US2281141A

US2281141A - Clutch mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2281141A
Application number: US389583A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jasper F Cullin
Original assignee: LOU MERVIS
Current assignee: LOU MERVIS
Priority date: 1941-04-21
Filing date: 1941-04-21
Publication date: 1942-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 1959-04-28

Description

April 28, 1942. J. F. CULLIN CLUTCH MECHANISM Filed April 21, 1941 ZZZ/61157 JUTsparZ Uzi/[Zia Patented Apr. 28, 1942 CLUTCH MECHANISM Jasper F. Cullin, Detroit, Mich., assignor to twothirds to Lou Mervis, Lock Haven, Pa.

Application April 21, 1941, Serial No. 389,583

17 Claims.

The invention relates to clutch mechanism of the type adapted for use in starters for internal combustion engines.

In starting internal combustion engines, a backfire sometimes occurs and this results in a high torque, opposed to the force applied for driving the engine in the operating direction or the engine may be stuck so that the torque required to start it may be excessive. If the driving member of the starter is engaged by the driving means therefor, a backfire sometimes produces torque which may be destructive of the mechanism of the starter. For example, in starting mechanism which includes eccentricoperated pawls and a ratchet wheel, such as exemplified in my application for patent for Starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, Serial No, 343,762, filed July 3, 1940, issued as Patent No. 2,256,466 on Sept. 23, 1941, the wheel remains engaged by the pawls during a starting 1 operation. If a backfire occurs While the pawls are engaged with the ratchet wheel, the torque from the engine is transmitted to the ratchet wheel and pawls. This torque may result in breakage or render the starter inoperative. It is also desirable to provide in the starter a resilient drive for the crankshaft.

One'object of the invention is to provide a clutch mechanism with a maximum torque throw-out so that the driving member thereof will be uncoupled or disengaged from the driven element in the event of a backfire or when the torque required to turn the engine is excessive for any other reason.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved clutch mechanism which is adapted for engine starters, which includes a maximum torque throw-out and a resilient driving connection between the driving member or the starting mechanism and the driven member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clutch mechanism of this type which is simple in construction and eflicient in operation.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating a clutch mechanism embodying the invention in its inoperative or normally disengaged position. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the clutch mechanism when the driving member has been automatically released by excess torque. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

The invention is exemplified with the shaft a of an internal combustion engine and a case b which encloses the clutch mechanism and is usually secured to one end of the engine. The clutch mechanism comprises an outer annular driving member or wheel 6, which is provided with ratchet teeth 5 and is adapted to be driven to start the engine by a pair of pawls 1 and 8, which are journaled on oppositely disposed eccentrices 9 and I!) on a shaft II. The pawls are each provided with a counterweight I2 for normally holding their operative ends l3 disengaged from the ratchet wheel or member 6, and are controlled to engage and disengage the ratchet for the operation of the starting mechanism by a pair of resilient arms 14 engaging the pawls I, 8, respectively, and secured to a shaft I5 which is usually manually shiftable by means of a handle. Shaft H and eccentrices 9 and 10 may be driven by an electric motor, as exemplified in my application Serial No. 343,762, or by any suitable means, to operate pawls l and 8.

The clutch mechanism also comprises a spider or inner member which includes an annulus l6 which is keyed to the engine shaft a and integral outwardly extending arms or lugs l1; an intermediate member which includes a ring or annulus l8 and integral inwardly extending lugs or abutments I9 adapted to be engaged by the arms ll of the spider; and coil springs 20 which are loaded, as hereinafter described, and extend between abutments I9 on the intermediate member and the arms I! of the spider, respectively. Ratchet wheel 6 is in the form of a ring which is supported on, fits around, and is rotatable relatively to, ring 18 of the intermediate member. The outer ends of arms I! extend to and fit the inner periphery of ring N3 of the intermediate member and support the latter coaxially with the shaft a. Annular plates 2| are secured to ring l8 by through-rivets 22 and lap the sides of member 6 to retain said member against endwise movement relatively to ring I 8 and arms I! of the spiderfit between plates 21 and secure the latter and ring I8 against endwise movement relatively to shaft a.

A pin or locking member 24 is radially and pin 24 is provided at its inner end with a tapered portion 23 which fits in, and is adapted to pass into a corresponding tapered conical socket 29 in the outer periphery of annulus N5 of the spider which is keyed to shaft a. The locking pin 24 is adapted, while its outer tapered end 26 is engaged with socket 2'! in the driving member 6, to be locked in such engagement by a peripheral portion [6 of the annulus 16 of the spider. Pin 24 is also adapted to be locked in socket 29 in the annulus 16 of the spider by the inner periphery 6 of the outer driving member 6. When pin 24 is engaged with socket 21 in driving member 6, the latter will be drivably connected by the pin to the intermediate member and the latter will be adapted to drive the inn'er member or spider through the springs 2!). When pin 2 is engaged with socket 29 in the inner member or spider, it will be disengaged from driving member 6 and permit relative rotation of the driving member 6 and the intermediate memher which is then lockedto member It by the pin. The tapered ends of the pin 24 and the taper of sockets 21- and 29 arev adapted to alternately cam the-pin from one socket into the other, responsively to torque.

The operation will be as follows: when the starter is not inuse, pawls 1 and 8' will be held disengaged from the ratchet teeth on the driving member 6; pin 24. will be in the position illustrated in Fig. 1; and its outer end will be locked in socket 21 of the member 6 by the outer periphery ifi of annulus lb of the spider, as shown in full lines in Fig.1.

To start. the engine, the operator will rock arms. in to press pawlsv 7 and 8 into engagement with. ratchet teeth 5 of wheel 6 and the eccentrices 9' and I will be continuously driven to alternately and, successively engage teeth and drive the ratchet wheel 6. The springs 29 are loaded for compression apredetermined normal maximum torque, which will start the engine before pin is registers with socket 29 in the spider. When the torque required to turn the engine does not exceed said maximum, pin 2 willbe held locked to ratchet wheel 6 by peripheral portion of the spider. When the engine starts, wheel 6 will overrun pawls 1 and 8, and'the torque on ratchet wheel 6 from the pawls will be released and springs 2i) will rotate the intermediate member and pin 24 until arms H on the spider engage abutments [9 on the intermediate member. It is not necessary for the operator to immediately disengage pawls l and 8 after the enginehas started. If the torque required to turn the engine exceeds the predetermined maximum, or in the event of a backfire which produces an excessive opposed torque from the engine through the spider, springs 1 will be compressedsuiificiently to permit pin 24 i to register with the socket 29 in the inner memsocket 21 in the ratchet wheel 6. When pin 24" has been cammed out of socket 27, the inner periphery B of wheel 6 will hold pin zfi'engaged with the spider and uncoupledirom the ratchet wheel, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The drive wheel 6- will then be free to be driven by pawls l and 8- for approximately one revolution and wheel E rotated toag-a in bring pin Z'Ginto registry' for use in starters for internal combustion engines in which the outer driving member resiliently drives the engine in starting and is automatically uncoupled from the intermediate member responsive to torque in excess of a predetermined maximum.

The invention is not to be understood as re stricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters;

Patent is:

1. Clutch mechanism comprising a. wheel, an

inner member, an intermediate member, said.

wheel and members being connected for relative rotation, resilient driving means between said members, a locking element movably mount-- ed on the intermediate member for driving the intermediate member, from the wheel and re sponsive to torque from the wheel for uncoupling the wheel and intermediate member, and means on the wheel for holding the element uncoupled from the wheel.

2. Clutch mechanism comprising a wheel, an

inner member, an intermediate member, saidwheeland members being connected for rela-- tive rotation, resilient driving means between said members, a locking element movably mounted on thesintermediate member for driving the intermediate member from the wheel and responsive to torque from the wheel in one directionfor uncoupling the wheel and intermediate member, means on the wheel for holding theelement uncoupled from the wheel, and means on the inner member operable by said resilient driving means for shifting the element to couple the wheel and intermediate member;

3. Clutch inechanism comprising a wheel, an' member, said inner member, an intermediatewheel and members being conneeted' for relative rotation, resilient driving means between said members, a locking element movably mounted" on the intermediate member for driving the intermediate member from the wheel and responsive to torque from the-wheel in one direction for.

uncoupling the wheel andintermediate member, means on the 'wheel'for holding the elementuncoupled from the wheel, means on the inner member responsive tosaid resilient drivingmeans for shifting said element. to couple the wheel and the intermediate members, and means on the inner member for holding. the element coupled to the Wheel.

4. Clutch mechanism comprising a wheel, an

inner member; an intermediate member, said.

wheel and members being connected for relative rotation, resilient driving means between said,

members, a locking element movably mounted on the intermediate member for'driving the intermediate member from the wheeland responsive to torque from the wheel in one direction for uncoupling; the wheel and intermediate member, a peripheral suriaceon the wheel for holding the element uncoupled from the wheel, means on members, a locking pin slidably mounted on the 1 intermediate member for driving the intermediate member from the wheel, means between the wheel and the pin responsive to torque from the wheel for slidably shifting the pin to uncouple the wheel and intermediate member, and means on the wheel for holding the pin uncoupled from thewheel.

6. Clutch mechanism comprising a wheel, an inner member, an intermediate member, said wheel and members being connected for relative rotation, resilient driving means between said members, a locking pin slidably mounted on the intermediate member for driving the intermedi-, ate member from the wheel, means between the wheel and the pin responsive to torque from the wheel for slidably shifting the pin to uncouple the wheel and intermediate member, means on the wheel for holding the pin uncoupled from the Wheel, and means on the inner member for shifting the pin to couple the wheel and intermediate member.

'7. Clutch mechanism comprising a wheel, an inner member, an intermediate member, said wheel and members being connected for relative rotation, resilient driving means between said members, a locking pin slidably mounted on the intermediate member for driving the intermediate member from the wheel, means between the wheel and the pin responsive to torque from the wheel for slidably shifting the pin to uncouple the wheel and intermediate member, means on the wheel for holding the pin uncoupled from the wheel, means on the inner member for shifting the pin to couple the wheel and intermediate member, and means on the inner member for holding the pin coupled to the wheel.

8. Clutch mechanism comprising a wheel, an inner member, an intermediate member, said wheel and members being connected for relative rotation, resilient driving means between said members, a locking pin slidably mounted on the intermediate member for driving the intermediate member from the wheel, means between the wheel and the pin responsive to torque from the wheel for slidably shifting the pin to uncouple the wheel and intermediate member, a peripheral surface on the wheel for holding the pin uncoupled from the wheel, means on the inner member for shifting the pin for drivably coupling the wheel and intermediate member, and a peripheral surface on the inner member for holding the pin coupled to the wheel.

9. Clutch mechanism comprising a wheel, an inner member provided with outwardly extending arms, an intermediate member on which the wheel is rotatably mounted and provided with inwardly extending abutments adapted to be engaged by the arms, resilient driving means between the abutments on the intermediate member and the arms on the inner member, a locking pin slidably mounted in the intermediate member for driving the intermediate member from the wheel, the wheel being provided with a socket to receive the pin, torque responsive cam means for uncoupling the wheel from the wheel.

10. Clutch mechanism comprising a wheel, an

inner member provided with outwardly extending; arms, an intermediate member on which the wheel is rotatably mounted and provided with inwardly extending abutments adapted to be engaged by the arms, resilient driving means between the abutments on the intermediate member and the arms on the inner member, a locking pin slidably mounted in one of the abutments of the intermediate member for coupling and uncoupling the wheel and the intermediate member, the pin being provided with tapered ends, the wheel and inner member being provided with sockets adapted to receive the ends of the pins respectively, said ends and sockets being torqueresponsive for uncoupling the wheel from the inner member, means ,on the inner member for holding the pin coupled to the wheel, and means on the wheel for holding the pin uncoupled therefrom.

11. Clutch mechanism comprising a wheel, an inner member provided with outwardly extending arms, an intermediate member on which the wheel is rotatably mounted and provided with inwardly extending abutinents adapted to be engaged by the arms, resilient driving means between the abutments on the intermediate member and the arms on the inner member, a, locking pin slidably mounted in one of the abutments of the intermediate member for coupling and uncoupling the wheel and the intermediate member, the pin being provided with tapered ends, the wheel and inner member being provided with sockets adapted to receive the ends of the pins respectively, said ends and socket being torqueresponsive for uncoupling the wheel from the inner member, a peripheral surface on the inner member for holding the pin coupled to the wheel, and a peripheral surface on the wheel for holding the pin uncoupled therefrom.

12. In clutch mechanism for an engine starter, the combination of a toothed wheel, means engagea-ble with the teeth for driving the wheel, an engine-rotatable inner member, an intermediate member within the wheel around, and rotatable relatively to, the inner member and to the wheel, a resilient driving connection between the members, a locking element movably mounted in the intermediate member for driving the intermediate member from the wheel and responsive to torque from the wheel while it is being driven and to torque produced by a backfire of the engine, for uncoupling the locking element and the wheel, means on the wheel for holding the pin uncoupled from the wheel, and means on the inner member for holding the element coupled to the wheel.

13. In clutch mechanism for an engine starter, the combination of a toothed wheel, means engageable with the teeth for driving the wheel, an engine-rotatable inner member, an intermediate member within the wheel around, and rotatable relatively to, the inner member and to the wheel, a resilient driving connection between the members, a locking pin slidably mounted in the intermediate member for driving the intermediate member from the wheel and responsive to torque from the wheel and to torque produced by .a backfire of the engine for uncoupling the pin and the wheel, means on the wheel for holding the pin uncoupled from the Wheel, and means intermediate member, and means on the inner. member for holding the pin coupled to the on the inner member for'shifting the pin to'couple the wheel and intermediate member.

14. In clutch mechanism for an engine tarter, the combination of a toothed wheel, means engageable with the teeth for driving the wheel, an engine-rotatable inner member, an intermediate member within the wheel around, and rotatable relatively to, the inner member and to the wheel, a resilient driving connection between the members, a locking element movably mounted in the intermediate member for driving the intermediate member from the wheel and responsive to torque from the wheel and to torque produced by a backfire of the engine for uncoupling the locking element and the wheel, peripherally extending means on the wheel for holding the pin uncoupled from the wheel, means on the inner member for shifting the element to couple the Wheel and intermediate member, and peripheral means on the inner member for holding the element coupled to the wheel.

15. In clutch mechanism for an engine starter, the combination of a toothed wheel, means engageable with the teeth for. driving the wheel, an engine-rotatable inner member, an intermediate member within the wheel around, and rotatable relatively to, the inner member and to thewheel, a resilient driving connection between the members, a locking pin slidably mounted in the intermediate member for driving the intermediate member from the wheel and responsive to torque from the wheel and to torque produced by a backfire of the engine for uncoupling the locking pin and the Wheel, peripherally extending means on the wheel for holding the pin uncoupled from the wheel, means on the innermemher for coupling the pin to the wheel, and peripheral means on the inner member for holding the pin coupled to the wheel.

16. In clutch mechanism, the combination of a wheel, an inner member, an intermediate member, resilient driving means between the inner and intermediate members, said wheel and members being mounted for relative rotation, a locking pin slidably mounted in the intermediate member and slidable to alternately lock together the intermediate member and the outer member and the inner and intermediate members and torque-responsive for shifting the locking pin to lock the pin to the wheel or the inner member.

17. In clutch mechanism, the combination of an outer annular wheel provided with a socket on its inner periphery, an inner member provided with an annulus and arms and a socket in the outer periphery of the annulus, an intermediate member between the inner and outer members provided with abutments engageable with said arms, a resilient driving connection between the inner member and the intermediate member, a locking element slidablymounted in the intermediate member, the inner and outer ends of the pin and said sockets being tapered to shift the element responsive to predetermined torque, the annulus of the inner member having a peripheral surface for holding said element engaged with the Wheel, the Wheel having a peripheral surface for retaining the locking element engaged with the socket in the annulus of the inner member.

JASPER F. CULLIN.