GB801041A - Improvements in or relating to clutches - Google Patents

Abstract

801,041. Centrifugal clutches. RANSOMES, SIMS & JEFFERIES, Ltd.; and PLUMB, A. B. April 25, 1956 [Dec. 13, 1955], No. 35802/55. Class 80 (2). A centrifugal friction clutch where weights carried on one of the clutch members force the clutch members together under centrifugal force has manual means for moving the weights axially to disengage the clutch. An engine shaft 10 carries rigid therewith a front plate 2 to which is secured, through a band 4 and studs 5, a rear plate 3 having a pulley 8 mounted thereon. The bore 23 of the pulley 8 forms a bearing for the bars 19 attached at its rear end 'to a withdrawal collar 44 and at its front end to a substantially triangular withdrawal plate 48 whose apices slide on the studs 5 under the engaging pressure of springs 50. Midway along the sides of the plate 48 are radially slotted lugs 51 carrying spindles 53 on each of which are mounted a roller 55 and two weights 54. The rollers 55 bear on bell-crank levers 57 pivoted on lugs 59 projecting from an annular ring 46 slidable on the studs 5 against the action of springs 47 to frictionally engage a friction disc 42 between the ring 46 and the front plate 2. The friction disc 42 is rigid with a sleeve 36 journalled on a flange 38 secured to the plate 1, and is coupled to a boss 25 through a series of link-plates 32 and rubber or like flexible blocks 31 to provide a flexible coupling. The boss 25 is splined to the driven shaft 18. In the dis- engaged position the plate 48 is moved rearwards such that the spindles 53 of the centrifugal weights are radially aligned with the fulcra 58 of the bell-crank levers and thus no centrifugal face will be transmitted to the bell-crank levers. Axial movement of the plate 48 forwards allows the rollers 55 to move along the bell-crank levers and pivot them about the fulcra 58 until the arms 60 abut adjusting screws 62, and thus urge the ring 46 to engage the clutch.