Lighting – Light source – Candle
Reissue Patent
1999-12-08
2002-04-30
Taylor, Robin V. (Department: 2911)
Lighting
Light source
Candle
Reissue Patent
active
RE037672
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a clutch cover assembly, particularly to a clutch cover assembly with a mechanism for keeping a pressing load constant by compensating for the wear on the friction members.
A clutch cover assembly is, generally, fixed to a flywheel of the engine and presses friction members of the clutch disc assembly against the flywheel in order to transmit the power of the engine to the transmission. Excessive wear on the friction members shortens the lives of the clutch disc assembly and the clutch disc assembly. It is possible to lengthen life of the clutch disc assembly by increasing effective thickness of friction members. For example, by attaching facings to the cushioning plate without using rivets.
The clutch cover assembly disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 27092/1998 maintains the pressing load of the diaphragm spring at its initial value as facings wear. This clutch cover assembly is shown in FIG.
10
and has a pressure plate
151
formed with an annular groove
152
in which a diaphragm spring posture maintenance mechanism
153
is arranged. The mechanism
153
comprises both an outer fulcrum ring
155
and an inner fulcrum ring
156
against which the outer periphery of the diaphragm spring
154
presses, slide keys
157
and
158
located between the fulcrum rings
155
and
156
, and the grooved pressure plate. Both slide keys
157
and
158
are formed with an inclined surface such that axial height deceases radially outward. The fulcrum rings
155
and
156
are formed with inclined surfaces conforming to the inclined surfaces of the slide keys
157
and
58
. The slide keys
157
and
158
are urged radially outward by springs
159
and
160
, respectively.
The inner fulcrum ring
156
is moved toward the diaphragm spring
154
by the spring
160
and the slide keys
158
as facings
161
wear. Upon release, both fulcrums
155
and
156
move in concert, thus the posture of the diaphragm spring
154
and the pressing load of the diaphragm spring
154
is maintained at the initial value.
In the above-mentioned structure, it is necessary to form the groove
152
in the lateral surface of the pressure plate
151
to contain the spring posture maintenance mechanism
153
. The groove
152
is difficult to fashion, deviation thus complicating accurate and correspondent movement of the fulcrum rings
155
and
156
, affecting amount of wear on the facings
161
. Therefore, design requirements make it difficult to maintain the initial pressing load of the diaphragm spring
154
.
The above-mentioned structure is further affected when the engine rotation speed rises, applying centrifugal force to the slide keys
157
and
158
, thus making the slide keys move radially outward. In this case, even though the facings
161
are not worn, the slide keys
157
and
158
move so as to move the fulcrum rings
155
and
156
axially. As a result, it is impossible to maintain the posture of the initial pressing load of the diaphragm spring
154
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to maintain the initial pressing load of the pressing member by compensating for displacement due to wear on friction members.
A clutch cover assembly according to an aspect of the present invention for urging friction members connected to an output member against an input rotation member and for releasing urging on the friction members. The clutch cover assembly comprises a clutch cover, a pressure plate, a pressing member, a support mechanism, and a movement regulation mechanism. The clutch cover is fixed to the input rotation member. The pressure plate is located within the clutch cover for pressing the friction members. The pressing member presses the pressure plate toward the friction members. The support mechanism, movable toward the friction members, supports the pressing member. The movement regulation mechanism moves the support mechanism toward the friction members according to the wear of the friction members.
In this clutch cover assembly, the pressing member is supported by the support mechanism and presses the pressure plate toward the friction members so that the friction members are sandwiched between the input rotation member and the pressure plate, whereby the power is transmitted from the input rotation member to the output member.
When the friction members are worn, the movement regulation mechanism moves the support mechanism toward the friction members to that the initial pressing posture and the initial pressing load of the pressing members are maintained. It is possible to maintain the initial pressing load correctly since the pressing posture of the pressing member is maintained by moving the pressing member toward the friction members. It is precise and of simple structure.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2584563 (1952-02-01), Duncan
patent: 3434789 (1969-03-01), Haller
patent: 3790332 (1974-02-01), Woollard
patent: D231135 (1974-04-01), Marcum
patent: 4035138 (1977-07-01), Walters
patent: 4110066 (1978-08-01), Murphy
patent: D290208 (1987-06-01), Hlava et al.
patent: D371713 (1996-07-01), Credle
Emkay Candle Wonderland, Item #605 Christmas Toddy Mug, page 5, Mar. 1968.*
American Candle Co. Inc., #WS-299 Beer Stein Lite-Scented, Aug. 1966.*
Monongah Glass Co., #5247, Saucer Champagne, page 113, Apr. 1920.*
Monongah Glass Co., #7806 Confection Stand, page 257, Apr. 1920.*
Monongh Glass Co., #8902 Tumbler, page 172, Apr. 1920.*
Sales tag from “Clearfire De-Lite” candle product (from “Candle-lite, Lancaster Colony Company,” Cincinnati, OH 45242) (1995).
Bell Jeffrey
Zlotnik Stuart A.
Aromatic Technologies, Inc.
Smith LLP Reed
Taylor Robin V.
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