Did You Know...
...that Robert Adler has the dubious distinction of being the Father of the Couch Potato? Back in 1955 Adler was employed by what was then Zenith Radio Corp., where he was charged to invent something that would allow viewers to turn down the TV volume without leaving their chairs. After a series of flops (such as a wired contraption that people tripped over), Adler hit on the idea of using sound waves. Thus the Remote Control was born...
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7516825 | Clutch mechanism A clutch mechanism has rotational driving force outputting members connected to a rotational driving force input system, rotational driving force receiving members connected to a rotational driving force output system, and a pressing mechanism for pressing the rotat... | 04/14/2009 |
| 7428955 | Clutch mechanism A clutch mechanism has rotational driving force outputting members connected to a rotational driving force input system, rotational driving force receiving members connected to a rotational driving force output system, and a pressing mechanism for pressing the rotat... | 09/30/2008 |
| 7204166 | Dual clutch assembly for a heavy-duty automotive powertrain A dual friction clutch assembly for a multiple-ratio transmission comprises separate friction disks of the assembly separately connected to each of two torque input shafts for the transmission. Two torque flow paths for the torque input shafts are defined in part by... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7195112 | Clutch cover mechanism A clutch lockout includes posts to receive bolts to retain the lockout to a clutch boss and retaining screw holes to retain lockout fingers mounted on the lockout. At least one indent in each post accommodates the retaining screw holes. ... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7124871 | Disengaging systems A lever system for actuating a clutch or a brake for a vehicle, such as a motor vehicle. The actuating force for the clutch or transmission brake is changeable by displacing a fulcrum with respect to a lever. An energy storage mechanism may act at one end portion of... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7111833 | Dual disc spring A dual spring includes a pair of conically-shaped spring sections, which are joined at a common fulcrum. One of the spring sections is disposed radially inward from the fulcrum and the other of the spring sections is disposed radially outward from the fulcrum. Both ... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7090062 | Clutch roller yoke A heavy duty clutch release mechanism including a driveline master clutch release yoke where a bearing support shaft is used to minimize bearing end loading. The clutch release yoke is rotatably fixed to the clutch release shaft for rotation and having first and sec... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7082661 | Centrifugally assisted clutch A friction clutch assembly connects driving and driven shafts and has a pressure plate axially moveable between an engaged position transmitting torque from the driving shaft to the driven shaft and a disengaged position. A cover is mounted on the flywheel and a spr... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7073649 | Friction clutch actuation lever A friction clutch, especially a double clutch, with a clutch housing on which at least one actuation lever is pivotally supported. A connecting member in the form of a pressure lever or an eyebolt is coupled with the actuation lever for actuation of a clutch pressur... | 07/11/2006 |
| 6799668 | Multi-ratio clutch An improved clutch has a distinct force ratio for holding than it does for release. A distinct ratio is achieved by having an abutment surface between a retainer and a diaphragm spring be positioned radially outward from a contact location between a release sleeve a... | 10/05/2004 |
| 6619458 | Pivot point release load adjuster assembly for use in a pull type angle spring clutch pressure plate assembly A pivot point release load adjuster assembly for use in a pull type angle spring clutch pressure plate assembly having a pair of pins connected to the housing end, a cradle swivelingly disposed on the pins, a pressure spring seat swivelingly disposed on r... | 09/16/2003 |
| 6394254 | Clutch with high lever ratio A friction clutch for connecting driving and driven shafts. The clutch includes a pressure plate adapted for operative attachment to the driven shaft for rotation therewith and for selectively clamping a friction disk in engagement against a flywheel of t... | 05/28/2002 |
| 6102181 | Clutch with roller fork A clutch release mechanism includes a clutch release sleeve, a clutch release bearing and a clutch release fork. The clutch release sleeve has a lever engagement feature at a first end. The clutch release bearing engages a second end of the clutch release... | 08/15/2000 |
| 6012561 | Dual clutch design for and electro-mechanical automatic transmission having a dual input shaft A dual clutch system is provided for a transmission having dual input shafts. The dual clutch system includes first and second flywheels as well as first and second friction disk assemblies and first and second pressure plates for pressing against said fi... | 01/11/2000 |
| 6006883 | Friction clutch A friction clutch with at least one flywheel mass and a clutch housing with which there is associated a pressing arrangement for a pressing plate which is provided for the action of pressure on one side of a clutch disk the opposite side of which is suppo... | 12/28/1999 |
| 5924538 | Lever support device for clutch cover assembly A lever support device for a clutch cover assembly is disclosed, and includes a lever support 16 having a threaded portion 16a at its end portion, a support nut 17 engaged with the threaded portion 16a of the lever support 16 and fitted with the clutch co... | 07/20/1999 |
| 5911296 | Clutch with roller fork A heavy duty clutch release mechanism includes a clutch release sleeve, a clutch release bearing and a clutch release fork. The clutch release sleeve has a lever engagement feature at a first end. The clutch release bearing engages a second end of the clu... | 06/15/1999 |
| 5513734 | Vehicle clutch assembly A vehicle clutch assembly, particularly for tractors, is provided having a first clutch interposed between the vehicle drive shaft and transmission, and a second clutch interposed between the drive shaft and an output shaft defining the power take-off of ... | 05/07/1996 |
| 5090537 | Twin clutch A twin clutch having two clutch discs between a flywheel and a pressure plate and having an intermediate plate between the two clutch discs. In an engaging operation of the clutch, a flywheel-side clutch disc is first held between the intermediate plate a... | 02/25/1992 |
| 4951553 | Friction clutch for transmission A friction clutch for a transmission is provided. The clutch includes release levers disposed between a release bearing and a diaphragm spring. The diaphragm spring provides pressure to a pressure plate which is required to hold a clutch disc against a fl... | 08/28/1990 |
| 4871050 | Clutch arrangement In a pulled-type clutch arrangement, for the release of the clutch, release levers are provided which are connected in their radially outer region with the clutch cover and in a radially middle region articulatedly with the thrust plate. On the abutment f... | 10/03/1989 |
| 4844225 | Flywheel assembly A separated type flywheel assembly having a first flywheel and a second flywheel, a damper mechanism which damps vibration by the spring force and a friction damping mechanism which damps vibration by the friction force, a clutch engaging and disengaging ... | 07/04/1989 |
| 4798269 | Direct lever acting solenoid released brake mechanism A brake mechanism is disclosed wherein a support lever is pivoted at a pivot end to a stationary bearing plate and is urged by a plurality of springs, which engage the support lever radially inwardly from its pivot end, toward the end plate to effect clam... | 01/17/1989 |
| 4720002 | Clutch having an adjustable diaphragm spring engaging lever A clutch having an adjustable diaphragm spring engaging lever and a release bearing for disengaging the clutch. The clutch disc is spline fitted onto an input shaft of transmission. A sleeve, having the release bearing fastened at its transmission end, is... | 01/19/1988 |
| 4662498 | Heavy duty friction clutch A friction clutch wherein the mechanical advantage or lever ratio can be varied without changing the construction of the release levers. This is achieved by changing the location of the pivot pins that connect the levers to the pressure plate, and by elon... | 05/05/1987 |
| 4601377 | Clutch adjustment method A method is disclosed for adjusting a plurality of release levers in 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 form, rivets of varying head... | 07/22/1986 |
| 4598808 | Noise suppression device for constant running clutch release bearing A friction clutch assembly includes a noise suppression device for a constant running bearing fixed to the transmission input shaft of the clutch assembly. The friction clutch system includes a plurality of rotatable clutch release levers, and in a prefer... | 07/08/1986 |
| 4565270 | Friction clutch convertible for either push-type or pull-type disengagement A friction clutch constructed so that it can operate as either a push or a pull type clutch with only a minimal change in parts. The parts for the two types of clutches are interchangeable except for the release levers and release bearings. This simplifie... | 01/21/1986 |
| 4544055 | Oil shut-off device for wet clutches Oil shut-off in a wet clutch is performed by the sliding movement of an actuator collar during engagement with pressure plate release levers. An end lip portion of the actuator collar slides over radial openings in a coaxial oil feed tube to terminate oil... | 10/01/1985 |
| 4538716 | Multiple-disc friction clutch and diaphragm spring therefor A multiple-disc friction clutch wherein two axially movable pressure plates are disposed between two clutch plates and flank a diaphragm spring whose circumferentially complete outer marginal portion engages one of the pressure plates and which has a seco... | 09/03/1985 |
| 4465170 | Clutch mechanism for two-plate clutches suitable for automotive vehicles In a clutch mechanism for two-plate clutches suitable for automotive vehicles, two pressure plates are continuously acted on by respective Belleville type annular springs which bear axially on a common annular spacer keyed to the skirt of the reaction pla... | 08/14/1984 |
| 4366890 | Clutch disengagement system A hydraulically operated drive engagement means (20,63) interposed between an engine (10) and a transmission (12) to permit the transmission (12) to be disconnected from the engine (10) during starting. The drive engagement means (20,63) is particularly u... | 01/04/1983 |
| 4332314 | Spring clutch A friction clutch assembly is disclosed having an annular spring compressed between a clutch cover and a plurality of externally located release levers. The spring has tongues cooperating with indentations on the outside of the cover to centrally locate t... | 06/01/1982 |
| 4298112 | Six lever racing clutch A long lever clutch suitable for racing has a lever arm with the centers of the yoke pivot hole and the pressure plate billet pivot hole in a line parallel with the beam surface of the lever. An opening at the external end of the lever permits the additio... | 11/03/1981 |
| 4210232 | Clutch mechanisms with two clutch plates Clutch mechanisms are disclosed having two clutch assemblies associated with a single or two separate output shafts. To minimize the axial dimension of the clutch mechanism and yet provide the required spring loading when the clutch assemblies act indepen... | 07/01/1980 |
| 4155431 | Spring-set caliper brake A spring-set power-released caliper brake, adapted to grip the sides of a clamped member and, specifically, to provide a substantially uniform clamping force irrespective of actuator spring extension. The caliper brake includes a base mounted in fixed rel... | 05/22/1979 |
| 4116322 | Clutches An engine is combined with a dual clutch assembly comprising independently engageable and disengageable power take-off and drive clutches in tandem. To minimize the overall length of the combination despite the use of twin plates in the drive clutch, that... | 09/26/1978 |
| 4066152 | Gripper for a disc brake A disc brake keyed on a shaft has two levers and two gripping pads and comprises at least one spring whose action produces the tightening of the two pads on the disc. An electromagnet with a fixed yoke and movable armature produces the releasing of the tw... | 01/03/1978 |
| 4036338 | Sealed oil-filled clutch A sealed oil-contaning clutch having a novel release mechanism. Instead of having the usual externally located bearing, the release mechanism employs a thrust bearing located inside the sealed clutch enclosure. This results in a saving in space and cost, ... | 07/19/1977 |
| 4034836 | Clutch with friction reducing lever assembly A friction clutch is provided with an improved connection for the release levers including an opening in the lever provided with a longitudinally extending sharp knife-edge for cooperating with a longitudinally extending pivot axis formed on an integral s... | 07/12/1977 |
