Clutch assembly
US11655860B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 23, 2021 |
| Grant date | May 23, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 23, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16D2300/12
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A sealed clutch and a clutch plate, the sealed clutch including a spline connector for connecting the sealed clutch by splined connection to a transmission shaft of an automotive transmission. The spline connector comprising a connector housing and a spline ring. The spline ring including an opening having a spline configuration for cooperating with a splined portion of a transmission shaft. The connector housing being secured within the sealed clutch and the spline ring being removably connectable to the connector housing to enable the spline ring to be removed and replaced with a different spline ring for cooperating with a splined portion of a different transmission shaft. The clutch plate has a pair of drive plates having a coaxially aligned openings and a spline connector mounted between them. The outer diameter of the spline ring being slightly less than the inner diameter of the opening of one of the drive plates and a removable retainer being interposed between the spline connector and the drive plate to retain the spline ring, whereby removal of the removable retainer enables removal of the spline ring from the spline connector through the opening of the drive plate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.