Diaphragm spring clutch assembly

Claim 2

A diaphragm spring for a friction clutch said diaphragm spring (28) having an outer imperforate rim and fingers (34) which extend radially inwardly therefrom and which, at their radially inner ends, form a radially inner portion (41) defining a central aperture (44) wherein the improvement comprises at least one finger (34) being deformed so that parts (70,72) or (76, 78) of the radially inner end of said one finger are axially spaced apart a distance such that the overall width ''''W'''' of said one finger and thus said radially inner portion is wider axially than the thickness ''''T'''' of the material of which the spring is made so as to be capable of bearing simultaneously with spring pressure on opposite sides (50, 52) of a groove (46) in a thrust means (30) to prevent relative vibration between the diaphragm spring and the thrust means at least when the clutch is in an engaged position.

Claim 3

A diaphragm spring according to claim 1 wherein the improvement comprises the said one finger (34) being deformed about a radial axis thereof so that substantially opposite radial edges (70,72) of said one finger are axially spaced apart to afford the width ''''W.''''

Claim 4

A diaphragm spring according to claim 1 wherein the improvement comprises the said one finger (34) being deformed and of channel shape in cross section so that substantially radial edges (76) of said one finger are axially spaced from a part (78) of said one finger disposed circumferentially between said radial edges to afford the width ''''W.''''

Claim 5

A unit for a friction clutch comprising a diaphragm spring (28) having an outer imperforate rim and fingers (34) which extend radially inwardly therefrom and which, at their radially inner ends, form a radially inner portion defining a central aperture (44) and a thrust means (30) which is disposed in said central aperture and is engaged by the radially inner ends of said fingers wherein the improvement comprises at least one finger (34) being deformed so that the overall width ''''W'''' of said radially inner portion is wider axially than the thickness ''''T'''' of the material of which said spring is made and a continuous annular groove (46) is formed in the thrust means and affords two axially spaced apart rigid shoulders (50,52) which are spaced apart a fixed distance greater than the thickness ''''T'''' and said one finger at least and the remaining fingers bear with spring pressure simultaneously on said rigid shoulders at poSitions which, on the respective shoulders, are in common planes, to prevent relative vibration between the diaphragm spring and the thrust means at least when the clutch is in an engaged position.

Claim 6

A unit for a friction clutch comprising a diaphragm spring (28) having an outer imperforate rim and fingers (34) which extend radially inwardly therefrom and which, at their radially inner ends, form a radially inner portion defining a central aperture (44) and a thrust means (30) which is disposed in said central aperture and is engaged by the radially inner ends of said fingers wherein the improvement comprises at least one finger (34) being deformed so that the overall width ''''W'''' of said radially inner portion is wider axially than the thickness ''''T'''' of the material of which said spring is made and a continuous annular groove (46) is formed in the thrust means and affords two axially spaced apart rigid shoulders (50,52) which are spaced apart a fixed distance greater than the thickness ''''T'''' and said one finger at least and the remaining fingers bear with spring pressure simultaneously on said rigid shoulders at poSitions which, on the respective shoulders, are in common planes, to prevent relative vibration between the diaphragm spring and the thrust means at least when the clutch is in an engaged position.

Claim 7

A unit for a friction clutch according to claim 4 wherein the improvement comprises the said one finger (34) being deformed about a radial axis thereof so that substantially opposite radial edges (70,72) of said one finger are axially spaced apart to afford the width ''''W,'''' said opposite radial edges bearing with spring pressure simultaneously on the spaced apart rigid shoulders (50,52) of the continuous groove at least when the clutch is in an engaged position.

Claim 8

A unit for a friction clutch according to claim 4 wherein the improvement comprises the said one finger (34) being deformed and of channel shape in cross section so that substantially radial edges (76) of said one finger are axially spaced from a part (78) of the finger disposed circumferentially between said radial edges to afford the width ''''W,'''' said substantially radial edges (76) and the part (78) disposed circumferentially therebetween bearing with spring pressure simultaneously on the spaced apart rigid shoulders (50,52) of the continuous groove at least when the clutch is in an engaged position.

Claim 9

A friction clutch assembly wherein the improvement comprises a unit according to claim 4, a cover (22) supporting a fulcrum (40) for the diaphragm spring between the radially inner portion (41) and the outer imperforate rim of said spring and a pressure plate (24) with which said outer imperforate rim of the spring cooperates to move said pressure plate axially.

Claim 10

A friction clutch assembly wherein the improvement comprises a unit according to claim 5, a cover (22) supporting a fulcrum (40) for the diaphragm spring between the radially inner portion (41) and the outer imperforate rim of said spring and a pressure plate (24) with which said outer imperforate rim of the spring cooperates to move said pressure plate axially.

Claim 11

A friction clutch assembly wherein the improvement comprises a unit according to claim 6, a cover (22) supporting a fulcrum (40) for the diaphragm spring between the radially inner portion (41) and the outer imperforate rim of said spring and a pressure plate (24) with which said outer imperforate rim of the spring cooperates to move said pressure plate axially.

Claim 12

A friction clutch wherein the improvement comprises a friction clutch assembly according to claim 7, of which the cover (22) is secured to a driving plate (20) and a driven plate (26) is disposed between the driving plate (20) and the pressure plate (24).

Claim 13

A friction clutch wherein the improvement comprises a friction clutch assembly according to claim 8 of which the cover (22) is secured to a driving plate (20) and a driven plate (26) is disposed between the driving plate (20) and the pressure plate (24).

Claim 14

A friction clutch wherein the improvement comprises a friction clutch assembly according to claim 9 of which the cover (22) is secured to a driving plate (20) and a driven plate (26) is disposed between the driving plate (20) and the pressure plate (24).