Clutch operating mechanism

Abstract

A clutch cover 25 is disposed opposite to a pressure surface 26 a of a pressure plate 26 and is fixed to a flywheel. The pressure plate 26 has the pressure surface 26 a facing a friction surface 15 of a clutch disk. An annular lever plate 28 is supported at its outer circumferential edge to a clutch cover 25 and is contacted at a radially intermediate portion to the pressure plate 26 . The pressure plate 26 is biased to be disengaged from the friction surface 15 of the clutch disk. A release bearing 31 is in contact with an inner circumferential edge of the lever plate 28 on the transmission side. A hydraulic cylinder 32 serves to move the release bearing 31 in the axial direction.

What is claimed:  
     
       1. A clutch mechanism comprising: 
       a clutch cover;  
       an annular pressure plate disposed within said clutch cover and attached to said clutch cover for limited axial movement with respect to said clutch cover, said annular pressure plate having a pressure surface engagable with a friction face of a clutch disk;  
       an annular lever plate having an outer circumferential edge engaging a portion of said clutch cover, said annular lever plate being in contact with said annular pressure plate radially inward from said outer circumferential edge;  
       a plurality of strap plates attached to a radially outward portion of said clutch cover, said strap plates further connected to a radially outward portion of said annular pressure plate, and said strap plates are configured to bias said annular pressure plate away from the clutch disk;  
       a bearing assembly disposed adjacent to said annular lever plate and supported about a transmission input shaft for axial movement along said input shaft, a portion of said bearing assembly configured to contact an inner circumferential edge of said lever plate; and  
       wherein said lever plate is formed with a plurality of first slits extending radially inwardly from an outer circumferential edge thereof and a plurality of second slits extending radially outwardly from an inner circumferential edge thereof in an alternating manner and said annular lever plate has generally no biasing effect on said annular pressure plate, and  
       wherein each of said plurality of second slits of said lever plate is further formed with engagement holes at a terminus thereof, and said clutch cover is formed with a plurality of support portions, said support portions being bent to extend in an axial direction such that said support portions extend through corresponding ones of said engagement holes.  
     
     
       2. The clutch mechanism as in  claim 1  wherein said annular lever plate has a length R 5  measured from an inner circumferential edge to an outer circumferential edge thereof, said first slits have a radial length R 3  and said second slits have a radial length R 4  such that the radial lengths R 3  and R 4  are approximately 80% of the length R 5 . 
     
     
       3. The clutch mechanism as in  claim 1  further comprising a hydraulic drive mechanism for effecting movement of said bearing. 
     
     
       4. The clutch mechanism as in  claim 1  further comprising a pneumatic drive mechanism for effecting movement of said bearing. 
     
     
       5. The clutch mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein 
       
         said support portions extending axially through said engagement holes are arranged radially inward of said outer circumferential edge of said lever plate and radially outward of an intermediate portion of said lever plate, said intermediate portion contacting said pressure plate.  
       
     
     
       6. The clutch mechanism according to  claim 5 , wherein 
       
         said annular lever plate has a central hole.  
       
     
     
       7. The clutch mechanism according to  claim 6 , wherein 
       
         said first slits arranged in an alternating manner with said second slits extending radially outward from said inner circumferential edge of said lever plate.  
       
     
     
       8. The clutch mechanism according to  claim 6 , wherein 
         said annular lever plate has a length R   5    measured from said inner circumferential edge to said outer circumferential edge and each of said second slits have a length R   4   , length R   4    being approximately  80   %  of length R   5 .  
     
     
       9. The clutch mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein 
       
         said annular lever plate has a central hole.  
       
     
     
       10. A clutch mechanism comprising: 
       
         a clutch cover, said clutch cover being formed with a plurality of support portions;  
       
       
         an annular pressure plate disposed within said clutch cover and attached to said clutch cover for limited axial movement with respect to said clutch cover, said annular pressure plate having a pressure surface engageable with a friction face of a clutch disk;  
       
       
         an annular lever plate having an outer circumferential edge engaging a portion of said clutch cover and being in contact with said annular pressure plate radially inward from said outer circumferential edge, said lever plate being formed with a plurality of slits, each of said plurality of slits of said lever plate being further formed with engagement holes at a terminus thereof, said support portions being bent to extend in an axial direction such that said support portions extend through corresponding ones of said engagement holes, said annular lever plate having generally no biasing effect on said annular pressure plate;  
       
       
         a plate member attached to said clutch cover, said plate member further connected to said annular pressure plate, said plate member being configured to bias said annular pressure plate away from the clutch disk;  
       
       
         a bearing assembly disposed adjacent said annular lever plate and adapted to be supported about a transmission input shaft for axial movement along the input shaft, a portion of said bearing assembly configured to contact said lever plate; and  
       
       
         a controller arranged to apply selectively a load in an axial direction toward said annular pressure plate to an inner circumferential edge of said lever plate such that said lever plate moves said pressure plate toward the clutch disk when the load is applied and said pressure plate moves away from the clutch disk when the load is removed, said pressure plate arranged to move away from the clutch disk by said plate member.  
       
     
     
       11. The clutch mechanism according to  claim 10 , further comprising 
       
         a hydraulic drive mechanism arranged to move said bearing assembly.  
       
     
     
       12. The clutch mechanism according to  claim 10 , further comprising 
       
         a pneumatic drive mechanism arranged to move said bearing assembly.  
       
     
     
       13. A clutch mechanism comprising: 
       
         a clutch cover;  
       
       
         an annular pressure plate disposed within said clutch cover and attached to said clutch cover for limited axial movement with respect to said clutch cover, said annular pressure plate having a pressure surface engageable with a friction face of a clutch disk;  
       
       
         an annular lever plate having an outer circumferential edge arranged to engage a portion of said clutch cover and arranged to contact said annular pressure plate radially inward from said outer circumferential edge, said lever plate being formed with a plurality of slits, each of said plurality of slits of said lever plate being further formed with engagement holes at a terminus thereof, and said clutch cover being formed with a plurality of support portions, said support portions arranged to extend in an axial direction such that said support portions extend through corresponding ones of said engagement holes, said annular lever plate having generally no biasing effect on said annular pressure plate;  
       
       
         a plate number arranged to move said pressure plate away from the clutch disk when a force applied to said pressure plate from said lever plate is eliminated; and  
       
       
         a controller arranged to selectively apply a load in an axial direction toward said annular pressure plate to an inner circumferential edge of said lever plate such that said lever plate moves said pressure plate toward the clutch disk when the load is applied and said pressure plate moves away from the clutch disk when the load is removed, said pressure plate arranged to move away from the clutch disk by said plate member.  
       
     
     
       14. The clutch mechanism according to  claim 13 , wherein 
       
         said support portions extending axially through said engagement holes are arranged radially inward of said outer circumferential edge of said lever plate and radially outward of an intermediate portion of said lever plate, said intermediate portion contacting said pressure plate.  
       
     
     
       15. The clutch mechanism according to  claim 14 , wherein 
       
         said annular lever plate has a central hole and said slits extend radially outward from an inner circumferential edge of said lever plate.  
       
     
     
       16. The clutch mechanism according to  claim 15 , wherein 
         said annular lever plate has a length R   5    measured from said inner circumferential edge to said outer circumferential edge and each of said slits have a length R   4   , length R   4    being approximately  80   %  of length R   5 .  
     
     
       17. The clutch mechanism according to  claim 13 , wherein 
       
         said annular lever plate has a central hole and said slits extend radially outward from an inner circumferential edge of said lever plate.  
       
     
     
       18. A clutch mechanism comprising: 
       
         a clutch cover;  
       
       
         an annular pressure plate disposed within said clutch cover and attached to said clutch cover for limited axial movement with respect to said clutch cover, said annular pressure plate having a pressure surface engageable with a friction face of a clutch disk;  
       
       
         an annular lever plate having a central hole, said annular lever plate having an outer circumferential edge arranged to engage a portion of said clutch cover and arranged to contact said annular pressure plate radially inward from said outer circumferential edge, said lever plate being formed with a plurality of slits, said plurality of slits extending radially outward from an inner circumferential edge of said lever plate, each of said plurality of slits of said lever plate being further formed with engagement holes at a terminus thereof, and said clutch cover being formed with a plurality of support portions, said support portions arranged to extend in an axial direction such that said support portions extend through corresponding ones of said engagement holes, said support portions being arranged radially inward of said outer circumferential edge of said lever plate and radially outward of an intermediate portion of said lever plate, said intermediate portion contacting said pressure plate, said annular lever plate having a plurality of outer slits extending radially inward from said outer circumferential edge of said lever plate, said outer slits arranged in an alternating manner with said slits extending radially outward from said inner circumferential edge of said lever plate, said annular lever plate having generally no biasing effect on said annular pressure plate;  
       
       
         a plate member arranged to move said pressure plate away from the clutch disk when a force applied to said pressure plate from said lever plate is eliminated; and  
       
       
         a controller arranged to selectively apply a load to an inner circumferential edge of said lever plate such that said lever plate moves said pressure plate toward the clutch disk when the load is applied and said pressure plate moves away from the clutch disk when the load is removed, said pressure plate arranged to move away from the clutch disk by said plate member.