GB224986A - Improvements in or relating to clutch mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

224,986. Alexander, F. H. Sept. 5, 1923. Operating clutches and toothed wheels. - In means for engaging clutches and toothed wheels without shock, applicable to locomotive boosters, &c. snrew-and-nut means are adapted to interengage when the speeds of the clutch &c. parts are substantially identical, and axial movement of the screw or nut releases locking-means, thus allowing the clutch &c. to be engaged under spring, manual, or power pressure. In Figs. 2 and 7, the gear-wheel 5' to be engaged with a wheel 4, is secured to a drum 26, in which is splined a nut 17 provided with part-threads 16 adapted to coact with similar threads 15 on a screw member 27. The wheel 5<1> is splined to slide on the shaft 2 and the screw 27 carries wheel 28 similar to the wheel 5<1> and gearing with the wheel 4. When the speeds of the parts 17, 27 are substantially different, the screw threads cannot engage, but when the part 17 is slowly over-running the part 27, the, threads 16 can pass helically through the threads 15. If, at this time, axial pressure is applied' by hand or power upon the collar 28<1>, the wheel 5<1> is actuated and engages the wheel 4 as the threads disengage. The gear ratio of the wheels 4, 28 may be such that the velocities of the wheels 4, 5<1> are equal during the engaging-action. Springs 29 connecting the parts 26, 17 allow the wheel 5<1> to be disengaged from the wheel 4 when desired, the teeth 16 passing through the teeth 15 to allow the nut 17 to follow the wheel 5<1> when the nut is rotating slightly more slowly than the screw 27. Fig. 1 shows a modification in which a wheel 6 is pressed by a spring 10 towards engagement with a wheel 4, but is restrained both by a collar 23 removable by hand or power and by a collar 21 connected by a link 20 and lever 18 to the automatic screw-and-nut control on a shaft 2 driven by the wheel 6. The nut member 17 is splined on the shaft 2 and the screw member 14 is driven by chain gearing 13 from the wheel 4 so that the velocities of the screw and nut are equal when those of the wheels 4 and 6 are equal. Provided the collar 23 is out of restraining position, the spring 10 engages the wheels 6, 4 when the collar 21 is permitted to move towards the wheel 6 by the action of the screw-and-nut control. A spring 25<1> returns the teeth 16 through the teeth 15 when conditions permit. Fig. 3 shows a construction in which the wheels 5', 4 may engage when either of the screw-and-nut controlling-members over-runs the other. The screw member 27<1> is splined upon a sleeve 29 secured to the shaft 2 and tends to be placed by internal springs midway between the wheel 28 and a flange 29<1> on the sleeve 29. so that the teeth 16 engage midway with the teeth 15. A cam 30 on the member 27<1> is adapted to lift a lever 31 from the path of a stop 34 on a rod 35 moving with the gear-wheel operating-collar 36. The cam lifts the lever 31 so that the gear wheel can be moved, whichever way the teeth 16 are passing through the teeth 15. Specification 126,194 is referred to.