half of the friction facing removed to better illustrate the rest of the plate construction;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail on the arcuate line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing another clutch plate of the same construction so far as the hub portion is concerned but of different construction in the outer portion, approximately half of the friction facing being broken away to better illustrate that portion, and

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are sectional details on the correspondingly numbered arcuate lines of Fig. 4.

Similar reference numerals areapplied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2', the clutch plate shown comprises relative rotatable inner and outer portions, the inner portion being formed by a center hub I0 splined for driving connection with the driving shaft of an automotive transmission and provided with an annular flange I I onto opposite sides of which two circular sheet metal plates I2 are riveted, as indicated at I3. These plates have a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced openings I4 provided therein, four in the present instance, one for each of a plurality of spring cushioning means I5, the openings in the two plates being in register with one another. Assembled in each opening I 4 with thespring I5, in acc'ordancewith the disclosure in the parentapplication, is a piston I5 and cylinder I'I extending into the sprin from opposite ends and provided withenlarged circular head ends I8 larger in diameter than the spring so as to space the ends of the spring from adjacent portions of the plate and avoid wear on the end coils. Each piston I6 has an annular shoulder I8a thereon at its outer end next to the head I8 of approximately the same outside diameter as the cylinder I! so that both ends of the spring I5 are centered alike with relation 'to the heads I8.- As

. more fully described in the parent application, the

cylinder I! has a bleeder hole I9 provided in the wall thereof for intake and exhaust of the heavy oil or grease with which the space around the hub I0 is filled. A ring 20, the inner and outer Iperipheries 2| and 22 of which are in concentric relation with the periphery 23 of the flange I I, has notches '24 cut therein in register with the openings I4 andfis disposed between the plates I2, as clearly appears in Fig. 2, for engagement of the end of notched portions 24 with the spring cushioning means, the drive being taken at one end of the notched portions 24 and by the respec tively opposite ends of the openings I 4 in a manner well understood in this art. The radially outer side 24a. of each of the notches 24 in the ring 20, are struck on arcs'con'centric with the inner and outer peripheries 2| and 22, as clearly appears in Fig. l and the head ends H! of the pistons l6 and cylinders H are tapered, as indicated, to conform to these arcs 24a. The ring 28 is riveted at circumferentially spaced points, as indicated at l. 25, between the peripheral flanges'26 of two sheet metal housing plates 21. The latter have central circular openings defined by circular flanges 2B which have close fitting bearing engagement on the opposite ends of the hub H] in spaced relation to the annular shoulders 29. The circular plates |2 fastened on the opposite sides of the flange U have circular central openings defined by outwardly bent flanges 38 fitting over the peripheries of the shoulder 29 and projecting from these shoulders toward the plates 21 to retain compressible resilient gaskets 3| which serve to seal the annular oil or grease chamber 32 in the hub housing against leakage of the heavy lubricating oil or grease with which I the chamb'er 32 is filled, as indicated at 33 in Fig. 2. The flanges 26 project radially beyond outer periphery 22 of the ring 28 and have inwardly bent peripheral edge portions 34 between which another gasket 35 of compressible resilient material is retained in compressed condition to seal the outer periphery of the chamber 32 against leakage 'of the oil or grease 33. These proper, formed by the two sets of sheet metal stampings 31 and 38 are riveted with the housingfplat'es 21 to the ring 2|] by the rivets 25. The stampings 31 carry theannular facing ring 38 on rivets 46, and the stampings 38 carry the companion facing ring 4| on rivets 42.

In operation, when relative movement takes place between the inner and outer portions of the clutch plate, the springs 15 are compressed to cushion the drive. At the same time, the heavy oil or grease 33 with which the cylinders H are filled is dischargedto some extent through the bleeder holes l9 so that these pumping devices add materially. to the cushioning effect, accordingly relieving the springs I5 of some of the load.

The heavy oil or grease 33 is indicated only to the extent shown in Fig. 2, to avoid confusion. The recoil action of the springs I5. is also checked by the pistons and cylinder |6|1 because their return to normal extended relationship is retarded as a result of the restriction of the bleeder holes l8 through which the heavy oil or grease 33 must flow. In that way, the secondary vibrationsare absorbed and a smooth. drive is obtained. I I

The sheet metal stampings 31 and 38 are of the segmental form clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, five of each of these stampings being used to complete the outer-portion of the plate on which the facings 33 andare carried, although, of course, it is obvious that the number of sections employed may be reduced or increased. Each stamping 31 has a generally U-shaped opening 43 punched therein defining a middle radial finger 44 and opposed radial fingers'45and46 interconnected by an arcuate outer peripheral web 41. The finger 44 extends outwardly from an inner arcuate peripheral web 48 interconnecting the inner ends of the fingers 45 and 46 and there are two circumferentially spaced holes 49 in the web 48 registering with similar holesin the inner arcuate peripheral web portion 5|) of the companion stamping 38 through which openings the rivets 25 extend to fasten the stampings to the'ring 20 'alongwith the housing plates 21, washers 5| being preferably interposed between the stampings 3? and 38, one at each rivet, so as to space the stampings 31 and 38 for a purpose which will "soon appear? Each stamping 38 has an opening of the U-shaped opening 43, while the web 55 of the stamping 38 is disposed radially between the outer end of the finger-'44 and the web 41 of the stamping 31. Now, bearing in mind the fact that the washers 5|, which, by the way, are all of the same'thickness, serve to space the stampings 31 and '38 in paralle1 planes, it will be clear that there is room between the stampings for fiat leafsprings 56 of approximately the same thickness as the washers 5|, or less, so long as the leaf-springs are disposed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in a parallel intermediate plane. springs 56 is generally h-shaped so as to provide two substantiallyv parallel fingers 51 and 58 on one side and a single finger 59 on the other side oftlie transverse intermediate-attaching portion 63. The springs 56 are mounted on the fingers 53 and 54 of the stampings 38 by means of their attaching portions 6|! and are disposed in reversed relation to one another in overlapping relation to the middle finger 44 of the stamping 31,

whereas the two sets of fingers 51 and 58 extend away from one another, the one pair being in overlapping relation to the finger 45 and the other pair being in overlapping relation to the finger 46 of the stamping 31 and preferably also exteding beyond the finger 46 to overlapping relation with a portion of the finger 45 of the next stamping 31. The forking of the leaf-springs 56 o as to provide the fingers 51 and 58 is for the purpose of clearance with reference to the heads of the alternate rivets 40 which come between'the ends ofthe fingers 51 and 58, as clearly appears in Fig. l, the other fi'ngers 59 being disposed vwiththeir ends on opposite sides of the heads of the intermediate rivets 40, as also clearly appears in Fig. 1. The rivets 42 for fastening the facing ring 4| to the stampings 38 are used also to fasten the leaf-springs 56 to the stampings 38,

the fingers 53 and 54 being provided with enlarged holes 6| to receive hollow struck-out or "embossed circular portions 62 on the attaching portions 60 of the leaf-springs 56, in the hollows of which the heads of the rivets 42 are received so as to lie flush with the outer faces of the leafspring 56, as clearly appears in Figs. 2 and 3. The purpose of this is to avoid any interference with thefacing ring 39"packin'g tightly against the adjacent face of the leaf-spring 56 in the en- 4 gagement of the clutch. For a similar reason the Each of the leafheads of the rivets 46 are made as thin or thinner than the leaf-springs 56 so that they will not interfere with the packing of the facing ring 4| tightly against the other face of the leafsprings 56 (see Fig. 3). Each leaf-spring 56 has a small struck-out hollow circular boss 63 on the attaching portion 60 in radially spaced relation to the boss 62 and arranged to engage in a hole 64 provided therefore in the stamping 38, each of the fingers 53 and 54 being provided with these holes and half of the leaf-springs 56 having their bosses 62 and 63 struck in one direction and the other half having their bosses 62 and 63 struck in the opposite direction to permit assembling the same in reversed relationship to one another, those of one type alternating with those of the other type. The engagement of the bosses 63 in the hole 64 looks the leaf-springs 56 against turning about the rivets 42 as centers. In operation, it should be clear that as the pressure plate is moved toward the flywheel in the engagement of the clutch the facings 39 and 4| are pressed together, flexing the fingers 51, 58 and 59, of all of the leaf-springs 56 so that; the spring pressure of the leaf-springs 56 tending to keep 7 the facings 39 and 4| apart insures the desired smooth engagement of the clutch and avoids grabbing. The leaf-springs 56 being normally fiat will of course exert increasing spring pressure on the facings 39 and 4! as they approach fully engaged relationship, the outer portion of the clutch plate being tightly packed between the pressure plate and flywheel when the clutch is fully engaged. In ful1 engagement of the clutch, the facing ring 39 is pressed tightly against the adjacent face of the leafsprings 56 and the facing ring 4| is pressed tightly against the other face of the leaf-springs 56. Such tight packing is possible only because of the fact that the fingers 44, 45 and on the stampings 37 can be flexed into the same plane with thefinge-rs S and 54 of the stampings 38. When the clutch is disengaged, the leaf-springs 56 return to the flat unfiexed form and accordingly return the fingers of the stampings 31 and 38 to their normal spaced parallel relationship. The fact that all of the leaf-springs 56 are flat, as distinguished from specially formed spring metal parts previously provided for mush purposes, makes for a clutch plate of uniform increased thickness in the disengaged condition and therefore. obviates the objection common in many other clutch plate construct'ions of non-uniform engagement and accordingly non-uniform and rapid wear of the clutch plate facings and a tendency for the clutch to grab. In other words, flat leaf-springs like those shown at 56 can be produced to the desired uniformity, whereas specially shaped partscannot be produced to a desired uniformity without difilculty, which means close rigorous inspection and a high percentage of rejections in quantity production of clutch plates. The fact that the fingers 5! and 58 of every alternate leaf-spring 56 cooperates not only with the finger 46 of one stamping 3! but to a certain extent also with the finger 45 of the next stamping 31 further insures accurate coplanar alignment of all of the stampings 3! in one plane and coplanar alignment of all of the stampings 38 in a parallel plane. The fact that the present mush construction requires spring steel only in the leaf-springs 56 is of course an important factor from the economy standpoint. In passing, attention is called to the fact that the fingers 44, 45 and 46 on the stampings 3'! are bent between dies on the lines 65 normal to their radii and next to the point of attachment of the stampings to the ring and housing plates 21' slightly in the direction of the stamping 38., and the fingers '53 and 54 of the stampings 38 are bent between dies in the opposite direction toward the stamping 31 on corresponding lines 66 normal to their radii and next to thevpoin-t of attachment .of the stamping 38 to the ring 20 and housing plates 21 whereby When the stampings 31 and 38 are riveted at with theleaf-springs -56 assembled in place therebetween, the fingers El, 58 and 59 of the leafsprings are solidly engaged with the stampings 31 but the stampings 31 are in accurate parallelism with the stampings 38. In other words, the bending along the lines 65 and 66 is so slight that the pressure of the fingers on the stamp- ings 31 and 38 on the fingers of the leaf-springs 56 is not sufiicient to flex the latter but is only enough to insure uniform thickness of plates throughout their circumference, in quantity production.

' Referring now to Figs. 4 tolQthe clutch plate shown in Fig. 4 is the same in construction inso far as the spring cushioning means and fluid dampening means is concerned but the outer portion of the plate is of different construction. Sheet metal stampings 61 and 68 take the place of the stampings 31 and 36 of the previous construction and cooperate with leaf-springs 69 in a closely similar manner, in this construction, the stampings 6! and generally H-shaped opens ings l6 punched therein defining an arcuate peripheral web portion H connecting the outer ends of radial web portions 12 and 13 the inner end portions of which are integral with an arcuate attaching web portion 14 concentric with the web portion 7|. Arcuate fingers l5 and 16 are also do. fined in the punching of the H-shaped opening 70 in radially shaped relation to the web portion 14 and substantially concentric therewith. Each sheet metal stamping 68 cooperating with a cornpanion stamping 61 is made T-shapecl so as to provide an inner arcuate attaching portion Tl, a. radial leg portion 18 projecting from the middle of the attaching portion I7 and a cross-portion providing'one arcuate finger 79 disposed radially between the finger l5 and web H and another arcuate finger '86 disposed radially between the finger 16 and web H. The leaf-springs 69 in this construction serve a. similar purpose to the leaf-springs 56 of the other construction and are I also generally H-shaped, although each has three finger ill-83 on one side of the intermediate attaching portion 84 and a single finger on the other side of said attaching portion. The rivets 25' in this construction correspond to the rivets 25 of the other construction and serve to fasten the stampings 61 and 68 in parallel relationship to one another to the peripheral portion of the housing plates 27 with the T-shaped portion of each of the stampings 68 normally in spaced parallel relation to the perforated portion 16 of the companion stamping 61. The rivets 42' for fastening the leaf-springs 68 to the stampings 66 correspond to the rivets 42 of the other construction and are entered in the circular boss portions 62 provided in the attaching portions 84 of said leaf-springs, these boss portions 6 2 being entered inopenings 6| provided therefor in the stamp ings 63 so that the rivets 42 used for fasten ng the leaf-springs 69 to the stampingsfiil and also fastening the friction facing 4| to the opposite side of the stampings 68 do not have the heads on the inner ends thereof projecting from the plane of the leaf-springs 69 and will not therefore interfere with 'tight'packing of the friction facing 39 against the leaf-spring 69 in the engagement of the clutch. The fingers 83 have small circular bosses 86 struck therefrom arranged to engage in holes 81 provided therefor in the web portion II of the stampings 61 whereby to hold the leaf-springs 69 against turning about the rivets 42 as centers and thus keep the fingers 8|83 in proper relation to the web portions II and the fingers 85 in proper relation to the fingers 15 and 16. It should be clear that half of the leaf-springs 69 on the plate shown have their bosses 62' struck in one direction while the other half have their bosses 62' struck in the opposite direction so that these leaf-springs may be assembled in the plate in reversed relation to one another, the same being true with regard to the bosses 86 which on one half of the leaf springs are struck in one direction and on the other half in the opposite direction. While I have shown all of the stampings 61 on one face of the plate and all of the stampings 68 on the other face, it should be understood that I may if desired alternate the arrangement of the stampings, having the stampings 61 alternately on opposite faces so that the stampings 68 occur alternately on the respectively opposite faces,

the leaf-springs 69 in such a construction being still mounted on the stampings 68 and cooperating with the stampings 61 in the same manner as herein illustrated. The operation of this clutch plate is closely similar to that of the other construction. In the engagement of the'clutch, as the pressure plate approaches the flywheel and the facings 39 and 4| are moved toward each other, the leaf-springs 69 have their fingers 8l83 and '85 flexed, the T-shaped portion of the stampings 68 moving into the slotted portions 10 of the stampings G1 and into substantially coplanar relationship. In full engagement the facing 39' is packed tightly against the adhub portion 'of relatively'heavy'sheet metalQa'nd a peripheral portion comprising two parallel series of structurally independent plate sections of readily distortable, thin, resilient sheet metal concentrically arranged relative to the axis of said hub and mounted in slightly axially spaced relation to one another on the hub to turn therewith and projecting radially therefrom, the plate sections of one series having openings provided therein and the plate sections of the other series having portions in register with said openings and formed to fit freely in said openings, whereby the two series of plate sections are adapted to have the registering portions compacted into substantially coplanar relationship, friction facing material annularly applied to the outer faces of said plate sections, and spring means in the space between the plate sections and engaging the inner faces thereof to resist compacting of the plate sections. I 3. In a friction clutch driven plate, the combination of two substantially parallel axially spaced series of plate portions in concentric relation to one another, the plate portions of one jacent face of the attaching portions of the leafsprings 69, and the facing M is packed tightly against the adjacent face of the fingers ill-83 and 85. Here again, as in the other construction, it is preferred to bend the main body portion of each of the stampings 61 and 68 relative to the attaching portions so that the leaf-springs 59 are solidly engaged on opposite sides by the associated stampings' and the resulting clutch plate has a uniform thickness throughout the circumference of the facing portion.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims have been drawn with a view to covering all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim:

1. In a friction clutch driven plate, a mounting hub portion of relatively heavy sheet metal, and a peripheral portion comprising two parallel series of structurally independent plate sections of readily distortable, thin, resilient sheet metal concentrically arranged relative to the axis of said hub and mounted in slightly axially spaced relation to one another on the hub to turn therewith and projecting radially therefrom, the plate sections of one series having openings provided therein and the plate sections of the other series having portions in register with said openings andformed to fit freely in said openings, whereby the two series of plate sections are adapted to have the registering portions compacted into substantially coplanar relationship.

2. In a friction clutch driven plate, a mounting series having opening provided therein, and the plate portions of the other series having portions in register with said openings and adapted to fit freely therein, whereby the two series of plate portions are adapted to have the registering portions compacted into substantially coplanar relationship, and leaf springs interposed in the space between said plate portions to resist the compacting thereof.

4. In a friction clutch driven plate, the combination of two substantially parallel series of plate portions in concentric relation to one another, the plate portions of one series having openings provided therein and the plate portions of the other series having portions in register with said openings and adapted to fit freely therein, whereby the two series of plate portions are adapted to have the registering portions compacted into substantially coplanar relationship.

5. In a friction clutch driven plate, the combination of two substantially parallel axially spaced series of plate portions in concentric relation to one another, the plate portions of one series having openings provided therein, and the plate portions of the other series having portions in register with said openings'and adapted to fit freely therein, whereby the two series of plate portions are adapted to have the registering portions compacted into substantially coplanar relationship, leaf springs interposed in the space between said plate portions to resist the compacting thereof, friction'facing material on the outer faces of said plate portions, and means for fastening the material to the portions so as to secure the leaf springs in assembled position between the plate portions.

6. In a friction clutch driven plate, the com bination of two substantially parallel series of plate portions in concentric relation to one another, the plate portions of one series having openings provided therein and the plate portions of the other series having portions in register with said openings and adapted to fit freely therein, whereby the two series of plate portions are adapted to have the registering portions compacted into substantially coplanar relationship, flat leaf springs disposed in approximate parallelism with the plate portions of the two series and between said series and supported on the plate portions of the one series so as to be flexed between the plate portions of the two series to resist compacting thereof, rings of friction facing material abutting the outer faces of said plate portions, means for securing one of said rings to the one series of plate portions, and means for securing the other of said rings to the other series of plate portions, one of the two last mentioned means serving to secure the leaf springs to the one series of plate sections.

7. In a friction clutch driven plate, the combination of two substantially parallel series of plate portions in concentric relation to one another, the plate portions of one series having openings provided therein and the plate portions of the other series having portion in register with said openings and adapted to fit freely therein, whereby the two series of plate portions are adapted to have the registering portions compflcted into substantially coplanar relationship, fiat leaf springs disposedin approximate parallelism with the plate portions of the two series and between said series and supported on the plate portions of the one series so as to be flexed between the plate portions of the two series to resist compacting thereof, rings of friction facing material abutting the outer faces of said plate portions, rivets extending through one of said rings and the plate portion of one series to fasten the ring thereto, said rivets having the heads on the inner ends thereof lying between the leaf springs and of a' thickness no greater than the thickness of said leaf springs so as not to interfere with close compacting of the plate portions, and rivets extending through the leafsprings and the other plate portions and other ring facing material to fasten the leaf springs and ring to said plate portions, said'rivets having the heads on the inner ends thereof countersunk so as not to protrude from-the plane of the leaf springs, whereby to permit close compacting of the plate portions. I

8. In a friction clutch driven plate, the combination of two substantially parallel series of plate portions in concentric relation to one another, the plate portions of one series having generally U-shaped openings provided therein, and the plate portions of the other series having generally U-shaped portions in register with said openings and adapted to fit freely therein, whereby the two series of plate portions are adapted to have the registering portions compacted into substantially coplanar relationship, and leaf springs mounted on the. arms of the U-shaped portion of the last named plate portions in transverse relation thereto with the opposite ends disposed in overlapping relation to. the other plate portions on opposite sides of the openings to re-' sist, compacting of the plate portions.

9.. In a friction clutch driven plate, the combination of two substantially parallel series of plate portions in concentric relation to one. another, the plate portions of one series having generally T-shaped openings provided therein, and the plate portions of the other series having generally T-shaped portions in register with said openings and adapted to fit freely therein, whereby the two series of plate portions are adapted to have the registering portions compacted into substantially coplanar relationship, and leaf springs mounted on the arms of the T-shaped portions of. the. last named plate portions in transverse relation thereto with the opposite ends disposed in overlapping relation to the other plate portions onopposite sides of the openings to resist compacting of the. plate portions.

10. In a friction clutch driven plate, the combination of twosubstantially parallel series. of plate portions inconcentric relation to one another, the plate portions of one series having generall T-shaped openings provided therein, and the plate portions of the other series having generally T-s-haped portions in register with said openings and adapted to fit freely therein, whereby the two series of plate portions are adapted to have the registering portions compacted into substantially coplanar relationship, springs mounted on the arms of the T-shaped portions of' the last named plate portions in trans-.

verse relation thereto with the opposite ends disposed in overlapping relation to the other plate portions on opposite sides of the openings toresist compacting of the plate portions, one end of one f each pair of associated leaf springs extending yond the adjacent end of the plate portion overlapped thereby and overlapping the adjacent end of the next plate portion of the same series of plate portions.

11. In a friction clutch driven plate, a mounting hub portion of relatively heavy sheet metal, and a peripheral portion comprising two parallel series of structurally independent plate sections of readily distortable, thin, resilient sheet metal concentrically arranged relative to the axis of said hub and mounted on the hub to turn therewith and projecting radially therefrom, the plate sections of one series having openings provided thereinand the plate sections of the other series having portions in register with said openings and formed to fit freely in said openings, whereby the two series of plate sections are adapted to have the registering portions compacted into substantially coplanar relationship, and leaf springs interposed between said plate sections to resist the compacting thereof.

12. In a friction clutch driven plate, a mounting. hub portion of relatively heavy sheet metal, and a peripheral portion comprising two parallel series, of. structurally independent plate sections of readily distortable, thin, resilient sheet metal concentrically arranged relative to the axis of said hub and mounted on the hub to turn therewith and projecting radially therefrom, the plate sections. of one serieshaving openings provided therein and the plate sections of the other series havingportions in register with said openings and formed to fit freely in said openings, whereby the two series. of plate sections are adapted to have the registering portions compacted into, substantially coplanar relationship, and flat leaf springs disposed in approximate parallelism with the plate sections of the two series and between said series and supported on the plate sections of the one series so as to be flexed between the plate sections of the two series to resist compacting thereof. i

13; In a. frictionv clutch driven plate, a mounting hub portion of relatively heavy sheet metal, and a peripheral portion comprising two parallel series of structurally independent plate sections of readily distortable, thin, resilient sheet metal concentrically arranged relative to the axis of said huban'd mounted on the hubto turn there'- with and projecting radially therefrom, the plate sections of onev series having openings provided therein and the plate sections of the other series and leaf compacting thereof, "friction facing material-on the outer faces of said section and means for fastening the material to, the sections so as to secure the leaf, springs in assembled position between the plate sections. 1 a

14. In a friction clutch driven plate, a mounting hub portion of relatively heavy sheet metal, and a peripheral portion comprising two parallel series of structurally independent plate sections of readily distortable, thin,'resilient sheet metal concentrically arranged relative tothe axis of said hub and mounted on the hub to turn therewith and projecting radially therefrom, the plate sections of one series having openings provided therein and the plate sections of the other series having portions in register with said openings and formed to fit freely in said openings, whereby the two series of plate sections are adapted to have the-registering portions compacted into substantially coplanar relationship, flat leaf springs disposed in approximate parallelism with the plate sections of the two series-.and' bet ween said series and supported on the plate sections of the one series so as to be flexed between the plate sections of the two series, to resist com pacting thereof, rings of friction facing material abutting the outer faces of said plate sections, means for securing one of said rings to the-one series of plate sections, and means for securing the other of said rings to the other series, of

plate sections, one of the two last mentioned means serving to secure the leaf springs to the one series of plate sections.

15. In a friction clutch driven plate, the combination of a hub member, two substantiallyparallel series of plate sections inconcentric relation to one another circumferentially with respect to the hub member, thinspacers between the radially inner portions of the platesections normally maintaining said plate sections in slightly axially spaced relation to one another, means for securing the radially inner portions of said plate sections and said spacers tothe'hub mem her, the plate sections of one serieshaving openings provided therein and the plate sections ,of the other series having portions'inregister'with said openings and adaptedetolfit -freely therein, whereby the two series ,of'plate sections are adapted to have the registering portions cornpacted into substantially coplanar-relationship, and thin flat and normally straight leaf springs interposed in the space between the plate sections in approximate parallelism therewith and arranged to be flexed when the registering portions of the plate sections are compacted into substantially coplanar relationship, whereby tore sist the compacting thereof,

16. In a friction clutch driven plate, the combination of a hub member, two substantially parallel series of plate sections in, concentric relation to one another circumferentially with respect to the hub member, said plate sections being mounted onthe hub member so that the radially outer portions thereof are in slightly axially'spaced relation to one another, the plate sections of one series having openings provided therein and the plate sections of the other series having portions in register with said openings and adapted to fit freely therein, whereby the two series of plate sections are adapted to have the registering portions compacted into substantially coplanar relationship, and .,thin, flatnand normally straight leaf springs interposedv in the space between the plate sections in approximate parallelism therewith and arranged to be;;flexed when, the registering'portions .of, the plate-sec.- tions are compacted into substantially coplanar relationship, whereby to resist the compacting thereof.

1'7. In a friction clutch driven plate, thecombination of two parallel series of plate sections concentrically arranged relative to the axis of rotation and mounted in slightly axially spaced relation to one another, the plate sections of one series having portions in circumferentially spaced relation adapted to receive in the spaces there,- between portions of the plate sectionsofthe other series permitting said portions to rest in coplanar relation, whereby the two series of plate sections are adapted to be compacted toward coplanar relationship.

18, In a friction clutch driven plate, the combination of two parallel axially spaced series of 7 said plate sections in overlapping relation to the circumferentially spaced portionstoresist ,the compacting of said plate sections. f

19. In a friction clutch driven plate ythe combination of two parallel axially spaced series of plate sections concentrically arranged relativeto the axis of rotation, the plate sectionsof one series having portions in circumferentially spaced relation adapted to receive in the spaces therebetweenportions of the plate sections of the other series permitting said portions to rest in coplanar relation, whereby the two series of plate sections are adapted to be compacted towardcoplanar relationship, and flat leaf springs that are normally straight and disposed in approximate parallelism with the plate sections of the two series and between said series and supported on the plate sections in overlapping relation ,to the circumferentially spaced portions so as to be flexed to bowed form between the plate sections of the two series in the compacting operation to resist compacting thereof.

20. In a friction clutch driven plate, the), on bination of two parallel seriesjof' plate sections concentrically'arranged relative to the axis of;:ro'- tation and mounted in slightly axially spaced relation to one another, the plate sections'of one series having portions in circurnferentiallyfspaced relation adapted to receive the spacesjt between portions of the plate sectionsio other series permitting said 'portionsto' re coplanar relation, wherebythe tw series of .plate sections areadapted to be compactd toward 0'-' planar relationship, friction facing mate'rialt' 1'- nularlyapplied to the outer faces of said plate sections, and spring means in the spa'ce 'between the plate sections and engaging the 'innr'faces thereof toresist compacting of the plate '0- tions. 7 1 "1 w- QEN?"

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