Fluid clutch

Details Fluid clutch Fluid clutch

1988-10-24

1991-01-08

Lorence, Richard

192 clutches and power-stop control

Clutches

Operators

192 88A, F16D 250635, F16D 2504

Patent

active

049828240

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a fluid clutch such as an air clutch in which a pneumatic actuator is applied to a clutch disc.


BACKGROUND ART

A conventionally known ordinary air clutch has a structure as illustrated in FIG. 4.
In FIG. 4 an automotive air clutch is applied to a flywheel 10. A clutch cover 12 is secured to flywheel 10, and a pressing force generated by an annular pneumatic actuator 14 in clutch cover 12 is transmitted to pressure plate 16 so as to press and hold in clutch disc 18 in between the pressure plate 16 and the flywheel 10.
The clutch disc spline fits onto an input shaft 20 of a transmission (not shown) disposed at a rear stage of the air clutch. A cylindrical shaft 24 fits onto an outer periphery of the input shaft 20 through a bushing 22. The clutch cover 12 fits onto a right end in the figure of the cylindrical shaft 24.
A right end of the cylindrical shaft 24, as viewed in FIG. 4, is surrounded by a cover 26. Chamber 28 is formed inside of the cover 26. Two air seals 30a & 30b are installed between the cover 26 and the cylindrical shaft 24, to prevent air leakage described later in details.
A control valve 32, operated by a clutch pedal 31, is interconnected to the cover 26 so that compressed air, flowing from a compressor 34 through a pressure regulator valve 36 by means of control of the control valve 32 (inching valve), is passed through a chamber 38 provided between the air seals 30a and 30b and through an inlet port 40 of the cylindrical shaft 24 to a passage 42. An outlet port 44 is interconnected to a left end of the passage 42, and the outlet port 44 is interconnected through a passage 46 formed in a thick wall of the clutch cover 12 to an air chamber 48 of the pneumatic actuator 14.
Such conventional embodiment includes problems in that its construction is complicated and the clutch disc 18 is difficult to disengage from the pressure surface of the flywheel 10 and a sharp disengagement of clutch can not be obtained.
An object of the invention is to solve the above problems and to provide a fluid clutch for carrying out clutch engagement/disengagement operation with a pneumatic actuator at the clutch disc.


DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a fluid clutch, in which an annular plate facing the flywheel to which an engine power is transmitted is secured to the flywheel with a specified distance left therebetween, a clutch disc coupled to an output shaft is positioned between the flywheel and the annular plate, and an actuator is disposed at an outer peripheral part of the clutch disc, and is expanded or contracted by means of a circulation of fluid so as to engage two friction facings with or disengage such friction facings from the flywheel and the annular plate. The friction facings are therefore engaged with or disengaged from the flywheel and the annular plate by means of the expansion or the contraction of the pneumatic actuator.
A mechanism for sliding the pressure plate by a pneumatic force of the actuator becomes unnecessary so that the construction of clutch becomes simple.
At the time of clutch disengagement, because the actuator is contracted by a spring force of a return spring to cause the friction facings to be disengaged from pressure surfaces possible contact of one side of the clutch disc (FIG. 4) with the flywheel 10 is eliminated.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an air clutch showing an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 and
FIG. 3 are vertical sectional views of essential parts of another embodiments.
FIG. 4 is a schematic structural view of conventional embodiment.


BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, showing one embodiment the air clutch according to the present invention, flywheel 50 is connected to a rear end of the crank shaft of an engine not shown. Ring gear 51 is welded to an outer peripheral part of the flywheel 50. Annular plate 53 is secured by bolts 53b to a rear end face of a peripheral edge 52 formed over the entire circumference of the outer

REFERENCES:
patent: 1564717 (1925-12-01), Scruby et al.
patent: 2106472 (1938-01-01), Aikman
patent: 2621769 (1952-12-01), Cardwell et al.
patent: 2765061 (1956-10-01), Fawick
patent: 2805744 (1957-09-01), Cardwell et al.
patent: 2941642 (1960-06-01), Smoll
patent: 3326344 (1967-06-01), Hackforth
patent: 3651909 (1972-03-01), Zautaszwili
patent: 3750787 (1973-08-01), Link
patent: 4335808 (1982-06-01), Johnson

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