US1162190A

US1162190A - Clutch.

Info

Publication number: US1162190A
Application number: US660478A
Authority: US
Inventors: John A Randall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1910-12-08
Filing date: 1911-11-15
Publication date: 1915-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 1932-11-30

Description

J. A. RANDALL.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION HLED Nov. 15. 191|.

1 l 62,1 90., Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

I. A. RANDALL.

` cLuTcH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I5. I9II.

l 162,1 9U. I Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

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NVENTOR m MCL Mala.

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I y s gl J. A. RANDALL.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION man Nov. l5. 191|.

1 62,1 90. l Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

i @d/adx!! NVENTOR l//TJVESSES i All/army JOHN A. RANDALL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

CLUTCH.

Specification 'of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

Original application iiled December 8, 1910, Serial No. 596,183. Divided and this application led November 15, 1911. Serial No. 660,478.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. RANDALL, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have4 invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutches, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to clutches and its novelty consists in the construction and adaptation of the parts of a clutch adapted to couplethe driving shaft with a driven member in a mechanism including an automatic power measuring and recording dyna mometer mechanism in which the amount of power transmitted is measured, indicated,

and recorded, and when an overload is reached, the clutch is automatically released.

In a prior application filed by me Decem showing the clutch in a disengaging position and also showing the vwiring in diagrammatical outline; Fig. 4 is a reduced side elevation of the dial plate; Fig. 5 is a perspective of the driven shaft annulus; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the driving disk, parts being cut away to show concealed parts; Fig.,7 is a perspective of the releaser ring; Fig. 8 is a perspective of the releaser and shifter, and Fig. 9 is a representation of a tool for operating the shifter. l

In the drawings, 10 is a driving shaft actuated from a suitable prime mover indicated at 11. Fixed to it and revolving with it is a clutching plate 12, having a hub 13 provided with a key way 14 into which is rinsertedl a key 15 whereby it is -secured to theshaft 10, and also having a series of inserts 16 vof corkor othersuitable clutching material.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 10 is a second clutch plate 20 having a peripheral iiange 21, provided at several points with lugs 22 for a purpose which will presently appear, and provided also with an inwardly projecting annular hub or enlargement 23.

A driven shaft 30 is mounted to rotate in close proximity to the driving shaft 10 from which it is se arated by a small but appreciable space 1 Upon the outer end of this shaft 30 and adjacent to the inner end of the driving shaft 10 is a cylindrical hub 31 providedwith a key way indicated at 32 by which it is rigidly secured to the shaft 30 by a suitable key l(not shown). This hub is provided with an outwardly projecting annular {iange 33 adapted partially to embrace the hub 23 of the clutch plate 20. It is provided with an inwardly projecting gtoti 34 having angularly disposed sides A coiled spring 36 is secured at one end to the annular ange 21 of the clutch plate 20 by a screw 37 or similar means and at the other end to the hub 31 by a screw 38 or similar means.

Mounted loosely uponthe shaft 30 is a cylindrical shifting and releasing dev ice 40 provided with two annular grooves, one 41 adapted to receive aA forked tool (see Fig. 9) whereby it may be moved longitudinally along the shaft 30 and the other adapted to receive a divided ring indicated at 42 (see also Fig. 7). It is also provided with a projecting tooth 44 having angularly disposed sides 45, 45, arranged to contact with or engage the tooth 34 on the hub 31. Also secured to the shaft 30 by a strap 46 or other suitable means is a conducting pointer 47. A pulley 48 and belt 49 represent a connection between the driven shaft 30 and any machines which it may be intended to actuate.

In frontof the clutch plate 12 is arranged an annular disk or flat shoe 50, provided with projecting pins 51, engaging in apertures formed to receive them in the lugs 22 and with an interposed coiled spring 52 around each pin whereby the disk 50 is normally kept out of contact with the clutch plate 12.

Between, the frame 42 and the disk 50 is a link andL levermechanism indicated at 54 and made up of a series of sets of links and levers (see Fig. 1) whereby when the shifter 40 is moved toward the right (in Fig. 2) the clutching plate 12 is pressed against the clutched plate 2O and the cork inserts 16 are brought into contact with the outer surface of the plate 20 and consequently the rotary motion of the shaft 10 is imparted through this frictional contact to the plate 20.

Secured to the link and lever mechanism 54 at a suitable point is an electrical conductor removably and adjustably mounted in a bracket 56 and held in place by a set screw 57. Secured by a. bracket 58 to the ceiling or any other convenient place adjacent to the mechanism is a similar conductor 59 suitably insulated from the ceiling. A bracket 60 also secured to the ceiling or other convenient support and insulated therefromcarries a dial plate 61 suitably graduated at its edge 62 in terms of any appropriate notation. The center of the dial is coincident with the center of the shafts 10 and 30 and in the form illustrated the shaft passes through the dial.

Proper electrical connections are shown 1n diagram in Fig. 3 in which 80 is the battery, 81 is the primary coil, S2 is the vibrator or interrupter of the primary circuit, 83 is the secondary coil and 84 and 85 are the secondary circuits.

The' divided ring 42 comprises arcuate members 420 terminating in lugs 421 to which the 4link and lever mechanism is secured. The members 420 encircle the cylindrical body of the shifter 40 and frictionally engage the sides of the groove in which they are placed. The divided ring 42 may be placed at any position with respect to the shifter 40 and the latter may be so adjusted that its tooth 44 may have any position circularly with respect to theA tooth 34 on the right and through the link and lever mechanism 54 the plate or shoe 50 will,be pressed inwardly against the clutching plate 12 and the inserts 16 of the latter will frictionally engage the clutch plate 20 and the latter will turn with the shaft 10. As soon as the plate 20 begins to turn it winds up the spring 36 until the resistance of the shaft 30 is overcome and motion is imparted through the spring to the annular hub 31 and through it to the driven shaft 30 to which it is sccured. It is obvious that the angle through which the plate 20 is turned with respect 'to the annular hub 31 is a function of the power transmitted between the two shafts if the speed of the driven shaft is known. Since the plate 2O is rigidly counccted to the divided ring 42 through the link and lever mechanism, the tooth 44 always has, when rotating, a fixed phase angle relatively to any point on the plate 2O and therefore its motion is the same as that of plate 20. Since the tooth 34 is fixed to the hub 31, the motion of the tooth 34 is the same as that ofthe hub 31. rlhe change of the phase angle of the tooth 34 relative to the tooth 44 is a measure of the torque or power transmitted to the shaft 30 if the speed of the shaft is known. Now the relative phase angle of the tooth 34 and the tooth 44 is indicated and recorded by the electrical attachment described up to the special occasion when this angle between the teeth becomes zero which will be hereinafter considered.

As the tooth 44, the link and lever mechanism 54 and the conducting pointer 55 have a fixed angular phase relation, and as the tooth 34, the hub 31, the shaft 30, the strap 46 and the pointer 47 also have a fixed angular phase relation, the change in phase relation of the tooth 34 and the tooth 44 will be the same as the change in phase relation of the conducting pointer 55 and the conducting pointer 59.

The zero graduation upon the plate 61 is so placed that when the conductor 59 and the conductor 55 are directly opposite to it, there is no torque on the shaft, and a spark will jump from the conductor 59 to the conductor 55 and simultaneously from the pointer 47 to the zero mark on the dial. Vhen, however, the driving shaft is transmitting power to the driven shaft, the spark will jump from the conductor 59 to the conductor 55 when they are opposite, but since the pointer 47 will now be in a different phase relation to the conductor 55, the spark will jump to a different graduation on the dial 61 and not to the zero graduation, and the observed numerical value of this graduation will be a measure ofthe torque and consequently of the power transmitted.

A permanent record of the torque, and

consequently of the power at a given fixed` speed, is formed by the abrasion of the graduated disk, or suitable material placed on the face of the disk, caused by the spark; In case the torque increases to an amount which will reduce the phase angle between the surfaces of the tooth 34 and 44 to zero and is tending`to further increase, then the tooth 44 will contact with the tooth 34 and the opposing surfaces of the teeth will slide against each other and this will cause the shifter 40 to be moved longitudinally on the shaft, which in turn will move the divided ring 42 and through it the link and lever mechanism and the coupling plates 50 ,will free the driving clutch plate 20 from the driving clutch plate 12 and no power r'will then be transmitted and the driven shaft will stop.

The link and lever mechanism may be circularly adjusted with reference to the shifter 40 and consequently the angular displacement of the tooth 44 with respect to the tooth 34 before contact takes place may be so varied as to cause this release to occur at any load'which the operator may desire. In other words, it is a variable overload release capable of being set at any predetermined amount. It will be seen that in effect the mechanism in addition to the coupling of the driving .and driven shaft forming the subject matter of this application, comprises a dynamometer or means for measuring the over ran ni e ma or` e urin e p1 tV s1ttd,ensf mas gth torque, an automatic overload release and means for indicating and recording the measurement of power.

What I claim as new is :A

1. The combination with a driving shaft, a driven shaft, an intermediate clutch including an actuating device adapted to move the clutch to operative position, of an antomaticreleaser whereby the clutch is disengaged when the torque transmitted exceeds a predetermined amount, comprising a tooth moving with the driven shaft and a tooth mounted on the clutch actuating device and adapted to engage therewith.

2. In a device of the Ycharacter described, a driven shaft, a hub secured thereon, a driving shaft, a coiled spring connecting the driving shaft with the hub through a clutch and -a tooth on the hub, in'combination with a device for operating the clutch including aA shifter loosely mounted on the driven shaft and provided with a tooth adapted to engage with the tooth on the hub.

3. The combination with a driving-shaft, a driven shaft, an intermediate clutch, an actuating device adapted to move the clutch into operative position, and tooth engaging means associated with the driven shaft and the actuating device to move the clutch into inoperative position when the power transmitted exceeds the predetermined amount.

4. The combination with a driving shaft, a driven shaft, an intermediatelclutch, an actuating device arranged for longitudinal movement on the druiven shaft and adapted to move the clutch into operative position,

and engageable tooth means associated with the driven shaft and the actuating device to movev 'the clutch into inoperative position when the power transmitted exceeds the predetermined amount.

5. The combination with a driving shaft,

a driven shaft, an intermediate clutch, an

actuating device for the clutch arranged for longitudinal movement onthe driven shaft Y and adapted to move the clutch into operative position when 'moved in one direction, and coacting engageable tooth means on the driven shaft and the actuating device adapted when engaged to move the latter in the" actuating device having a link and lever connection with said clutch and adapted to move the clutch'into operative-position and automatic clutch releasing means comprising engageable teeth associated with the driven shaft and the actuating device adapted to throw the clutch into inoperative position when the power transmitted exceeds the predetermined amount.

8. In a device of the character described, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a clutch, an actuating device therefor to move the clutch into operative position, a hub rigidly secured to the driven shaft and carrying a projecting tooth, and a tooth on the actuating device adapted to contact with the first named tooth when the power transmitted exceeds a predetermined amount and thereby move the clutch into inoperative position.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOI-IN A.V RANDALL.

Witnesses: l l

ALAN C. MoDoNNELL, .0. W. SG1=mER,'Jr.