SELF-ADJUSTING CLUTCH

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A self-adjusting mechanism in a clutch pressure plate comprising a pressure plate, a wear compensation plate, a wear sensor adjusting plate, a wear sensor, adjustment rollers, a mechanism cover, a diaphragm spring, a clutch cover, a strap, a disc spring/fulcrum ring, a clutch cover lug, a first screw thread and a second screw thread.

2. The self-adjusting mechanism in a clutch pressure plate of claim 1, wherein the wear sensor is mounted on the pressure plate from its pressure plate mounting surface and in contact with wear compensation plate, wear sensor adjusting plate and clutch cover lug from it's a contact surface.

3. The self-adjusting mechanism in a clutch pressure plate of claim 2, wherein the wear sensor moves with the pressure plate and the adjusting distance between wear sensor contact surface and its mounting surface increases as much as the total decrement in facing's thickness.

4. The self-adjusting mechanism in a clutch pressure plate of claim 1, wherein the wear sensor adjusting plate that relatively rotate by its kinetic energy depending on the change in engine speed and moves up by relatively rotating around the pressure plate via the first screw thread until re-setting contact again with the wear sensor surface to stop relative rotation.

5. The self-adjusting mechanism in a clutch pressure plate of claim 1, wherein the rollers provide one way rotation for the wear sensor adjusting plate by preventing the movement in the opposite direction.

6. The self-adjusting mechanism in a clutch pressure plate of claim 1, wherein the wear compensation plate maintains its initial position while being under diaphragm spring force.

7. The self-adjusting mechanism in a clutch pressure plate of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm spring force disappears on the wear compensation plate as a result of the force applied on the diaphragm spring by the clutch bearing.

8. The self-adjusting mechanism in a clutch pressure plate of claim 7, wherein the wear sensor plate relatively rotate by its kinetic energy depending on the change in engine speed and it moves up by relatively rotating around the pressure plate via the second screw thread until re-setting contact again with the wear sensor surface to stop relative rotation.

9. The self-adjusting mechanism in a clutch pressure plate of claim 7, the rollers provide one way rotation for wear compensation plate by preventing the movement in the opposite direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. (1) Self-Adjusting Clutch Section-1

[0011] FIG. (2) Self-Adjusting Clutch Section-2

[0012] FIG. (3) Pressure Plate

[0013] FIG. (4) Wear Compensation Plate

[0014] FIG. (5) Wear Sensor Adjusting Plate

[0015] FIG. (6) Wear Sensor

[0016] FIG. (7) Pressure Plate with Self-Adjusting Mechanism-1

[0017] FIG. (8) Pressure Plate with Self-Adjusting Mechanism-2

[0018] FIG. (9) Self-Adjusting Clutch

INDEX EXPLANATIONS INDICATED IN FIGURES

[0019] (1) Pressure. Plate [0020] (2) Wear Compensation Plate [0021] (3) Wear Sensor Adjusting Plate [0022] (4) Wear Sensor [0023] (5) Adjustment Roller [0024] (6) Mechanism Cover [0025] (7) Diaphragm Spring [0026] (8) Clutch Cover [0027] (9) Strap [0028] (10) Disc Spring [0029] (11) Clutch Cover Lug [0030] (12) Screw Thread-1 [0031] (13) Screw Thread-2 [0032] (14) Wear Sensor Adjusting Distance [0033] (15) Wear Sensor Contact Surface [0034] (16) Wear Sensor Mounting Surface

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] Having a rotational kinetic energy to compel the plates to move via their screw thread is the key principle for the invention. The rotations transmitted from engine crankshaft to flywheel load the rotational kinetic energy to the wear compensation plate (2) and wear sensor adjusting plate (3) to move via their screw threads (12), (13) in order to make wear compensation by the amount the wear sensor (4) detects. The mechanism works as mentioned below.

[0036] The wear sensor (4) is mounted on the pressure plate (1) from its mounting surface (16) and in contact with wear compensation plate (2), wear sensor adjusting plate (3) and clutch cover lug (II) from its contact surface (15). If the thickness of facing decreases, the pressure plate moves towards the clutch disc. The wear sensor (4) also moves with the pressure plate (1) while its contact surface (15) keeps in contact with the clutch cover (8) lug (11), the distance (14) between wear sensor contact surface (15) and its mounting surface (16) increases as much as the total decrement in facing's thickness. This movement creates a gap, equal to the total decrement in the fixing thickness, among the wear sensor contact surface (15) and, both wear compensation plate (2) and wear sensor adjusting plate (3).

[0037] In this new position, wear sensor adjusting plate (3) can start to relatively rotate by its kinetic energy depending on the change in engine speed and it moves up by relatively rotating around the pressure plate (1) via its screw thread (12) until re-setting contact again with the wear sensor surface (15) to stop relative rotation. With this re-contact, wear sensor (4) is adjusted in the new-distance (14) position. The rollers (5) provide one way rotation for wear sensor adjusting plate (3) by preventing the movement in the opposite direction. Wear compensation plate (2) maintains its initial position while being under diaphragm spring (7) force.

[0038] When the diaphragm spring (7 is moved by clutch bearing for the disengagement process, the force applied by the diaphragm spring (7) on the wear compensation plate (2) begins to fade away and the wear compensation plate (2) starts to relatively rotate by its kinetic energy depending on the change in engine speed and it moves up by relatively rotating around the pressure plate (1) via its screw thread (13) until re-setting contact again with the wear sensor surface (15) to stop relative rotation. With this re-contact, wear sensor adjusting plate (3) compensates the total decrement in the thickness of clutch disc's facings. The rollers (5) provide one way rotation for wear compensation plate (3) by preventing the movement in the opposite direction. The diaphragm spring is adjusted to its initial working position and the compensation-adjusting process is completed b′ the end of this movement.