GB282018A - Improvements in or relating to clutches for self-propelled vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

282,018. Renault, L. Dec. 10, 1926, [Convention date]. Clutches, friction and claw.-In clutches for motor vehicles, a lightly-engaged mechanical clutch is combined with an hydraulic clutch. A weak spring 10 acts through a member 11 and ball thrust bearing 12 on the driven member 8 of a cone clutch, the driving-member 7 of which is carried by a cylinder 6, loose on the driving- shaft 1. Planet pinions 4, forming gear pumps, are carried by the flywheel 2 and mesh with a sun-wheel 5 on the member 6. To start the vehicle, the clutch pedal is depressed to displace the driven shaft 9, a gear brought into mesh, and the clutch 7, 8 re-engaged. The cylinder 6 is thus at rest, and the gear pumps 4 circulate oil freely from a rotating casing 15 through discharge passages 16 - - 21. On depressing the accelerator pedal, a valve 13 connected thereto throttles the passages 20 and drive commences, the passages 20 finally being entirely closed. To enable the friction clutch to transmit full torque, the member 11 is made oil-tight in the cylinder 6, as by a leather ring 22, so that the oil-pressure in the space A supplements the spring 10. The cone clutch may be replaced by a plate, segment, or claw clutch, in which latter case the member 11 need not be oil-tight. The gear pumps may be replaced by turbine or axially or radially arranged piston pumps.