GB1027188A - Power transmission coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

1,027,188. Hydraulic couplings. F. A. DEPUYDT Dec. 30, 1964, No. 52913/64. Heading F2C. [Also in Division B7] An hydraulic coupling between input shaft 108 and output shafts 129, 138 connected by chain transmissions to two vehicle wheels, Fig. 2, not shown, comprises a housing 99, 101 connected to shaft 108 and having a vaned disc 113 dividing the housing into chambers 116, 117 connected by ports 121 in disc 113. In chamber 117 two vaned rotors 128, 144 are connected to shafts 129, 138 and face the vaned disc 113 and the vaned housing wall 122; the shaft 129 is supported through a roller bearing 131 on a stub axle fixed between disc 113 and housing hub 106. In chamber 116 a cage 150 rotatable on hub 106 carries radially movable blocks 151 biased by springs 156 toward the hub. The cage comprises two discs 154, 155 and U-shaped members 158; grooves in the blocks 151 engage the members 158 for radial guidance and rods 166 fixed to members 158 have two notches which are engaged by spring-pressed plungers in the blocks, Fig. 10, not shown, to hold the blocks in their inner or outer radial positions. In operation, as shaft 108 and the housing increase speed, hydraulic fluid in chamber 116 causes the cage to rotate and eventually due to centrifugal force the blocks move outwardly to force fluid through ports 121 into chamber 117 to establish a coupling between the housing and disc 113 and the rotors 144, 128. When shaft 108 slows down, the springs 156 eventually overcome the centrifugal force and the action of the plungers on blocks 151 to return them to the shown position and allow the fluid to be drained from chamber 117 to chamber 116. In Fig. 3, not shown, the blocks are guided by and rotate with the housing.