Importance

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Abstract

A device for the prevention of the abuse of a dry-plate clutch (1) for a motor vehicle with a manual gearbox, wherein the device acts jointly with a hydraulic master cylinder (3) and a related slave cylinder (4) in the operation of the clutch (1). The device comprises a valve unit (20) which is installed hydraulically in series with and between the master cylinder (3) and the slave cylinder (4). The valve unit opens when the valve body (32) is moved towards the slave cylinder (4). A first passage (53) which extends in the valve body (32) or in the valve housing (21) permits restricted fluid flow through the valve (20) when the valve unit (20) is closed. A device (33,35,41) keeps the valve unit (20) open when the clutch is located in positions between a position of maximum disengagement and a second position located close to the position in which the clutch begins to engage. During an engagement of the clutch which is so rapid that there is a risk of damage to the transmission, the force of a spring (40) which attempts to open the valve unit (20) becomes less than the force exercised by the hydraulic fluid on the valve body (32) and attempts to close the valve unit (20), thus causing it to be moved towards its seat (31), whereupon the fluid is forced to flow through the passage (53).

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First Claim