SPRING HOLDING DEVICE FOR CLUTCH

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To fit a retainer to a clutch plate without a clearance by connecting connecting pieces to both sides of the guide plate entering an annular recessed part at the back face of the clutch plate, and fitting the connecting pieces to end face holding parts of the retainer for holding a coil spring. SOLUTION: A friction clutch 13 in a fluid torque convertor has a clutch plate 8 with an annular recessed part 11 formed open at its back face, and friction material 12 that can come in pressure contact with the back face of a front case 2 is fixed to the front face side of the clutch plate 8. The appropriate number of cushioning coil springs 14 and end plates 141 integrated with the coil springs 14 are circumferentially arranged in the annular recessed part 11, and a heat-treated wear resistant guide plate 15 is interposed between the coil spring 14 and the annular recessed groove 11. A retainer 16 is provided to hold the coil spring 14 in the annular recessed groove 11, but an L-shape connecting piece 152 in the guide plate 15 is brought into close contact with the outer surface of a channel end face holding part 163 of the retainer 16 to integrate the guide plate 15 with the retainer 16.