A power transmission device has an interlocking member 9 moving a pressure member 5 from an inactive position to an active position. A release spring (m) applies an urging force, while allowing movements of the interlocking member 9 and the pressure member 5, until drive-side clutch plates 6 and driven-side clutch plates 7 reach an engaged state before the drive-side clutch plates 6 and the driven-side clutch plates 7 are pressed against each other. A clutch spring 11 is compressed in a process where the interlocking member 9 moves after the drive-side clutch plates 6 and the driven-side clutch plates 7 have reached the engaged state. The clutch spring applying a press-contact force between the drive-side clutch plates 6 and the driven-side clutch plates 7 while allowing movements of the interlocking member 9 and the pressure member 5. The set load of the clutch spring 11 is set to be smaller than the maximum load of the release spring (m).

A power transmission device has an interlocking member 9 moving a pressure member 5 from an inactive position to an active position. A release spring (m) applies an urging force, while allowing movements of the interlocking member 9 and the pressure member 5, until drive-side clutch plates 6 and driven-side clutch plates 7 reach an engaged state before the drive-side clutch plates 6 and the driven-side clutch plates 7 are pressed against each other. A clutch spring 11 is compressed in a process where the interlocking member 9 moves after the drive-side clutch plates 6 and the driven-side clutch plates 7 have reached the engaged state. The clutch spring applying a press-contact force between the drive-side clutch plates 6 and the driven-side clutch plates 7 while allowing movements of the interlocking member 9 and the pressure member 5. The set load of the clutch spring 11 is set to be smaller than the maximum load of the release spring (m).

A clutch having: a fixed hub, a movable hub, and a plurality of plates interposed to selectively transmit a torque. The clutch has a centrifugal pressure plate assembly having: a mass carrier; a plurality of radially movable mass elements, in which each mass element has a pivot connected to the mass carrier for displacement towards an external position under centrifugal effects; wherein the mass elements are further configured to exert axial thrust on a thrust surface of the centrifugal pressure plate assembly, to bring the movable hub closer to the fixed hub and increase the variable axial load. Each mass element has at least one respective rolling element in contact with the thrust surface. The thrust surface has a profile that is sloped and raised towards the external position.

During movement of a mass of a centrifugal clutch a radially inner position to a radially outer position and a resulting increase in torque transmitted from an input gear to an output shaft, a power transmission apparatus includes a first torque region where the apparatus restricts operation of a pressing assist cam and a second torque region where the apparatus allows operation of the pressing assist cam.

During movement of a mass of a centrifugal clutch a radially inner position to a radially outer position and a resulting increase in torque transmitted from an input gear to an output shaft, a power transmission apparatus includes a first torque region where the apparatus restricts operation of a pressing assist cam and a second torque region where the apparatus allows operation of the pressing assist cam.

Friction clutch pressure plate device 11 which is provided between spring device 12 and clutch disc unit 4 of friction clutch 1 comprises primary pressure plate 19, secondary pressure plate 22 which is capable of approaching and receding from primary pressure plate 19, and a plurality of weight plates 23 which are slidably arranged between mutually opposed side faces 19a, 22a of primary pressure plate 19 and secondary pressure plate 22. Primary pressure plate 19 comprises first outer circumferential wall 25 having inclined inner wall face 24, secondary pressure plate 22 comprises second outer circumferential wall 28 having perpendicular inner wall face 27, and weight plate 23 comprises tip portion engaging surface that engages with perpendicular inner wall face 27 and a tip portion inclined surface 32 that engages with inclined inner wall face 24.

During movement of a mass of a centrifugal clutch a radially inner position to a radially outer position and a resulting increase in torque transmitted from an input gear to an output shaft, a power transmission apparatus includes a first torque region where the apparatus restricts operation of a pressing assist cam and a second torque region where the apparatus allows operation of the pressing assist cam.

A power transmission device has a first clutch member 4a coupled to an output member 3. A second clutch member 4b has a plurality of driven-side clutch plates 7. A back-torque transmitting cam presses the drive-side clutch plates 6 and the driven-side clutch plates 7 against each other by moving the second clutch member 4b when a rotational force is input to the first clutch member 4a. A cushioning member 12 is interposed between the first clutch member 4a and the second clutch member 4b. The cushioning member 12, by being compressed, applies an urging force while allowing movements of an interlocking member 9 and a pressure member 5 in a process where the interlocking member 9 moves and the pressure member 5 moves from the inactive position toward the active position.

A power transmission device has a first clutch member 4a coupled to an output member 3. A second clutch member 4b has a plurality of driven-side clutch plates 7. A back-torque transmitting cam presses the drive-side clutch plates 6 and the driven-side clutch plates 7 against each other by moving the second clutch member 4b when a rotational force is input to the first clutch member 4a. A cushioning member 12 is interposed between the first clutch member 4a and the second clutch member 4b. The cushioning member 12, by being compressed, applies an urging force while allowing movements of an interlocking member 9 and a pressure member 5 in a process where the interlocking member 9 moves and the pressure member 5 moves from the inactive position toward the active position.

A power transmission device has a first pressure member (5a), a second pressure member (5b) and a back-torque transmitting cam. The first pressure member (5a) presses the drive-side clutch plates (6) and the driven-side clutch plates (7) against each other. The second pressure member (5b) releases a press-contact force between the drive-side clutch plates (6) and the driven-side clutch plates (7). The back-torque transmitting cam moves the second pressure member (5b) relative to the first pressure member (5a) to keep pressing the drive-side clutch plates (6) and the driven-side clutch plates (7) against each other when a rotational force is input to the clutch member (4), via the output shaft (3), in a process where the weight member (8) moves from the radially-outer position to the radially-inner position and the first pressure member (5a) moves to follow the interlocking member (9).