GB700134A - Improvements in centrifugal clutches - Google Patents

Abstract

700,134. Friction clutches. S. I.B.A. Soc. Il. BREVETTI AUTOMOBILISTICI - AR.L., and KREIS, F. Aug. 30, 1951 [Aug. 30, 1950]. No. 20497/51. Class 80 (2) A centrifugally operated friction clutch, particularly . for automatic change speed motor . vehicle gears, comprising main, radially movable, sector shaped centrifugal weights 23, each pivotally connected by a pin 29 to levers 15 pivoted on pins 18 to a centrifugal weight carrier 17, is characterized by locking balls 12 being freely arranged in holes 13 of the levers, to engage on one side with coned surfaces 31 of the centrifugal weight carrier and on the other side with a member 11 abutting a 'thrust bearing 10, body 9 and resistance centrifugal weights 5. A driving shaft 1 carries a drum 3 and a disk 4 engaged by friction linings 27 on pressure plates 26 urged axially by balls 25, when the centrifugal weights 23 move cutwards against the force of a garter spring 24. A sleeve 19 is rotatable on the shaft 1 and is driven from this shaft by gearing, not shown, and carries a member 21 having axial pins 22; these pins engage with straight surfaces 28 on arms of the pivoted levers 15 to impart rotation to the centrifugal weight carrier 17. The resistance centrifugal weights 5 are radially guided by pins 6 on the disc 4 and are urged inwardly by a garter spring 7 ; when they move outwards under the influence of centrifugal force, inclined surfaces 8 engage the body 9 and thus impart an axial thrust to the locking balls 12 in the holes 13, which accordingly tend to oppose outward movements of the weights 23 to engage the clutch. The clutch can be disengaged in the normal way by decreasing the speed of rotation until the weights 23 are pulled inwards by the garter spring 24 and also by the application of an excessive load to the sleeve 19 ; this load moment acts through the pins 22 engaging the straight surfaces 28 of the levers 15, and tends to urge the weights 23 to move inwardly at a higher rotational speed than they would otherwise. Specification 689,543 is referred to.