GB744943A - Improvements in or relating to clutches - Google Patents

Abstract

744,943. Positive clutches. HARVEY, Ltd.. W., and HARVEY, J. W. Oct. 11, 1954 [Aug, 24, 1953], No. 23288/53. Class 80(2) A positive clutch comprises a disc 1 in which is a groove 3 extending round a circle having an axis eccentric to the main axis of the Clutch, and a disc 2 having a corresponding eccentric ridge 4 to engage in the groove when the discs are moved together. The single groove and ridge 3, 4 shown can be replaced by sets of grooves and of ridges each on circles having the same centre arranged eccentrically with respect to the main clutch axis. Alternatively, the groove and ridge 3, 4 can be interrupted instead of continuous, or the groove can be continuous and the ridge interrupted, &c. The disc 1 is keyed to a sleeve 7 in turn secured to a driving 'shaft 5. The disc 2 is fast on a carrier disc 11 axially slidable on but rotating with a driven shaft 10. The sleeve 7 on the driving shaf t5 extends round and centres the driven shaft 10 by means of a bearing 18. A flange 9 on the sleeve 7 has holes receiving sliding bolts 23 which extend therethrough and carry at their ends a cone shaped friction clutch member 20. The clutch member 20 is biased to the right of the Figure, to engage with a corresponding conical friction surface 19 in the driven disc 2, by light springs 21. Heavy springs 14 between a disc 15 fast on the driven shaft 10 and the driven disc 2, &c., bias the latter to the left of the Figure to engage the clutch; the clutch is held in the disengaged position shown by a member having a running engagement with a groove 17 in the disc 11 and .operated by external linkwork (not described). In the disengaged position, the friction cone 20 is just free of the coned surface 19 on the driven disc 2. To engage the clutch, the external linkwork is operated to allow the springs 14 to move the disc 2, &c., to the left. This first engages the friction clutch 19, 20 to effect synchronization of the driving and driven discs. The springs 14 being stronger than the springs 21, the latter are then overcome and, when the positions of the groove 3 and ridge 4 coincide, positive engagement is effected.