GB615507A - Improvements in or relating to clutches for conveying rotary motion - Google Patents

Abstract

615,507. Clutches. BROCKHOUSE ENGINEERING (SOUTHPORT), Ltd., and GATISS, A. L. Feb. 11, 1946, No. 8195/48. Divided out of 614,928. [Class 80.(ii)] A friction clutch transmits torque up to a predetermined figure above which relative slip causes engagement of a positive clutch without further movement of the operating member, the one member of the positive dog clutch being moved axially by the operating member to contact the other dog clutch member, which is mounted for axial movement against yieldable means preventing such movement, so that on slip of the friction clutch the two dog members can engage. A clutch driving member 21 is splined to the driving shaft 20 and carries rotationally connected thereto a pressure plate 25, a driving plate 24 and a rigid abutment plate 23, the pressure plate being urged axially towards plate 23 by the springs 26. A V-groove 32 is formed between a face of the member 21 and an adjustable ball engaging ring 29 in which is located a series of balls 33, radial movement of which caused by a ramp 39 on a sleeve 36 produces disengagement of the friction clutch, the driven element of which is formed by driven plates 34 splined to the driving shaft 35. The operating sleeve 36 has a series of inwardly extending splines 40 whose ends 41, adjacent to the spring-loaded driven member' 46, are tapered in the direction of rotation, and are engageable on axial movement of the sleeve 36 with corresponding tapered splines 44. Movement of the sleeve 36 to the right first allows the balls to move radially outwards to engage the friction clutch, then the spline teeth 41, 44 engage after they have been substantially synchronized by the friction clutch, or if they are synchronized out of alignment, the member 46 moves against the springs 48 as the teeth meet in end-to-end engagement, full engagement occurring as soon as there is relative rotation due to torque above the predetermined maximum on the friction clutch. The invention is applicable to clutches used between a hydro-kinetic torque converter and a reverse or change-speed gear-box, where such a clutch is subject to a drag torque even when disengaged.