초록 ▼

A cone clutch is made with a plurality of generally straight grooves machined into the clutch faces of the cone clutch. This allows rapid and efficient evacuation of oil from the clutch faces as the clutch face moves into contact with a mating friction surface. By simplifying the evacuation path for

A cone clutch is made with a plurality of generally straight grooves machined into the clutch faces of the cone clutch. This allows rapid and efficient evacuation of oil from the clutch faces as the clutch face moves into contact with a mating friction surface. By simplifying the evacuation path for the oil, the operation of the cone clutch is made more predictable and consistent.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A clutch component, comprising:a first clutch face having a first inner edge, said first inner edge being generally circumferential, said first clutch face being rotatable about an axis of rotation which is generally perpendicular to said first inner edge; anda first plurality of grooves formed i

1. A clutch component, comprising:a first clutch face having a first inner edge, said first inner edge being generally circumferential, said first clutch face being rotatable about an axis of rotation which is generally perpendicular to said first inner edge; anda first plurality of grooves formed in said first clutch face, each of said first plurality of grooves being formed as a generally straight line between a first inner terminus and a first outer terminus, said first inner terminus of each of said first plurality of grooves being disposed proximate said first inner edge, each of said first plurality of grooves extending from said first inner edge at a first preselected angle between 15 degrees and 75 degrees said first clutch face being shaped as a frustum of a cone. 2. The clutch component of claim 1, wherein:said first preselected angle being between 15 degrees and 45 degrees. 3. The clutch component of claim 1, further comprising:a first outer edge of said first clutch face, said first outer edge being generally circumferential, said first clutch face being disposed between said first inner and outer edges. 4. The clutch component of claim 3, wherein:said first outer terminus of each of said first plurality of grooves is disposed proximate said first outer edge. 5. The clutch component of claim 3, wherein:a diameter of said first outer edge is less than a diameter of said first inner edge. 6. The clutch component of claim 1, further comprising:a second clutch face having a second inner edge, said second inner edge being generally circumferential, said second clutch face being rotatable about said axis of rotation which is generally perpendicular to said second inner edge; anda second plurality of grooves formed in said second clutch face, each of said second plurality of grooves being formed as a generally straight line between a second inner terminus and a second outer terminus, said second inner-terminus of each of said second plurality of grooves being disposed proximate said second inner edge, each of said second plurality of grooves extending from said second inner edge at a second preselected angle between 15 degrees and 75 degrees. 7. The clutch component of claim 6, further comprising:a second outer edge of said second clutch face, said second outer edge being generally circumferential, said second clutch face being disposed between said second inner and outer edges, said second preselected angle being between 15 degrees and 45 degrees, said second outer terminus of each of said second plurality of grooves being disposed proximate said second outer edge, a diameter of said second outer edge is less than a diameter of said second inner edge, said second clutch face being shaped as a frustum of a cone. 8. The clutch component of claim 7, wherein:said first and second preselected angles are between 25 and 35 degrees. 9. The clutch component of claim 7, wherein:said first and second clutch faces are supported by a common structure, said first and second inner edges being disposed toward each other and said first and second outer edges being disposed to face away from each other. 10. The clutch component of claim 6, wherein:each of said first and second plurality of grooves has a bottom surface that is generally semicircular in cross section. 11. The clutch component of claim 6, wherein:said first plurality of grooves comprises less than 30% of the total area of said first clutch face. 12. The clutch component of claim 6, wherein:said second plurality of grooves comprises less than 30% of the total area of said second clutch face. 13. A clutch component, comprising:a first clutch face having a first draining edge, said first clutch face being rotatable about an axis of rotation which is generally perpendicular to a path of rotation of said first draining edge; anda first plurality of grooves formed in said first clutch face, each of said first plurality of grooves being shaped to provide a generally straight fluid passage between a first draining terminus and a first other terminus, said first draining terminus of each of said first plurality of grooves being disposed proximate said first draining edge, each of said first plurality of grooves extending from said first draining edge at a first preselected angle between 15 degrees and 75 degrees, said first clutch face being shaped as a frustum of a cone. 14. The clutch component of claim 13, further comprising:a first other edge of said first clutch face, said first clutch face being disposed between said first inner and other edges. 15. The clutch component of claim 14, further comprising:a second clutch face having a second draining edge, said second clutch face being rotatable about said axis of rotation which is generally perpendicular to a path of rotation of said second draining edge; anda second plurality of grooves formed in said second clutch face, each of said second plurality of grooves being shaped to provide a generally straight fluid passage between a second draining terminus and a second other terminus, said second draining terminus of each of said second plurality of grooves being disposed proximate said second draining edge, each of said second plurality of grooves extending from said second draining edge at a second preselected angle between 15 degrees and 75 degrees. 16. The clutch component of claim 15, further comprising:a second other edge of said second clutch face, said second clutch face being disposed between said second inner and other edges, said second preselected angle being between 15 degrees and 45 degrees, said second other terminus of each of said second plurality of grooves being disposed proximate said second other edge, a diameter of said second other edge is less than a diameter of said second draining edge, said second clutch face being shaped as a frustum of a cone. 17. The clutch component of claim 16, wherein:said first and second preselected angles are between 25 and 35 degrees, said first and second clutch faces being supported by a common structure, said first and second draining edges being disposed toward each other and said first and second other edges being disposed to face away from each other. 18. A clutch component, comprising:a first clutch face which is rotatable about an axis of rotation;a first plurality of grooves formed in said first clutch face, each of said first plurality of grooves being formed as a generally straight line between a first draining terminus and a first other terminus, each of said first plurality of grooves extending from a line which is perpendicular to said axis of rotation at a first preselected angle between 15 degrees and 75 degrees; anda second clutch face which is rotatable about said axis of rotation;a second plurality of grooves formed in said second clutch face, each of said second plurality of grooves being formed as a generally straight line between a second draining terminus and a second other terminus, each of said second plurality of grooves extending from a line which is perpendicular to said axis of rotation at a second preselected angle between 15 degrees and 75 degrees said first clutch face is a frustum of a cone, said second clutch face is a frustum of a cone. 19. The clutch component of claim 18, wherein:each of said first plurality of grooves intersects a first draining edge of said first clutch face, each of said second plurality of grooves intersects a second draining edge of said second clutch face, said first and second clutch faces being attached to a common component for synchronous rotation about said axis of rotation.