GB834755A - Improvements in or relating to clutch mechanisms - Google Patents

Abstract

834,755. Clutch combinations. REGIE NATIONALE DES USINES RENAULT. June 17, 1958 [June 18, 1957], No. 19377/58. Class 80 (2). A clutch mechanism comprises a centrifugal clutch having a driven disc 22 connected to an output shaft 2 by a one-way device permitting rotation of the output shaft by the input shaft 1 in one direction, and a driven clutch disc 23 connected to the output shaft by a one-way device permitting rotation in the opposite direction. Clutch plates 12, 18, 19 are axially slidable in a flywheel 6 fast with the input shaft, and an abutment plate 15 is fast with the flywheel. The disc 23 is clamped between plates 18, 19 by springs 20, plate 19 abutting plate 15, and is released by manually or semiautomatically operated means (not shown) acting on the plate 18. The centrifugal clutch plate 22 is clamped between plates 12, 19 by the action of radially slidable centrifugal wedges 8 which have antifriction balls or rollers 11 and are urged inwardly against a collar 10 by a spring 9. A spring 14 maintains the plate 12 in contact with the antifriction means 11. Plate 22 is connected by tangential springs to an elastic disc 24 having frictional contact with the plate 25 which is splined on the output shaft and with a plate 26 having a threaded connection with the hub of plate 25, thus providing a unidirectional connection transmitting driving, but not retarding, torques. Movement of plate 26 away from plate 25 is limited by a stop 27. Disc 23 is connected to the output shaft by a similar unidirectional connection which transmits retarding torques but not driving torque. It is arranged that the maximum retarding torque transmittable is less than the maximum driving torque, this may be effected by providing a friction-type torque limiting device between the disc 23 and the unidirectional connection, or by suitably choosing the material or the mean radius of the friction linings of the disc 23. In a modification, Fig. 2 (not shown), additional springs urge the plate 19 towards the abutment plate 15 so that the clamping force on disc 23 is less than that on disc 22. Instead of the centrifugal clutch and unidirectional drive devices shown, other conventional types of centrifugal clutch and free-wheel clutches may be employed.