GB730422A - New or improved friction device - Google Patents

Abstract

730,422. Friction clutches. LAMBERT BRAKE CORPORATION. Feb. 26, 1953 [Aug. 22, 1952], No. 5435/53. Class 80 (2). A torque-assisted disc clutch 7, 9 between shafts 1, 2 is engaged by axial movement of a sleeve 28 so as to move balls 29 radially along converging grooves 26, 27 in relatively-rotatable members 17, 21 and so move one of these latter axially to initiate clutch engagement, the member 17 rotating with the clutch discs 9 while the member 21 is adapted to be frictionally engaged with the end clutch disc 7, the grooves 26, 27 having inclined or curved side walls so as to provide self-tightening of the clutch under load. As shown in Fig.. 1, discs 7 are splined on a member 3 secured on shaft 1 and discs 9 are splined in a housing sleeve 11. Member 17 is secured in sleeve 11, while member 21, adapted to be frictionally engaged by the end disc 7, is secured on shaft 2, and the grooves 26, 27 converge outwardly. A backplate 12 is adjustably secured in sleeve 11. Sleeve 28 is loose on shaft 2 and on moving it to the left, by rocking a fork 41, its bevelled end 30 forces balls 29 outwardly, thus moving member 17, and with it sleeve 11 and plate 12s to the right against the action of return springs 31 to initiate clutch engagement, the ball, riding on to the cylindrical part of sleeve 28, as shown, so as to hold the clutch engaged until sleeve 28 is withdrawn to the right. In the form shown in Fig. 4, discs 7 are splined in a sleeve 11<SP>1</SP> secured to shaft 1 by a member 20<SP>1</SP>, discs 9 are splined on a member 31 coupled through a splined sleeve 2<SP>1</SP> to shaft 2, member 17 is adjustably secured on member 3<SP>1</SP>, a backing plate 451 is secured on member 31, and member 21, adapted to be frictionally engaged with the end disc 7, is freely mounted on member 3<SP>1</SP>. The control sleeve 28 encircles member 17 and, on moving it to the right, an inclined surface 30<SP>1</SP> therein forces the balls 29 inwards along 'the inwardly-converging grooves 26, 27 to move member 21 to the left, against the action of return springs 31<SP>1</SP>, to initiate clutch engagement, the balls riding on to the cylindrical interior of sleeve 28 so as to hold the clutch engaged.