GB361433A - An improved centrifugal clutch - Google Patents

Abstract

361,433. Friction clutches. LOWNDES,A., 220,Annette Street, Toronto, Canada. Aug. 26, 1930, No. 25407. [Class 80 (ii).] In centrifugal clutches of the kind comprising floating friction elements disposed between the driving and driven members and movable into contact with the driven part by annular centrifugal blocks disposed radially within them, dogs projecting rigidly from the driving member have inclined faces contacting with the friction elements, tending to disengage them. The retarded action of the clutch renders it suitable for use with splitphase electromotors, allowing the starting winding to be thrown out prior to engagement. A driven drum 16, integral with a pulley 17, is loose on the driving-shaft 10 and coacts with friction shoes 24, which are disengaged by contact of their inclined ends 26 with the inclined ends 27 of dogs 15 on the flange 12 of a member 11 fast on the shaft 10. Centrifugal blocks 21 for thrusting the shoes into engagement slide radially on pins 20 extending from a ring 19, which is loosely mounted on the boss 13 of the driving member 11 so as to lag during acceleration. The blocks are interconnected to move in unison by projections 22 and recesses 23, and are retracted by a variably stressed spring ring 28 in an annular groove. The starting time of the clutch can be varied by increasing the weight of the shoes or decreasing that of the blocks.