Gregory J Guitar

57762880, Jul 7, 1998

May 7, 1996

8/648301

Oscar E. Stefanutti - Orchard Lake MI
John Willwerth - Rochester Hills MI
Gregory J. Guitar - Roseville MI

Automotive Composites Company - Sterling Heights MI

B32B 3118
F16D 1368

156263

A method and apparatus for assembling a clutch plate includes forming arcuate segments from a friction material sheet, applying the arcuate segments to the ring in a fixed location with a temporary adherent, preferably to define intermediate spaces between the arcuate segments, and bonding the arcuate segments to the annular ring surface to form an automatic transmission clutch plate. Preferably, a set of multiple arcuate segments with independent edge boundaries are applied in a single workstation, and one or more sets may be applied to each annular surface by appropriately indexing the ring with respect to the application equipment. Preferably, the arcuate segments are formed by stamping the segments from sheets, the cuttings arranged at closely spaced positions on the sheet to reduce friction material waste. Preferably, the stamping die displaces the cut arcuate segment to its fixed location on the annular ring. The preferred embodiment includes a lined clutch plate in which spaces between adjacent arcuate segments of friction material form lubrication grooves from the radially inner edge to the radially outer edge of the clutch plate ring.

60359919, Mar 14, 2000

Dec 11, 1996

8/764123

John Willwerth - Rochester Hills MI
Gregory J. Guitar - Roseville MI

Advanced Friction Materials, Inc. - Sterling Heights MI

F16D 1374

192107R

An automatic transmission clutch plate provides reduced drag in a wet clutch environment by employing independent offset slots through a friction lining applied to an annular clutch plate. The slots extend through the friction lining from at least one inner or outer peripheral edge of the ring to a terminating point between the radially inner and outer edges. In addition, slots through the friction lining extending from the radially inner edge are offset from the grooves extending through the lining from the radially outer edge. Preferably, the friction lining is formed by segments, and slots can be conveniently formed through the lining between radial edges spaced apart from each other on adjacent arcuate lining segments. In addition, the arcuate segments preferably include overlapping ends to form the offset slots.

60192054, Feb 1, 2000

Jul 1, 1998

9/108533

John Willwerth - Rochester Hills MI
Gregory J. Guitar - Roseville MI

Raytech Automotive Components Company - Sterling Heights MI

B32B 3118
F16D 6904

192107R

A method and apparatus for assembling a clutch plate includes forming arcuate segments from a friction material sheet, applying the arcuate segments to the ring in a fixed location with a temporary adherent, preferably to define intermediate spaces between the arcuate segments, and bonding the arcuate segments to the annular ring surface to form an automatic transmission clutch plate. Preferably, a set of multiple arcuate segments with independent edge boundaries are applied in a single workstation, and one or more sets may be applied to each annular surface by appropriately indexing the ring with respect to the application equipment. Preferably, the arcuate segments are formed by stamping the segments from sheets, the cuttings arranged at closely spaced positions on the sheet to reduce friction material waste. Most preferably, the arcuate segment is formed by defining a perimeter of a strip on a sheet of friction material and slicing curves across said strip at spaced, adjacent positions, each curve matching the adjacent curve. Spaces between ends of adjacent arcuate segments on a clutch plate preferably form tapered lubrication grooves extending from the radially inner edge to the radially outer edge of the ring clutch plate.