Dewayne F Schlosser

US Patent:

45039593, Mar 12, 1985

Filed:

Aug 28, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/297297

Inventors:

Richard A. Flotow - Ft. Wayne IN
Jerry L. Rathburn - Auburn IN
DeWayne F. Schlosser - Auburn IN

Assignee:

Dana Corporation - Toledo OH

International Classification:

F16D 1344
F16D 1375

US Classification:

192 703

Abstract:

A method is disclosed for constructing and adjusting a plurality of release levers of a friction disc clutch. The method ensures that the inner or nose ends of the release levers lie in a common plane upon final clutch assembly. In a preferred embodiment, a rivet is secured to the nose end of each release lever. The resulting lever unit is heat treated in a manner wherein the attached rivet is hardened throughout its entirety, while the lever per se is case hardened to a specified depth. Next, a clutch cover, pressure plate, pressure means for urging the plate, and the plurality of heat treated lever units are installed together to form a clutch cover sub-assembly. Relative movement between the clutch cover and pressure plate is effected against the bias of the pressure means until the levers are in an extreme position relative to the clutch cover. The rivets are then machined, preferably by a grooved grinding wheel having a suitable contour in order to adjust the nose ends of the levers to a pre-determined common plane. Alternatively, the heat treatment step may be limited to the rivet per se, wherein the rivet may be heat treated after the machining step.