US483601A

US483601A - Clutch

Info

Publication number: US483601A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1892-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 1909-10-04

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

o. L. GARMAN.

CLUTCH.

N0. 483,601. Patented 0011.4, 1892.

(N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. L. GARMAN. GLUTGH.

No. 483,601. Patented Oot. 4, 1892.

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UNITEDd STATES i' PMENTQFFICE.

CHARLES L. CARMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,601, dated October 4, 1892.

Application led January 26, 1892. Serial No. 419,259. (No model.)

T0 all whom it, may concern.-

Beit known that I, CHARLES L. CARMAN, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which forni a part of this specification.

This invention relates to clutches, and more particularly to that class known as frictionclutches, and'has for its object to provide in clutches of this description an increased frictional contact-surface without an undue increase in size, weight, or the number of parts, and also an increase of pressure on the contact-surfaces, whereby the efficiency of the clutch is materially increased.

To these ends the invention consists in certain novel features, which will iirst be described, and then particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

. In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional View of a clutch mechanism embodying my invention in one form. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same, taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing toggles in plan view.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a-modi-l cation. Fig. 5 is a sectional View thereof, taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

In the drawings, Figs. l, 2, and 3 show the invention as embodied in one form, and also show the same as applied to a structure wherein it is used for the purpose of connecting aloose pulley with its shaft. In this construction A represents the shaft, and B a loose pulley mounted thereon, a bushing a being interposed between the two in the usual manner. Upon the pulley B there is mounted a flat ring or annulus C, arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the shaft and pulley. In the present instance this annulus is shown as cast in one piece with the pulley, being united with the spokes b thereof. The free face of this annulus forms a flat radial fixed friction-surface c of annular form.

C represents a second annulus parallel with the annulus C, rigidly connected with the pulley B and having a friction-surface c' opposite and directly facing the surface c, with whichl it corresponds. As a desirable mode of connecting the annulus C with the pulley, it may be provided with a cylindric extension C2, terminating in a ange o2, by means of which itis secured to the outer margin of the annulus C by means of bolts b or otherwise. Strengthening ribs C3 extend along the outside of the parts C C2 and serve to reinforce the same in an obvious manner.

The parts just described constitute one member of the clutch. The other member consists ofthe parts which will now be described.

D represents a hub secured on the shaft A by a key d or the like immediately adjacent to the'pulley B. From this hub there extends radially outward a plurality of spokes D. Each of these spokes is provided at its free end with a sleeve or eye d', in which is 4mounted a pin D2, parallel with the shaft A and projecting beyond the sleeve or eye CZ in both directions, being secured therein by a setscrew d2 or other suitable means. I

E E are two rings located, respectively, opposite the annuli C C and hayingon their outer faces friction-surfaces e e', lwhichjrespectively coincide with and are adapted to bear against the surfaces c c. These rings are supported by the spokes D', the pins D? of which enter and iit loosely within apertures e2 in said rings, which latterare desirably provided with bosses or hubs E2, in which said apertures are located. The rings are thus supported in proper position and arent the same time free to move towardandfroin each other. The rings E EJ are providedwith a suitable mechanism by which they/may be moved into contact with the friction-surfaces c c or withdrawn from such contact. The mechanism preferred for this purposeis a toggle mechanism,and inthe construction now under consideration is shown one form o f construction which I have devised to accomplish this end. In this construction the rings E E are connected by toggle-links F and G to toggle-arms H, pivoted to a sleeve I, longitudinally movable on the shaft A. The link F is desirably a two-part link of adjustable length and, as shown, consists of a part F', provided at one end with an eye f, by means of which it is pivoted between lugs es on the ring E, its

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other end being threaded and screwing into one end of a right-and-left nutf, the other end of which nut receives the reversely-threaded end of the other part F2 of the link F. The other end of the part F2 is provided with an eye f2, by means of which it is pivotally connected with the arm H and link G. A pivot pin or bolt F3, of any suitable construction, passes through the lugs e3 and eye f and connects these parts, and a lock-nut f3 on the part F2 serves to lock the right-and-left nut f in position after adjustment. The links G are in duplicate and are pivoted on opposite sides of a lug e4 on the ring E by means of a pivot pin or bolt G', and the outer end of the arm II is bifurcated, forming forks h. These forks h fit on opposite sides of the eye f2 and the links G fit outside of the'said forks h, a pivot pin or bolt H passing through' all of these' parts and pivotally connecting the same. The inner end of the arm H- lis provided with an eye or sleeve h,wherebyit is pivotally secured between lugs i on the sleeve I by means of a pivot pin or bolt l-l2.- These parts just referred to are employed in m ultiple,bein g arranged equidistantly around the hub D, and so many groups thereof being employed as are found necessary or desirable. In prac-l tice it is preferred to employ a number' equal to the number of spokes D', eachgroupbeing arranged between two of the said spokes. The sleeve I is not in contact with the hub D, but extends loosely over the same andeutward beyond it,-bearing on the shaft at a point beyond' the hub' and being there contracted for this purpose.y At the poin-t where it bears on the shaft the inner surface of the sleeve is rounded off, as shown at t', to permit a rock ing of said sleeve relatively to said shaft on the surface t" as a fulcrum. The sleeve is provided with an externa-l annular groove t2 in its periphery to receive astrap I', to which is connected a lever i2, by means of which the sleeve I may be moved longitudinally of the shaft A in the usual manner. An annular plate J is` secured to' the outer face of the inner edge of the annulus C and serves as a dust-guard to prevent the access of dust to the interior mechanism of the clutch.

The operation of the clutch thus constructed is as follows: The parts of the second clutch member are assembled on the shaft and placed' in proper position thereon, and the part C C2 of the first member is then secured in place on thepulley. The nuts f are then so turned as` to" adjust the toggle-links to the proper length to cause the rings'E E to bear with their maximum pressure against the friction'- surfacesc c when the arms H are radial and the links F G in a straight line with each other. It will be seen that when the sleeve I is moved into the 'position shown in full lines in Fig. l the two members of the clutch will be united by the frictional contact between the friction-surfaces c e and c e', so that motion imparted to one of said members Will be transmitted to the other. When the sleeveY is moved into the position shown in dotted lines in said figure, the meeting ends of the links F G will be drawn downward and the rings E E will be drawn away from the surfaces c c', thus severing the connection between the two members. During these movements of the rings they are guided and supported on the pins D2 of the spokes D', which serve, also, to cause them to rotate in unison with the hub D and shaft A. When the arms I-I are radial and the links F G in line, the parts are locked against accidental displacement. The extent of the friction-surfaces of the two members in contact with each other is very great and the durability of the clutch is increased to a corresponding extent.v

The provision for permitting the sleeve I to rock on the shaft is for the purpose o'f equalizing any inequalities `in the adjustment of the several adjustable links F. In practice it is found extremely difficult to adjust these several links to exactly the same extent, and by permitting the free end of the sleeve I to vibrate freely laterally with relation to the shaft this end of the sleeve virtually centers itself relatively to the toggl'es when the latter are adjusted, thus insuring equality of action of the toggles even when the adjustment of them is not exactly similar.

I do not wish to be understoody as limiting myself strictly to the precise details of coni structions just described, as various modifications niay be made Without departing from the principle of my invention. For instance, the annulus C, instead of being cast in one piece with the pulley B, may be made separate therefrom and connected therewith by screw-bolts or in any other suitable manner, and this latter construction is of especia-lad- IOO vantage when the invention is to be applied where there is a' loose pulley already in position. Again, the annulus maybeconne'cted with the annulus C or pulley B in any other suitable way than that shown. Moreover, the particular mode of connecting the rings E- E and hub D may be varied in many ways'4 as, for instance, by having integral projections on the spokes or by having 'the projections on the ringsY instead of on the spokes; The invention also contemplates omitting por-v tions of the rings E E', or, in other words, making the said rings in separate segments, and mechanism lfor positively moving the rings other thanthe toggle mechanism shown and described may be employed. Themodifications are, however,- obvious and need no detailed description here.

`As an illustration of a structure modified in detail but containing the essence of the invention, I have shown in Figs. 4 and 5 a shaftcoupling embodying my invention in a modi# fied form. In this structure A and A are the shafts to be coupled, one member being secured on one of the shafts and the other mem- IIO ber being secured on the other shaft. The part piece therewith, and the annnlus C is bolted to the edge of the part C2, as shown. The spokes D' are hollow, being open at one side, and therefore U-shaped in cross-section, and serve to connect the hub D with a rim D3, provided at each spoke with an aperture d3. The annuli E E are provided with inwardlyprojecting lugs e5, which rest upon the rim D3 between lugs e6 on the periphery of said rim and serve to center and support the annuli while permitting them to slide toward and from each other. The links F and G are non-adjustable, provision for adjustment being made by constructing the arms I-I in two parts H2 I-I, having threaded connection, so that the length of the arms may be varied as desired. The arms H are located within the hollow spokes D and extend through apertures da. The lugs t of the sleeve I iit within the side walls of the hollow spokes D and cause said sleeve to rotate along with said spokes and hub D. The sleeve I tits and slides j on the hub D, provision for rocking being made, as shown by the contracted portion of the sleeve only bearing upon said hub. It will be observed that in this construction the parts are so adjusted that the links F G are not in line with each other when the clutch is set, thus providing for normal wear without the necessity of frequent adjustment of the arms H. Thus lateral adjustment or play of the sleeve I relatively to the shaft is provided as in the construction first described.

It will be understood, of course, that the modified features shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and just described are equally applicable to a clutch for connecting a loose pulley to a shaft, as in the construction first described, and con versely the construction shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3 is adapted for use as a shaft-coupling.

l. A frictionclutch comprising two members, one provided with two opposite fixed friction-surfaces radial to the axis of rotation and the other provided with two movable parts having friction surfaces located, re-

spectively, opposite to and parallel with said fixed friction-surfaces, and mechanism for positively actuating said movable parts away from each other in the line of the axis of rotation to engage the friction-surfaces, substantially as described.

j 2. A frictionclutch comprising two inembers, one provided with two opposite fixed friction-su rfaces radial to the axis of rotation and the other provided with two movable rings located, respectively, opposite to and parallel with said friction-surfaces, and toggle mechanism for actuating said rings away from each other in the line of the axis of rotation, substantially as described.

3. A friction-clutch comprising two members, one provided with two annuli, one of which is detachable, said annuli having opposite frictionsurfaces radial to the axis 0f. rotation, the other member being provided with two movable rings located between said friction-surfaces and respectively opposite to and parallel with the same, and mechanism for positively actuating said rings in opposite directions in the line of the axis of rotation, substantially as described.

4. A friction-clutch comprising two members, one provided with two opposite xed friction-surfaces radial to the axis of rotation and the other provided with two movable rings located, respectively, opposite to and parallel with saidV friction-surfaces, and a plurality of toggle mechanisms for actuating said rings away from each other in the line of the axis of rotation, one of the members of each toggle mechanism being adjustable, substantially as described.

5. A friction-clutch comprising two members, one provided with two opposite fixed friction-surfaces radial to the axis of rotation and the other provided` with two movable rings located, respectively, opposite to and parallel with said friction-surfaces, and a 'plu-` rality of toggle mechanisms each comprising links pivoted, respectively, to the ringsand to each other, one of said links being a twopart link of adjustable length, an arm pivoted at one of its ends to the links at their point of connection, and a longitudinally-movable sleeve to which the other end of said arm is pivoted, substantially as described. j,

6. The combination, with a shaft, of aclutch one member of which is provided with two opposite fixed radial friction-surfaces, the other member being provided with two movable rings located, respectively, opposite to and parallel with said friction-surfaces, a plu. rality of toggle mechanisms each comprising toggle-links and a toggle-arm, and a sleeve connected with the said toggle-arm. and be ing longitudinally movable on the shaft and free of contact therewith at its point of connection with said arms, substantially as de scribed.

7. The combination, with ashaft, of aclutch one member of which is normally disconnected from said shaft and is provided with two opposite fixed radial friction-surfaces, the other member comprising abody fixed ou the shaft and having guiding andsupporting devices, two movable parts mounted on said guiding and supportingdevices and rotated CHARLES L. CARMAN. Witnesses: i

TAYLOR E. BROWN, GEORGE W. I-IiGGiNs, .T r.

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