Systems and apparatuses for articulating float arms of a harvester header between a flexible configuration and a rigid configuration are disclosed. The systems and apparatuses include a locking tube that experiences no torque or approximately no torque when the float arms are in the rigid configuration. Further, the systems and apparatuses also avoid adjustments to ensure that float arms are fully retracted, such as into abutting contact with another portion of a header.

A friction clutch mechanism includes a diaphragm spring, a pressure plate having a peripheral fulcrum acting against a first face of the diaphragm spring, and a pair of axially opposed intermediate fulcrums supported by a clutch cover and acting on the opposite faces of the diaphragm spring along a radially intermediate portion thereof. The friction clutch mechanism has an additional elastic element, operatively associated with a first intermediate fulcrum of the pair of axially opposed intermediate fulcrums, and axially and elastically compressible in response to a deflection of the diaphragm spring towards an open friction condition. The additional elastic element has a radially innermost annular portion resting on one or more bearing surfaces supported by the clutch cover, and a radially outermost annular portion that cantilevers and has a protrusion circumferentially extended and axially projecting towards the first face of the diaphragm spring to serve as the first intermediate fulcrum.

A self-adjusting clutch mechanism has a pressure plate, a wear compensation plate, a wear sensor adjusting plate, a wear sensor, a clutch cover, a first screw thread, and a second screw thread. The mechanism on the clutch pressure plate can keep clutch pedal load and clutch clamp load constant.

A clutch (100) having: a fixed hub (201), a movable hub (202), a plurality of discs (204). The fixed hub (201) and the movable hub (202) axially slide, getting farther or closer so as to transmit a variable axial load onto the discs (204). The clutch (100) has a pressure plate assembly (208) including a centrifugal assembly (210), having: a rotatable mass holder (211) and a plurality of mass elements (212) radially disposed. Each mass element (212) has a pivot (301) and is configured for a displacement (1002) by pivoting under centrifugal effects. The mass elements (212) are configured for bringing the movable hub (202) closer to the fixed hub (201), so as to increase the variable axial load and allowing the clutch (100) (automatic) engagement. Each mass element (212) has a main body (302) and a column element (303) which connects the pivot (301) with the main body (302).

Systems and apparatuses for articulating float arms of a harvester header between a flexible configuration and a rigid configuration are disclosed. The systems and apparatuses include a locking tube that experiences no torque or approximately no torque when the float arms are in the rigid configuration. Further, the systems and apparatuses also avoid adjustments to ensure that float arms are fully retracted, such as into abutting contact with another portion of a header.

A clutch assembly includes a clutch disc configured to engage a prime mover, a pressure plate having a clutch biasing element, and a clutch engagement member structured to couple to a clutch actuation element at an engagement position. The clutch adjustment member maintains a consistent engagement position as a face of the clutch disc experiences wear.

A clutch cover for a friction clutch and a friction clutch, where the clutch cover forms a ring wall and the ring wall forms a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending plates having each a radially outer end. The ring wall also form two or more concentric annular stiffening bands extending at a radial distance from one another and including an innermost annular stiffening band. The ring wall also forms an outermost annular stiffening band, wherein the annular stiffening bands connect the radial plates to each other and having each a radial thickness that is smaller than the radial distance therebetween measured in intermediate regions of the ring wall between respectively two successive radial plates. A plurality of circumferentially spaced drive members of the friction clutch protrude axially from or can be screw connected to said radially outer ends of the radial plates.

The present invention includes a position restriction structure disposed in a space between an auxiliary cover casing and a diaphragm spring and having a body part fixed to the auxiliary cover casing, a mounting part extending in a circumferential direction from the body part and coupled to the auxiliary cover casing, a first protrusion protruding in an axial direction from the body part toward an incision groove of the diaphragm spring and inserted into the incision groove to restrict movement in the radial direction and a second protrusion protruding in the axial direction from the body part toward the incision groove of the diaphragm spring and inserted into the incision groove to restrict movement in the rotational direction. The position restriction structure is installed on the auxiliary cover casing and restrains the movement in the radial and rotational directions of the diaphragm spring.

A friction clutch mechanism includes a diaphragm spring, a pressure plate having a peripheral fulcrum acting against a first face of the diaphragm spring, and a pair of axially opposed intermediate fulcrums supported by a clutch cover and acting on the opposite faces of the diaphragm spring along a radially intermediate portion thereof. The friction clutch mechanism has an additional elastic element, operatively associated with a first intermediate fulcrum of the pair of axially opposed intermediate fulcrums, and axially and elastically compressible in response to a deflection of the diaphragm spring towards an open friction condition. The additional elastic element has a radially innermost annular portion resting on one or more bearing surfaces supported by the clutch cover, and a radially outermost annular portion that cantilevers and has a protrusion circumferentially extended and axially projecting towards the first face of the diaphragm spring to serve as the first intermediate fulcrum.

A clutch cover for a friction clutch and a friction clutch, where the clutch cover forms a ring wall and the ring wall forms a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending plates having each a radially outer end. The ring wall also form two or more concentric annular stiffening bands extending at a radial distance from one another and including an innermost annular stiffening band. The ring wall also forms an outermost annular stiffening band, wherein the annular stiffening bands connect the radial plates to each other and having each a radial thickness that is smaller than the radial distance therebetween measured in intermediate regions of the ring wall between respectively two successive radial plates. A plurality of circumferentially spaced drive members of the friction clutch protrude axially from or can be screw connected to said radially outer ends of the radial plates.