Friction clutch and air-flow promoting diaphragm spring therefor
US4629047A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 11, 1983 |
| Grant date | Dec 16, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 11, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16D2013/706
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A diaphragm spring, particularly for use in friction clutches, has a circumferentially complete outer marginal portion and an annulus of radially inwardly extending prongs which alternate with elongated slots and whose tips surround a centrally located opening communicating with the inner end portions of the slots. The intermediate portions of at least some of the prongs are offset with reference to the intermediate portions of the neighboring prongs, as considered in the axial direction of the spring, to provide passages, constituting enlarged portions of the respective slots, which allow for and can promote circulation of large quantities of cooling air when the diaphragm spring rotates with the cover of a friction clutch. The offset intermediate portions of the prongs have an arcuate shape and can be twisted, not unlike the blades of a screw propeller, to further promote the flow of air through the passages. Such offset intermediate portions can be equidistant from the outer marginal portion and/or from the respective tips.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.