GB510270A - Improvements in rotary power transmission mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

510,270. Hydraulic transmission of power; clutches. SINCLAIR, H. Jan. 31, 1938, No.3047. [Class 69 (ii)] [Also in Group XXIV] A power-transmission mechanism comprises a driving-motor, a slipable coupling having between its driving and driven parts bearing means which maintain these parts in accurate coaxial alignment, and an outboard bearing so mounted as to be maintained in substantially rigid alignment with the motor shaft and serving to support the coupling on the side remote from the motor, the driving part of the coupling being connected to the shaft by a universal joint comprising at least one flexible 'diaphragm in such manner as to render the shaft capable of angular displacement relative to the driving part about all axes normal to the shaft at the effective centre of the joint but substantially incapable of lateral displacement at the centre. In one embodiment, Fig. 3, the rotary element is a hydraulic coupling of the kinetic type and the impeller 20 is driven from the crank-shaft 11A ,by means of a steel diaphragm 13 bolted at its centre to a light flywheel 33 fixed to the shaft and at its periphery to the impeller. A part spherical spigot 21 on the impeller engages, with a close working fit, in the bore of a hub 15 fixed to the shaft to prevent lateral movement of the coupling. The shaft 27A of the runner 26 is journalled in bearings 28, 29 in the impeller and its casing-member 25 respectively and is connected by a universal coupling 36 to the input shaft 35 of a gear-box 34. Bearings 31A, 31a for the shaft 35 form the outboard bearing for the hydraulic coupling. In a modification, the flywheel 33 and coupling 36 are omitted. As applied to a friction clutch, the driving-member 42, 43, Fig. 4, of the clutch is connected to the coupling flange 40 of the crank-shaft 11B by a flexible steel diaphragm 13B, and a damping disc 54 on the flange 40 bears against the rim 43 of the diaphragm to damp vibrations of the shaft 11B. The driven plate 44 is splined to a shaft 27B journalled in bearings 28B, 29B, 31B in the flange 40, clutch cover 46 and gear-box housing 34B respectively. A clutch-withdrawal collar 53 is coupled by slidable keys 51 to a thrust ring 50 bearing against levers 49 inside the cover 46 for withdrawing the presser-plate 45. Instead of the arrangements described, the centre of the diaphragm may be fixed to the rotary element and its outer border to a member fixed to the driving shaft. Two such diaphragms with their inner and outer edges fixed together may be used. Specification 400,741 is referred to.