GB842171A - Improvements in or relating to speed-responsive clutches - Google Patents

Abstract

842,171. Friction clutches. FICHTEL & SACHS A.G. July 4, 1957 [July 7, 1956], No. 21254/57. Class 80 (2). A centrifugal friction clutch for motor vehicles comprises centrifugal masses 3, 4 mounted on a floating carrier 5 which is connected to the driving member 1 by a spring- loaded friction slip coupling, e.g. 11, Fig. 1, which limits the maximum acceleration of the carrier and thus limits the rate of frictional engagement of the masses 3, 4 with driving and driven members 1, 2. The masses 3, 4 are retracted by springs 6, 7 and are guided by pins 8, 9. In Fig. 2 (not shown), the separate slip coupling 11 is omitted, and the masses 3 are permanently spring-pressed into engagement with the driving member 1 to act as a slip coupling at low speeds. In Fig. 3, a centrifugal mass 24 is pivoted on a presser plate 22 and connected to a presser plate 21 by a tie-rod 25, the presser plates being urged apart by a spring 26. The driving member 18 drives the plate 21 and weight assembly through a slip coupling 27 ... 29 which limits the maximum acceleration of the assembly. On being driven the mass 24 pivots outward drawing together the presser plates which in turn force the driven member 19, which is splined or keyed to the output shaft, towards the driving member 18 coupling them together through a friction member 20. The friction member 20 may be replaced by a ball or roller thrust bearing, the drive being transmitted through the presser plates 21, 22. The maximum acceleration limit may be adjusted by having unequal masses 3, 4 and/or different friction facings thereon, or in Fig. 3, by having different friction facings on the members 18, 19. The driven member may also be frictionally coupled to the carrier, the frictional adhesion being less than that of the slip coupling.