Barrie G Craft

54049792, Apr 11, 1995

May 27, 1994

8/250508

Barrie G. Craft - Washington MI
Joseph L. Bair - Royal Oak MI
Michael B. Grosse Erdmann - Rochester Hills MI
Edwin R. Murray - Macomb MI
George S. Traub - Ortonville MI
Gerda Rudolph - Rochester Hills MI
Peter Doll - Troy MI
Heiko Schulz-Andres - Poppenhausen, DE
David G. Buckingham - Berkley MI
Richard G. Reed - Royal Oak MI

Chrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI
Sachs Automotive of America - Troy MI

F16D 1375

192 7025

A manual transmission modular clutch assembly has a flywheel, pressure plate and interposed clutch plate mounted in a cover that is adapted to be connected to an engine crankshaft and wherein separate spring-torque straps connect the pressure plate and the flywheel to the cover for rotation therewith. At assembly the flywheel is positioned against the force of its spring-torque straps by travel limit pins that are retained on the cover, press fitted in the flywheel and contact with the pressure plate when in its clutch engaging position. A diaphragm spring normally clamps the pressure plate, clutch plate and flywheel together and is adapted to be connected to a clutch pedal to release the clutch. As wear occurs, the pressure plate is allowed to move further in the direction of the flywheel and forces the flywheel travel limit pins to move in their press fit by the same amount. This relocates the limit pins relative to the cover by the same amount so that when the clutch is released the flywheel is allowed to be moved by its spring-torque straps toward the pressure plate by a corresponding amount.

51918102, Mar 9, 1993

Aug 17, 1992

7/929479

Barrie G. Craft - Washington MI
Peter Doll - Troy MI
Frank Martin - 8720 Schweinfurt, DE

G05G 0100
G05G 0300
F16D 1300
F16B 0900

74572

A manual transmission modular clutch unit is provided comprising a clutch cover assembly, a clutch friction disc assembly, and a flywheel disc assembly which modular clutch unit may be pre-assembled and balanced off line prior to shipment to a vehicle assembly plant. The manual transmission modular clutch unit contains each clutch component with the exception of an engine starter ring which is customarily attached to the clutch flywheel disc. A unique attaching arrangement is provided for the pre-installation of an automatic transmission drive plate on each engine crankshaft of a vehicle assembly line. As the drive plate is interchangeable with either a manual transmission modular clutch unit or an automatic transmission torque converter both manual and automatic transmission vehicles may be built on a common assembly line while minimizing both labor and parts.