Friction disc clutch for vehicles

Claim 2

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles of the type which includes a flywheel secured to an engine drive shaft and having a peripheral annular flange, an annular inner edged clutch cover connected to the free end face of said flange, a pressure plate with an annular circumferential edge mounted movably in said clutch cover, an annular dish spring supported at the outer and inner circumferences thereof respectively by said annular circumferential edge of said pressure plate and the annular inner edge of said clutch cover, and a clutch disc mounted displaceably on an output shaft and positioned between said flywheel and said pressure plate, said clutch disc providing frictional driving engagement between said drive shaft and said output shaft when pressed between said flywheel and said pressure plate by means of the resilient force of said dish spring, wherein the improvement comprises a guide bearing assembly mounted on said drive shaft adjacent the end of the output shaft and having an inner race receiving said end of the output shaft, and torque-transmitting resilient means positioned between said inner race and said clutch disc, said resilient means being normally prestressed by said dish spring and having a release strength to generate thrusting force sufficient to cause said clutch disc to disengage from said flywheel, said thrusting force having a predetermined value less than said resilient force of the dish spring in clutching operation.

Claim 3

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 1, wherein the clutch disc includes a clutch plate and said resilient means Is positioned between a side face of the inner race of said guide bearing and the adjacent face of the clutch plate of said clutch disc.

Claim 4

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 1, wherein the clutch disc has a central hub and said resilient means is positioned between a side face of the inner race of said guide bearing and the adjacent side face of the central hub of said clutch disc.

Claim 5

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 1, wherein said resilient means is an annular truncated cone-shaped member made of rubber-like material, the small diameter annular edge portion of said member being in contact with the inner race of said guide bearing and the large diameter annular edge portion of said member being normally in contact with said clutch disc.

Claim 6

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 4, and an annular metal plate fixedly secured on the small diameter annular edge portion of said member.

Claim 7

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 4, and an annular adjusting shim interposed between the large diameter annular edge portion of said member and said clutch disc.

Claim 8

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 1, wherein said resilient means is a tapered coil spring.

Claim 9

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 7, and an annular adjusting shim interposed between the large diameter edge portion of said spring and said clutch disc.

Claim 10

In a friction disc clutch for motor vehicles of the type which includes a flywheel secured to an engine drive shaft and having a peripheral annular flange, and annular inner edged clutch cover connected to the free end face of said flange, a pressure plate with an annular circumferential edge mounted movably in said clutch cover, an annular dish spring supported at the outer and inner circumferences thereof respectively by said annular circumferential edge of said pressure plate and the annular inner edge of said clutch cover, and a clutch disc mounted displaceably on an output shaft and positioned between said flywheel and said pressure plate, said clutch disc providing frictional driving engagement between said drive shaft and said output shaft when pressed between said fly wheel and said pressure plate by means of the resilient force of said dish spring, the improvement comprising a guide bearing assembly mounted on the end of said drive shaft adjacent the end of the output shaft and having an inner race receiving said end of the output shaft, first and second substantially cylindrical members telescopically engaged with each other and positioned between said inner race and said clutch disc, means providing relative elastic sliding movement between said members and developing release thrusting force sufficient to disengage said clutch disc from said flywheel, said thrusting force having a predetermined value less than said resilient force of the dish spring in clutching operation.

Claim 11

In a friction disc clutch for motor vehicles of the type which includes a flywheel secured to an engine drive shaft and having a peripheral annular flange, and annular inner edged clutch cover connected to the free end face of said flange, a pressure plate with an annular circumferential edge mounted movably in said clutch cover, an annular dish spring supported at the outer and inner circumferences thereof respectively by said annular circumferential edge of said pressure plate and the annular inner edge of said clutch cover, and a clutch disc mounted displaceably on an output shaft and positioned between said flywheel and said pressure plate, said clutch disc providing frictional driving engagement between said drive shaft and said output shaft when pressed between said fly wheel and said pressure plate by means of the resilient force of said dish spring, the improvement comprising a guide bearing assembly mounted on the end of said drive shaft adjacent the end of the output shaft and having an inner race receiving said end of the output shaft, first and second substantially cylindrical members telescopically engaged with each other and positioned between said inner race and said clutch disc, means providing relative elastic sliding movement between said members and developing release thrusting force sufficient to disengage said clutch disc from said flywheel, said thrusting force having a predetermined value less than said resilient force of the dish spring in clutching operation.

Claim 12

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 9, wherein the clutch disc includes a clutch plate and wherein an end of one of said cylindrical members is in contact with a side face of the inner race of said guide bearing and the opposite end of the other cylindrical member is in contact with the inner face of said clutch plate of the clutch disc.

Claim 13

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 9, wherein the clutch disc has a central hub and wherein an end of one of said cylindrical members is in contact with a side face of the inner race of said guide bearing and the opposite end of the other cylindrical member is normally in contact with one side face of said hub of the clutch disc.

Claim 14

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 9, wherein said first cylindrical member has an annular groove formed therein and has an annular resilient member within said groove, said resilient member engaging the circumference of said second cylindrical meMber whereby to produce said release thrusting force for disengaging said clutch disc from said flywheel when said cylindrical members are telescoped toward each other in clutching operation.

Claim 15

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 9, wherein said second cylindrical member has an annular groove formed therein and has an annular resilient member within said groove, said resilient member being in contact with the inner circumferential portion of said first cylindrical member whereby to produce said release thrusting force for disengaging said clutch disc from said flywheel when said cylindrical members are telescoped toward each other in clutching operation.

Claim 16

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 12, wherein said annular resilient member has a square cross-section and one side of said groove is tapered, whereby to deform said resilient member for generating said release thrusting force to disengage said clutch disc from said flywheel in clutching operation, said thrusting force being predetermined to be smaller than said resilient force of said dish spring.

Claim 17

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 12, wherein said annular resilient member has an oblong cross-section.

Claim 18

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 12, wherein said annular resilient member has a circular cross-section.

Claim 19

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 9, wherein one of said cylindrical members is provided with an annular groove on the end thereof adjacent the clutch disc, and a resilient member positioned within said groove and being in contact with said clutch disc.

Claim 20

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 17, and an annular shim provided within said groove, whereby to compensate for any mismeasurements in fabrication.

Claim 21

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 17, wherein said resilient member has a square cross-section.

Claim 22

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 19, wherein annular indentations are provided on the inner sidewalls of said groove, whereby to compensate for any undesired deformation of said resilient member.

Claim 23

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 17, wherein said resilient member has a circular cross-section.

Claim 24

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 17, wherein said resilient member has a U-shaped cross-section, whereby to compensate for any deformation of said resilient member.

Claim 25

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 17, wherein said resilient member has an H-shaped cross-section, whereby to compensate for any deformation of said resilient member.

Claim 26

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 17, wherein said resilient member has a T-shaped cross-section, whereby to compensate for any deformation of said resilient member.

Claim 27

A friction disc clutch for motor vehicles as set forth in claim 17, wherein said resilient member is a coil spring.