US PATENT SUBCLASS 192 / 70.11
.~.~ Interposed, mating clutch-elements

Current as of: June, 1999
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192 /   HD   CLUTCHES AND POWER-STOP CONTROL

30 R  DF  CLUTCHES {15}
66.1  DF  .~ Axially engaging {5}
70.11.~.~ Interposed, mating clutch-elements {10}
70.12  DF  .~.~.~> With means to cool or lubricate clutch parts
70.13  DF  .~.~.~> With removable or replaceable or interchangeable clutch parts
70.14  DF  .~.~.~> Including surface characteristics of clutch-element {1}
70.16  DF  .~.~.~> With torque connection between clutch-element and its shaft {2}
70.21  DF  .~.~.~> With means to move multiple clutch-elements axially and sequentially
70.22  DF  .~.~.~> With means to move clutch-element axially and latch into engaged or disengaged position
70.23  DF  .~.~.~> With cam or wedge contacting clutch-element or pressure plate for axial movement thereof {1}
70.25  DF  .~.~.~> With adjustable means to move clutch-element axially (e.g., to compensate for wear) {1}
70.27  DF  .~.~.~> With spring means to move clutch-element axially {2}
70.3  DF  .~.~.~> With actuator lever pivoted on pressure plate or back plate to move clutch-element axially

DEFINITION

Classification: 192/70.11

Device under subclasses 66.1+ having an input (i.e., driving) shaft and an output (i.e., driven) shaft rotatable about a

common axis and at least three members supported thereby in an array of adjacent members spaced along the axis and co-axial with the shafts, the outer of said members having surfaces facing opposite surfaces of one or more intermediate members; one of said members being constrained to rotate with one of the shafts, another of said members being constrained to rotate with the other of the shafts but being movable along the common axis, and a third of said members being movable along the common axis; the device also having means for moving said members toward one another for mutual engagement of the facing surfaces, whereby the input shaft transmits its rotation to the output shaft when the facing surfaces are mutually engaged.

(1) Note. In this and indented subclasses one clutch-element is connected to one of the shafts and is sandwiched between two other clutch-elements that are connected to the other shaft. In a variation of this arrangement a multiplicity (usually more than three) of clutch-elements is connected for rotation with one shaft and a multiplicity of clutch-elements is connected for rotation with the other shaft, the elements of one shaft alternating with the elements of the other shaft. The variation described is called a "multiple-element clutch-assemblage" in the definitions and notes of the subclasses indented hereunder.

(2) Note. The clutch-assemblage is usually enclosed by a "flywheel" and a "cover plate". A flywheel is a heavy component secured to the input shaft to stabilize rotational momentum thereof, and a cover plate (also known as a "back plate") also encloses a "pressure plate" (which is a component that, compared to a clutch-element, is relatively thick and heavy) and an actuator that urges the pressure plate towards clutch-elements lying between the pressure plate and the flywheel to effect engagement of the clutch-assemblage.

(3) Note. The term "shaft", as used in the definition above, is intended as the generic name of a torque-transmitting member which is referred to by a variety of names, including: shaft, flywheel (usually applied to the input of an automobile), pulley, gear, drum, hub, spindle, axle, sleeve, etc., the named terms being only exemplary of those used.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

188, Brakes,

71.5, for disclosure of rotationally-fixed elements interleaved between rotatable elements and axially moved to retard rotation of the rotatable elements.