Importance

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Abstract

An automatically adjusting clutch (10) in which a pressure plate (13) is biased axially towards a flywheel (11) by a main clutch engaging spring (12) to clamp a driven plate between the pressure plate and flywheel to engage the clutch. A first part (30) of the pressure plate is moveable by an adjuster relative to a second part in the form of a pivot ring (40) of the pressure plate to increase the effective axial thickness of the pressure plate to compensate for the wear of the driven plate. The adjuster having an array of adjuster teeth (44) which are disposed circumferentially around the pivot ring (40) and one or more pawls (60) which move relative to and in contact with the array as the pressure plate moves relative to the flywheel. The pawl(s) and array are arranged so that if movement of the pressure plate towards the flywheel during clutch engagement exceeds a predetermined distance, indicating a predetermined amount of wear of the driven plate, the pawl(s) move sufficiently over the array to engage behind a tooth of the array so that subsequently the pawl(s) move the first part of the pressure plate relative to the second part to make the wear adjustment.

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First Claim