| 摘要 |
A clutch has an axial driver flange (15,23) having an axial extension (17), directed towards an adjacent flywheel (31), and formed with a toothed profile (19) of which at least one tooth (20) can engage with a gap (52) in a corresponding toothed profile on a take-up ring (25) to provide an effective rotational coupling with the driven flywheel, which may form part of a fluid torque converter. The teeth (20) on the driver (23) and tooth-gaps (52) on the take-up ring (25) are formed with wedge shaped faces. The axial extension movement required for engagement of the corresponding toothed surfaces is provided by flexing of the flange (15,23) around the area of a bend (16). Two radial moveable claws (59) may be provided to replace a pair of diametrically opposed teeth on the driver flange in order to retain the fly wheel in position by engaging with depressions (63) in the take up ring (25,27) while the unit is under radial force. A mounting device (70) is provided on the the axial driver flange (15,23) to depress the teeth (20) radially inwards while the take-up ring (25) slides on to the driver, without need for application of axial force; coupling completed, the mounting device is released and radial forces then bind the two clutch components together. The mounting device (70) may take the form of e.g. : (a) A screw tightened clamp (71) with a flexible band (72) around the axial extension (17). (b) A flexible pressure-tube (78) having a connection (79) which allows the ring (25,27) to be compressed, by pressure applied from a source (80), in order to enable coupling or alternatively to disengage the radial toothed connection; such a pressure tube (78) may be provided with a protective U-shaped cover (83). (c) Other forms of mounting device, including a slidable compression ring (84) with a coned inner surface; and a circular spring collar device (87) with open ends which can be forced apart to release the compressive force. An Independent claim is included for a mounting device (70) having a pair of essentially identical annular disks (110;112) each formed with a set of uni-directional ramp surfaces (126;134) on its inner edge, and which are rotatably positioned on the axial extension (17). Each disk has a ramp corresponding to each of the tongues (116) carrying teeth (19). The two disks are arranged in co-axial contact and with their ramp surfaces opposite handed, so that contra-rotation of the disks by an actuator simultaneously urges a ramp on each disk to slide onto, or off each tongue. Engagement of the ramps with the tongues causes them to bend axially inwards, releasing the meshing force on the toothed coupling.
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