Many different wear adjusting technologies in a clutch have been studied and proposed to get the best answer to the customer's needs; a new Self Adjusting Technnology (S.A.T.) which uses an adjuster/sensor system, located between the diaphragm spring and the pressure plate has been developed.
This system includes a ratched wheel, a worm screw, ramps in a pressure plate, a spring accumulator of energy.
It allows all the advantages of the clutch wear adjusting technology.
This means:
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to reduce packaging,
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to keep constant the clutch performances and comfort characteristics,
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to increase the clutch life time,
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with a cost effective solution.
In avoiding troubles as over or under adjustment under vibration, centrifugal, thermal and corrosion conditions.
This solution and the reasons why the functionnal choices have been done are described in this paper.