GB645831A - Power drive centrifugal coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

645,831. Powder clutches. RANZI, U. Jan. 30, 1947, No. 2867. Convention date, Oct. 9, 1943. [Class 80(ii)] The adjacent working surfaces of the driving and driven members 2 4, Figs. 1 and 3, of a motor vehicle or other powder clutch are formed with curved grooves 5, 6 oblique relative to the radial direction and of opposite hand so that the interaction between them forces the working material, which may be graphite or talc, towards or away from the clutch periphery to effect clutching or declutching according to the mutual direction of rotation of the members 2, 4. As shown, the clutch is of the kind having a driven disc 4 co-acting with the walls of a driving casing 2. Several discs 4 may be used, each rigid with the output shaft and each co-acting either, Fig. 10 (not shown), with an individual bolted-up section, externally finned fore and aft for cooling, of a multiple driving casing, or, Fig. 6 (not shown) with a compartment of a single bolted-up driving casing which is similarly finned both peripherally and on the front and back walls. Continuous single, Fig. 7, or multiple spiral grooves may be used on each working surface, or an interrupted spiral groove, Fig. 9, of less pitch than width radially may be employed. The clutch members may be aligned relative to each other by ball or bronze bearings or may be individually supported without mutual mechanical contact so as to allow a universal action therebetween.