Variable engagement centrifugal clutch assembly

• US 20060169570A1
• Filed: 02/03/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meritor Transmission Corporation (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: Meritor Transmission Corporation (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Dreier, Loren Christopher, Heinzelmann, Karl-Fritz, AbuSamra, Muneer, Sayman, Robert Anthony, Muetzel, Ronald Peter, Ronge, Ludger, Allen, Charles E. Jr., DeVore, James Henry, Sturmer, Winfried
• Granted Patent: US 7,367,440 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 192/105.CP
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 43/10 the centrifugal masses acting directly on the pressure ring, no other actuating mechanism for the pressure ring being provided

Abstract

A centrifugal clutch assembly includes a clutch cover attachable to a rotatable input member. Friction plates are clamped between pressure plates in response to rotation of the clutch assembly. Rotation of the clutch assembly causes at least one centrifugal weight to move radially outward to force the pressure plates against the friction plates. The radial position of the centrifugal weights is modified to tailor clutch actuation. This modification of centrifugal weight position causes a corresponding change to engagement characteristics of the clutch assembly allowing clutch actuation to be tailored to operating conditions.

Claims

1. A centrifugal clutch assembly comprising:

a plurality of friction plates and a corresponding plurality of pressure plates, said plurality of pressure plates movable between a clamped position engaging said plurality of friction plates and an open position released from said plurality of friction plates; and

at least one weight movable radially in response to rotation to move said plurality of pressure plates between said clamped position and said open position; and

an adjuster for modifying a radial position of said weight.

2. The assembly as recited in claim 1, including a pivot where said at least one weight moves radially relative to said pivot and where said adjuster changes a distance between said at least one weight and said pivot.

3. The assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said adjuster comprises a threaded member received within said at least one weight such that rotation of said threaded member moves said at least one weight to change said distance between said weight and said pivot.

4. The assembly as recited in claim 3, including a drive for moving said adjuster.

5. The assembly as recited in claim 1, including a pivot about which said at least one weight rotates, said pivot movable within a slot.

6. The assembly as recited in claim 5, including a drive for moving said pivot within said slot.

7. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one weight includes a plurality of weights and said adjuster comprises a blocking ring for selectively blocking movement of at least some of said plurality of weights.

8. The assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said blocking ring includes a plurality of openings through which at least some of said plurality of weights are movable.

9. The assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein said blocking ring is rotatable about an axis of rotation to selectively align said plurality of openings with said plurality of weights to selectively enable movement of said plurality of weights into said plurality of openings.

10. A centrifugal clutch assembly comprising:

a plurality of friction plates and a corresponding plurality of pressure plates, said plurality of pressure plates movable between a clamped position engaging said plurality of friction plates and an open position released from said plurality of friction plates;

a centrifugal weight movable radially in relative to an axis of rotation to move said plurality of pressure plates between said clamped and said open positions; and

a variable biasing member biasing said centrifugal weight toward said axis of rotation.

11. The assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said variable biasing member comprises a variable rate spring.

12. The assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said variable biasing member comprises first and second springs for varying a biasing force relative to a radial position of said centrifugal weight.

13. The assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said biasing force varies in response to a radial position of said centrifugal weight.

14. The assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said variable biasing member comprises a plurality of spring members exerting a biasing force variable relative to a position of said centrifugal weight.

15. A centrifugal clutch assembly comprising:

a plurality of friction plates and a corresponding plurality of pressure plates;

said plurality of pressure plates movable between a clamped position engaging said plurality of friction plates and an open position released from said plurality of friction plates;

at least one weight movable radially in response to rotation to move said plurality of pressure plates between said clamped and said open positions; and

a damper for dampening oscillation of said at least one weight.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein said damper comprises a chamber containing a viscous material.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein said chamber is disposed within said at least one weight.

18. The assembly of claim 16, wherein said viscous material comprises a variable viscosity that varies in response to changes in rotational speed.

19. The assembly of claim 16, wherein said chamber is disposed within a housing attached to said at least one weight.