192 clutches and power-stop control – Elements – Wear compensators
Patent
1985-09-05
1987-09-01
Friedman, Carl D.
192 clutches and power-stop control
Elements
Wear compensators
188196B, F16D 1100
Patent
active
046902627
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a clutch control cable which comprises a flexible movement-transmitting core within a flexible guiding conduit and which is associated with a self-adjustment device which allows automatic adjustment of the cable to take place to compensate for clutch wear.
As is well known, engine clutch control cables require periodic adjustment to compensate for clutch wear. In the absence of adjustment of the control cable, clutch wear will result in the clutch being held out of proper engagement by the cable when the clutch pedal or other actuating member reaches the end of its release movement. And in consequence the cable will then still be under some load, imposed by the clutch clamping spring. Over the course of the last decade, considerable research and design skills have been applied by automobile and automobile component manufacturers to the production of adjusters which allow the effective length of the cable to alter under any such residual loading so that the required adjustments take place automatically in course of the continuing use of the cable. As a result of these efforts a considerable variety of self-adjustment devices have been proposed, as is evident from the available patent literature (see e.g. United Kingdom Pat. Nos. 1181920 and 1411467; United Kingdom Patent Application Nos. 2 016 634A, 2 088 501A and 2 088 502A, and European Patent Application Nos. 0 030 494, 0 048 620 and 0 055 649).
Some prior art devices form a self-releasing coupling between the control cable and the clutch pedal (see the above mentioned United Kingdom Pat. Nos. 1181920, 1411467 and 1235083). According to more recent proposals a self-adjustment device is provided as part of a self-adjusting cable unit and takes the form of an automatically releasing clamp for connecting the guiding conduit of the cable to some form of abutment. The clamp includes a component which is mechanically linked to the core of the cable so that such component becomes axially displaced during a first part of each depression of the clutch pedal from rest. That axial movement of the clamp component causes the clamp to close onto the conduit. At or near the end of the return, release stroke of the clutch pedal, the clamp opens, so allowing the adjacent part of the conduit to move axially, relative to the clamp, under any load which may then still be applied to the cable by the clutch clamping spring.
In some such known devices incorporating an automatically releasing conduit clamp, the axially displaceable clamp component is spring-loaded towards its closed condition and is forced into its release position at the end of the return stroke of the clutch pedal by an abutment secured to the core of the cable (see e.g. the aforementioned European Patent Application No. 0 030 494). In other such devices, the clamp component is connected to the core by a slip coupling and becomes displaced towards clamping position at the commencement of the clutch-disengaging stroke of the clutch pedal by force transmitted to such component from the core via that coupling (see International Application PCT/GB83/00225).
Although self-adjustment devices which function satisfactorily can be made on the basis of at least some of the previously proposed designs, they all necessitate the presence of one or more features which make the design incompatible with the fulfilment of cost, reliability and installation conditions which are sometimes required by vehicle manufacturers.
The present invention provides a clutch cable with a self-adjusting facility based on a new design principle which enables certain hitherto unfulfilled combinations of attributes to be achieved.
According to the present invention, there is provided an engine clutch control cable which comprises a flexible movement-transmitting core within a flexible guiding conduit and which is associated with a self-adjustment device comprising a clamp via which the conduit can be connected to an abutment for sustaining reaction load on the conduit, which clamp automatically closes and opens in depe
REFERENCES:
patent: 4344518 (1982-08-01), Gilmore
LandOfFree
Clutch control cable with auto-adjuster does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Clutch control cable with auto-adjuster, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Clutch control cable with auto-adjuster will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1259351