COUPLING CLUTCH AND A SELF-CONTAINED, NON-REMOVABLE GUARD

摘要

TITLE Coupling Clutch And A Self-Contained, Non-Removable Guard A coupling clutch according to the teachings of the present invention is shown in its most preferred form as including first and second hubs having first and second splined friction discs received thereon. The first friction disc is biased away from the second friction disc and is movable towards the second friction disc by a piston reciprocally mounted to a housing and rotatably mounted to the friction disc by a bearing mounted therebetween. The second friction disc is substantially prevented from sliding on the splines with the second hub. The splines between the second friction disc and the second hub allow the second friction disc to cant to compensate for axial angular misalignment of the first and second hubs. The guard is shown according to the teachings of the present invention in its most preferred form as including a plurality of ring members held in a spaced relation by bars. The ring members have a shape complementary to and for receipt on a first shell of a housing. The bars are received within apertures formed in the first shell and are captured therein when the second shell is secured to the first shell. The guard is then self-contained, self-aligned, and cannot be removed without disassembly of the housing.