GB537201A - Improvements in or relating to operating mechanism for friction clutches - Google Patents

Abstract

537,201. Friction clutch operating mechanism. BORG & BECK CO., Ltd. April 30, 1940, No. 7739. Convention date, June 26, 1939. [Class 80 (ii)] Friction clutch operating mechanism, in which the clutch-engaging pressure is applied to a lever 35 by an operator, includes a resilient connection 46 between the lever 35 and the clutch 12 and a latching member 63 associated with the lever 35. The latching member 63 is arranged to lock the lever 35 in clutch-engaging position and to be moved into an inoperative position to allow of clutch disengagement upon movement of the lever 35 beyond the clutchengaging position. As shown, a friction clutch 12 is engaged upon depression of the lever 35 which is pivoted at 37 to a fixed bracket 38, the clutch-engaging pressure being transmitted from the lever 35 through a resilient connection 46 and linkwork 55, 56, 61, 32, 25, sliding sleeve 22 and levers 19 to a pressure plate 14. The link 32 is of adjustable length. The latch 63 is pivoted at 64 to the bracket 38 and has a hook 65 engageable with a finger 45 on the lever 35 and projections 70, 72, engageable with a pin 71 on the lever 35. A tension spring 66 with its ends fixed at 67, 68, to the bracket 38 and latch 63, respectively, tends to move the latch 63 clockwise or anti-clockwise according as to whether its axis is to the right or to the left of the pivot point 64. The resilient connection 46 consists of a cylinder 47 and a headed rod 50, a compression spring 52 being housed between the head 51 of the rod 50 and the end 53 of the cylinder. When disengaged, the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 1. Upon depression of the lever 35 the clutch 12 is engaged. When full engagement is obtained the spring 66 snaps the latch 63 clockwise to engage the hook 65 with the finger 45. To de-clutch, the lever 35 is depressed still further so that the pin 71 thereon engages the projection 70 and the latch 63 under the action of the spring 66 moves anticlockwise to release the hook 65, as shown in Fig. 4. The lever 35 is then released so that it returns to the de-clutching position. During the final part of this movement, the pin 71 engages the projection 72 and the latch 63 is re-set to the position shown in Fig. 1.