Granted Patent B2

US 8,087,146 · App. 11/971,992 · Granted Jan 3, 2012

Abstract

Claims (65)

1. A fixture for alignment of a plurality of splined plates within an assembly, the fixture comprising:

a central body;

a first fixed finger integrally formed with or rigidly attached to a first fixed portion of said central body;

a first movable finger integrally formed with or rigidly attached to a first movable portion of said central body;

wherein said first movable finger is free to oscillate back and forth relative to said first fixed finger to assist the alignment of said plurality of splined plates within said assembly; and

wherein said first movable portion is attached to said first fixed portion through at least one bearing joint.

2. The fixture of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second and a third fixed finger integrally formed with or rigidly attached to a second and a third fixed portion, respectively, of said central body;

a second and a third movable finger integrally formed with or rigidly attached to a second and a third movable portion, respectively, of said central body; and

wherein said second and said third movable finger are free to oscillate back and forth relative to said second and said third fixed fingers to assist the alignment of said plurality of splined plates within said assembly.

3. The fixture of claim 2 :

wherein said first, said second and said third fixed and movable fingers are arranged substantially symmetrically around said central body; and

wherein said first, said second and said third fixed and movable fingers are aligned substantially parallel to one another.

4. The fixture of claim 1 in combination with said assembly:

wherein said assembly is a clutch housing assembly; and

said plurality of splined plates include a first set of clutch plates having first inner spline teeth and a second set of clutch plates having second inner spline teeth.

5. The fixture of claim 4 :

wherein said first fixed finger and said first movable finger have a variable cross-section including an upper portion and a lower portion;

wherein said upper portion of said first fixed finger and said first movable finger includes a first tapered section and a first straight section having a first protrusion, said first protrusion being configured to engage with said first inner spline teeth of said first set of clutch plates; and

wherein said lower portion of said first fixed finger and said first movable finger includes a second tapered section and a second straight section having a second protrusion, said second protrusion being configured to engage with said second inner spline teeth of said second set of clutch plates.

6. The fixture of claim 5 , wherein:

said first set of clutch plates have an inside diameter sufficiently exceeding an upper outer diameter of said fixture such that said clutch housing assembly is sufficiently fittable over said fixture; and

said second set of clutch plates have an inside diameter sufficiently exceeding a lower outer diameter of said fixture such that said clutch housing assembly is sufficiently fittable over said fixture.

7. The fixture of claim 6 :

wherein said clutch housing assembly is placed onto said fixture;

wherein said first movable finger oscillates back and forth allowing said first and said second inner spline teeth to locate and register around said first and said second protrusion, respectively, thereby aligning said first and said second inner spline teeth;

wherein a first bottom plate in said first set of clutch plates descends by gravity down said first protrusion as said first inner spline teeth register around said first protrusion, allowing a plate above said first bottom plate in said first set of clutch plates to be aligned in turn; and

wherein a second bottom plate in said second set of clutch plates descends by gravity down said second protrusion as said second inner spline teeth register around said second protrusion, allowing a plate above said second bottom plate in said second set of clutch plates to be aligned in turn.

8. The fixture of claim 7 , wherein said movable finger defines an angle of oscillation of approximately 8 degrees.

9. The fixture of claim 7 , wherein:

said first protrusion on said first movable finger hooks onto one edge of said first inner spline teeth of said first set of clutch plates;

said first protrusion on said first fixed finger hooks onto a remaining other edge of said first inner spline teeth of said first set of clutch plates;

said second protrusion on said first movable finger hooks onto one edge of said second inner spline teeth of said second set of clutch plates;

said second protrusion on said first fixed finger hooks onto a remaining other edge of said second inner spline teeth of said second set of clutch plates; and

wherein the opposite orientation of said first and second protrusions on said first movable and fixed fingers holds the alignment of said first and said second sets of clutch plates in place.

10. The fixture of claim 9 , further comprising a centering post to center said clutch housing assembly as said clutch housing assembly is placed over said fixture.

11. The fixture of claim 10 ,

wherein said clutch housing assembly further includes a housing enclosing a circuit to allow flow of fluid; and

wherein said first set and said second set of clutch plates are locked into position by introducing compressed air into said circuit once said clutch housing assembly is fully seated onto said fixture.

12. A method of aligning a plurality of clutch plates within a clutch housing assembly, comprising:

placing said clutch housing assembly onto a fixture, wherein said fixture includes:

a central body;

a first fixed finger mounted or integrally formed on a first fixed portion of said central body;

a first movable finger mounted or integrally formed on a first movable portion of said central body;

wherein said clutch housing assembly includes:

a first set of clutch plates with a plurality of plates having first inner spline teeth; and

a second set of clutch plates with a plurality of plates having second inner spline teeth;

descending said first set of clutch plates by gravity through a first tapered section of said first movable and said first fixed fingers into a first straight section;

descending said second set of clutch plates by gravity through a second tapered section of said first movable and said first fixed fingers into a second straight section; and

oscillating said first movable finger back and forth with respect to said first fixed finger to allow said first and said second inner spline teeth of said first set and said second set of clutch plates to locate and register around a first protrusion and a second protrusion, respectively, on said first movable and first fixed fingers.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

descending a first bottom plate in said first set of clutch plates by gravity down and around said first protrusion as said first inner spline teeth register around said first protrusion, allowing a plate above said first bottom plate in said first set of clutch plates to be aligned in turn; and

descending a second bottom plate in said second set of clutch plates by gravity down and around said second protrusion as said second inner spline teeth register around said second protrusion, allowing a plate above said second bottom plate in said second set of clutch plates to be aligned in turn.

14. A fixture for alignment of a plurality of clutch plates within a clutch housing assembly, the fixture comprising:

a central body;

first, second and third fixed fingers integrally formed or mounted to a first, second and third fixed portion, respectively, of said central body;

first, second and third movable fingers integrally formed or mounted to a first, second and third movable portion, respectively, of said central body;

wherein said first, said second and said third movable fingers are free to oscillate back and forth relative to said first, said second and said third fixed fingers to assist the alignment of said plurality of clutch plates within said clutch housing assembly; and

wherein said clutch housing assembly includes a first set of clutch plates having first inner spline teeth and a second set of clutch plates having second inner spline teeth.

15. The fixture of claim 14 :

wherein said first fixed finger and said first movable finger have a variable cross-section including an upper portion and a lower portion;

wherein said upper portion of said first fixed finger and said first movable finger includes a first tapered section and a first straight section having a first protrusion;

wherein said lower portion of said first fixed finger and said first movable finger includes a second tapered section and a second straight section having a second protrusion;

wherein said first protrusion is configured to engage with said first inner spline teeth of said first set of clutch plates; and

wherein said second protrusion is configured to engage with said second inner spline teeth of said second set of clutch plates.

Assignments (12)