Patent 7690491 was granted and assigned to Honda on April, 2010 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A twin-clutch device includes first and second clutch actuating mechanisms; a first clutch disconnection/connection control mechanism for exerting on the first clutch actuating mechanism a controlling force for switching disconnection/connection of the first clutch actuating mechanism; and a second clutch disconnection/connection control mechanism for exerting on the second clutch actuating mechanism a controlling force for switching disconnection/connection of the second clutch actuating mechanism. The first and second clutch disconnection/connection control mechanisms include control actuating members that are supported on a fixing member in a non-rotating state while being allowed to move in a direction along rotation axes of a first driven rotary member and second driven rotary member, the control actuating members being respectively connected to first and second clutch actuating mechanisms via bearings. The clutch so configured reduces the inertial mass by reducing the weight of the rotary portion of the clutch.