GB405429A - Fluid-actuated clutches - Google Patents

Abstract

405,429. Clutches. RILEY, P., Castle Works, Aldbourne Road, Coventry. Nov. 15, 1932, No. 32276. [Class 80 (ii).] Members 11, 15 are adapted to be clutched together by one or more pistons 20 slidable longitudinally in the member 11 and cooperating with a cam surface on the member 15, the piston or pistons being operated from a source of fluid pressure introduced on the opening of a control valve. As shown, a gear wheel 11 is loosely mounted on a shaft 12 between members 15, 21 secured thereto. There are eight pistons in the member 11 and the cam surface has two crests 16 and two hollows 17. Pressure oil is supplied, under the control of a main valve, through a duct 23 in the shaft and radial passages 27 to two diametrically-opposed arcuate grooves 24 in the face of the member 21. When the main valve is opened, oil passes into the two piston chambers 19 which at the moment have their inlet openings 25 in register with the grooves 24. The corresponding pistons 20 are thus forced against the hollows 17 and frictionally take up the drive. When, during slip, the openings 25 pass out of register with the grooves 24, oil is trapped in the chambers 19 and the pistons engage the rising faces 18 of the cam surface, and a substantially solid drive results. As leakage occurs, further slip is produced and succeeding pistons take up the drive. On release of the oil pressure, spring-loaded valves 29, which control communication between outlets 28 and arcuate grooves 24<1> on the face of the member 21 and which are normally closed by the oil pressure acting through radial passages 22, open, thus releasing the trapped oil. In a modification, the valves 29 are replaced by spring-loaded balls 30, Fig. 5, adapted to be positively depressed by a flange 32 on a slidable sleeve 31. The clutch may be employed in the gear-boxes of motor-vehicles or as a tail clutch therefor.