US1909918A - Clutch - Google Patents

Description

May 16, 1933. H. 1.. TANNER 1,909,913

' CLUTCH Original med May 5, 1926 I N 5 U LAT l O N BY Her/47L Tanner A TTORNE Y6 INVENTOR Patented May'jlfi, 1933 i I I UNITED 4 STATES PATENT OFFICE many 1.. rum or new roax, America 110 roan ms'rnum'mr con-- rm, me, or more mm crrr, zmw roar, a comm-non or m rem;

more! Original application fled Kay 5', 1988, Serial Io. 10 6317. Divided and this application fled l'uly Mi This invention relates to clutches, and more particularl. to clutches electrically controlled to drive the output elements in reversibledirections at variable speeds. Such a clutch may be controlled in any desired manner, one suitable means being by a variable speed control mechanism of the type shown in the parent application, Serial No. 106,917, filed May 5, 1926, of which this application is a division. v

,The principal object of this invention is to provide a device for producing variable speed motion in reversible directions from a given source of power supply. A further object is to reduce inertia e ects to a minimum so that changes in speed and complete reversals may be made quickly and'accurately. Such a device has many applications, a typical one being in a follow-upsystem as disclosed in the parent application which provides a system having relatively movable primary (followed) and secondary (follow-- er) elements, the latter being driven by a clutch of the type herein disclosed. A vibratory member may be used to control the clutch by rapidly varying the energization thereof proportionally to the movements of the primary element. Inasmuch as the members'cont'rolling both forward and reverse directions of movement are energized by the vibratory 111 e and break action but for varying lengt of time depending upon the direction of movement of the primary, the secondary element is capable of instantaneoils and minutely variable movement so that a smooth positive following motion of the secondary element results.

Other objects'and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description of a'preferred embodiment of'the invention as illustrated by the accompanying drawing. v

- The single figure shows a reversing clutch mechanism which is the preferred form of 'this invention, the same being connected to a variable speed control device as disclosed and claimed in the parent application.

Referring to the drawing, numeral 1 desigtype coils20 and 21 are connected by lead 22 to nates a contact trolley or roller of conducting material and which is connected toone side 2 of the electrical supply line,the other side of which isdesignated 3. Contact roller 1 represents the primary or followed element 1 of the system, the movements of which are adapted to be followed by the secondary or following element, and which maybe repre-.

sented by commutator 4 consisting essential- ,l'y of spaced contacts 5 and 6 mounted upon a block of insulating material. A pair of leads 7 and 8 are attached tocontacts 5nd 6, respectively, and to magnetic vibrator coils 9 and 10, respectively, whereby a lateral reclprocatory or vibratory motion is impart ed to member 4 as roller 1 engages either one of contacts 5 or 6 and thus alternately energizes magnet coils 9 and 10, respectively.

The commutator 4; pivotally ,mounted' at 1 11 and carries an armature 12 which is attracted to either magnet coil 9 or '10 according to whether roller 1 e either one of contacts 5 or 6, r

armature 12 will be-drawn toward coil 9,

' thereby causing roller 1 to engage contact 6 2 ofthe electrical supply lineby lead 15 are a pair of resistances 16 and 17 which are adapted to balance; conductors -5 and 6 respectively, so that there will be no sparlring as roller 1 moves between contacts 5 and 6. Resistances 16 and 17 have an additional utility which. will be explained hereinafter.

Connected to vibratory coils .9 and 10 by means of leads 18 and 19 are the opposite coils 20 and 21, respectively, of the electromagnetic clutch which is preferably of the The terminals of clutch the. other side-f the electrical supply line.

ive y. It will be seenthat when coil 9, or example, is energized by engagement of roller "1' with contact #1,.

I v responding accuracy results.

The clutch, being power driven, actuates the secondary element in accordance with the movements of the primary element, inasmuchas the clutch is intermittently energized so that it imparts .a series of pressure impulses of a varyin degree with extreme rapidity to the secon ary element, which produce the effect of a constant and smooth following motion. Moreover, such rapidenergization and variable ressure of the clutch imparts great sensitivlty to the mechanism and a cor- If a hunting tendency between the primary and secondary. elements of the system develops, contact lever 23, which moves with the primary element of the system to which roller 1 is connected, through the use and arrange-.

ment of means not shown, engages either one of contacts 24 or 25, which are mounted on the secondary element and are connected to leads-'18 and 19,resp.ectively. Inasmuch as contact lever 23 is connected to side 2 of the sistance 27, which is equivalentto the resistance of the circuit above leads 18 and 19, a short circuit is established between line 2 through resistance 27, lead 26, lever 23 and either contact 24"or to either clutch coil 20 or 21, respectively. Accordingly, if a secondary-element carrying commutator 4, tends to 'hunt or overrun-to either one side or the other, another circuit isesta-blished through the clutch coil ion the same side to increase the clutching effect or pressure, whereupon the secondary member is actuated to decrease the time of return of roller 1 back to its centralpositiom; Accordinglymechanicaldamping is effected in the clutch and hunting is prevented as well as overrunning, masmuch as the reversal takes place 99 out of phase with 'the movement of roller 1, that is, when roller- .1: is halfway' in its path to one side of its central position.

Resistances '16 and 17: are preferably so designed that clutch coils 20 and 21 are never completely dei-energized, but'that there is a continual leakage through lead 15 and through resistances 16 and 17 when there is no relativejmovement between the primary and secondary elements, nor is one side of the clutch completely 'de -energized when the.

other side is energized and drawing the secondary element to follow the movements of the primary element; The purpose being that any sudden'energization or reversal in the energization 'f-rom one side of the clutchto P the other side isimmediately transmitted to the driven parts without the delay common- 1y occasioned by'the' inertia of the moving parts. Such alternating energization, however, is insufiicient to cause any appreciable frictional resistance or dragging in the clutch when itis driving the secondary element,

' since the virtually continuous hunting of the clutch is too rapid for the immediate responseelectrical supply line by lead 26, through reof the secondary element, which accordingly;

-- and21 which are mounted in a clutch ring keyed upon and adapted to continually rotate with shaft 44, which is driven from "a suitable power source. The "coils are connected, through slip rings; 7 5 on the ring 45, to their respective brushes 52. and 54 and the common brush 53. Clutch rin'g4'5 also carries a pair of friction rings 58 and 59 which are always in close proximity to friction discs 60 and 61 which are securel attachedfto gears 49- and 50, respectively. ears 49 and are freely rotatable'on ball bearings, the respective inner races 62 and 63 of which are slidably mounted on shaft 44. A slight axial motion between the gear units 49 and 50 and shaft 44 is provided-for which is suflicient to allow gears 49 and 50 and their respective friction discs and 61 to be drawn into frictional engagement with friction rings 58 and 59, respectively, as the electro-magnetic coils of the clutch are energized. A--number of axially disposed pins 64 are slidably mounted in clutch ring 45 through friction discs 60 and 61, and their ends are embedded in or bear against the inner ball races 62 and 63 so that they have axial play. Accordingly, one disc is pushed away from, .its friction ring when the opposite disc is drawn to its friction rin'g due to the energization of one of the magnet coils, thus effecting a rapid coils and the electro-magnetic clutch-coils 20" clutching alternation from one side to ani In the manner hereinbefore described,-

each of the electro-magnetic coils is always at least slightly energized due to leakage in the electrical circuit, but such. energization isnot suflicient to ofier resistance or dragging to the'rotatingv clutch rin 45, but is intended to maintaineach one 0 ffriction discs 60 and 61' in intimate proximity to their re.- spective friction rings58 and 59, so that there may be no delay between thetime of energization and clutching, and thus a smooth motion of the follower'is obtained since the I pressure of the clutch varies as the degree of energization. For the same reason the masses of the moving clutching parts, namely discs 60'and 61 and gears 49 and 50, are

inertia is negligible.

If the member to which the roller -1 is conpreferably. as small as'possible so that their nected suddenly reverses its direction of conveyingmeans operable with each of said movement and turns in the opposite direction, roller 1 will move to engage the opposite contact, such as contact 6 or example, and the circuit will be made primarily through lead 8, vibrator coil .10, lead 19, clutch coil 21 and lead 22 to the other side 3 'of electrical supply line, but the vibrator will continuously operate to control the clutch as long as the movement of the roller continues. The energization of clutch coil 21, probably augmented an instant later by the circuit established between lever 23 and contact 25 due to' the overrunning tendency of the sudden reversal,.clutches disc 61 to friction ring 59, and the direction of rotation of shaft 42 is reversed through gears 50, 68, 66 and 51. Inasmuch as shaft 44is driving clutch ring 45 at constant; speed, and as the speed of the primary element usually varies periodically, there is necessarily some slip.- page between clutch rin 45 and friction discs and61 so that t e actual primary input speed may. be reproduced accurately. It is obvious that alarger motor or power source maybe utilized whereby a greater power and a larger torque may be supplied to the following motion.

While only one stepin the omation of the system in both directions has 11 described in detail, it'is evident that the successive steps are instantaneous and continuousas the primary element moves, and also that while a preferred embodiment of this invention has I been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that modifications in design and, detail may be freely'made and that other forms of apparatus -may be likewise con-. trolled without de arting from the spirit of' this invention wi pended claims.

I claim: 1 In a clutch,

' the scope of the apa shaft, a double electromagnet secured thereon, revoluble armatures on opposite sides of said magnet adapted to be magnetically clutched therewith, rotary members combined with said armatures,bearing carriers mounted onsaid shaft and displaceable axially thereof,- anti-friction bearg inte tary mem rs displaceable with the former and rotatively mounting the latter, powerrotary members, operable means connected with each power-conveying means for different directional actuation, and means to selectively energize said-electromagnetsf 2. In a clutch, a' shaft, a double electromagnet secured thereon, axiallydisplaceable rotary members on opposite sides of saidmagnet adapted to be magnetically clutched therewith and rotated thereby, friction gripping means interposed betweeneach of the rotary members and its respective magnet side, powe r conveying means operable with each of between said carriers and rotherebetween, a multisaid rotaryv members, operable means connected with each power conveying means for different directional actuation and means to selectively energize said electro-magnets, said axially displaceable members each comprising a shouldered bushing mounted on said shaft, a concentrically arranged multi-elemnt anti-friction bearing having its inner element mounted on'said bushing and abutn rotary members on opposite sides of said magnet adapted-to be magnetically clutched therewith and rotated thereby, friction "p ping' means interposed between each o t he rotary members and its respective magnet side, a power conveying gear train operable with each rotary member, operable .means connected witheach gear train for different directional actuation and means to selec tively energize said ele'ctromagnets,.each,of said axially displaceable rotary members comprising-a shouldered bushing omounted on said shaft with its shoulder the magnet side, a concentrica y I arranged multi-element anti-friction bea havlng its inner element mounted on sai bushing roximate to and abutting the shoulder thereof, an annular gear mounted on the outer element of the anti-friction bearing and meshin with a gear of said gear train, and an ann ar armature disc" removably mounted on the side of said annular gear proximate the magnet side said armature disc extending inwardly beyond the inner periphery of said annular gear to serve as an abutment for said outer anti-friction bearing element and extending outward- 1y beyond the untoothed portion of the annu- I lar gear to serve as a'stop to limit the axial mounted on said cylindrical member and rotatable therewith, radially spaced annular recesses in each side of said ring, electro-magnet coils in the inner of said annular and frictional gripping rings fixedly held in the other yond the sides of the clutch ring. integral flanges extending beyond the outside perlphcry of said clutch ring de a ring recess ringinsaidringrecesgslipringsinsaidrecexes electrically connected to said magnet coils, armatures on opposite sides of said movement of the axially displaceable rotary wwcwu: extending outwardly beinsulation clutch ring, each armature havinga plane surface opposite a plane surface the adjacent frictional gripping ring, power-conveying mechanism connected with each armature,

5 a power output member connected with and reversely operable by the difierent powerconveying V mechanisms, and -means to selectively energize said coils.

5. In a clutch, rotatable driving anddriven elements comprising electro-magnets and armatures therefor, bearings. mounting said driven elements and provided with members I continuously connected to and rotatable with a the driving element and displaceable longitudinally of the axis of rotation thereof, means to selectively energize said magnets to attract their respective armatures, frictional gripping means interposed between each mag-- net and its armature and carried by one of them and reversely operable means connected with and adapted to be reversely operated by difierent armatures whenthey are attracted.-

' In testimony whereof I-afiix my signature.

- HARRY L. TANNER.

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