US1312384A - Clutch control - Google Patents

Description

C. BRYAN.

CLUTCH CONTROL. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30. 1918.

1 3 1 2,384 Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

COLUMBTIS-BRYAN, OF PRIN'EVILLE, OREGON.

CLUTCH CONTROL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 30, 1918. Serial No. 225,756.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, COLUMBUS BRYAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Prineville, in the county of Crook and State of Oregon, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clutch Controls, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clutch control means, the object in view being to provide an automatic clutch control which will do away with the inconvenience incident to the use of the present hand lever used on a certain popular type of motor vehicle.

Under the ordinary arrangement employing the hand lever, every time the clutch is put into neutral by means of the foot pedal, it is automatically held in that position, and can not be put into high speed, without first going into low speed, this being necessary in order to start the vehicle.

Under the old arrangement, the vehicle often creeps or moves forward slowly after the engine is started with the usual hand crank, this being due to the emergency lever becoming worn, this often renders it necessary to tie the emergency lever in a certain position by means of a string or piece of wire in order to prevent the vehicle from moving forward after the engine is cranked.

The improved device hereinafter described does not interfere with any part or mechanism of the car, being attached in an out of the way place. The emergency lever may be used, if desired, in the usual way.

In the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, showing the same in its relation to the foot control lever of a motor vehicle.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the device showing the parts in neutral.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in low speed.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the parts in high speed.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

The clutch control device forming the subject matter of this invention, comprises a casing or box 1, having a detachable section or cover 2 secured in place by fastening means 3.

Mounted within the casing 1 is a latch lever 4 which is mounted at one end on a pivot 5. The opposite or free extremity of the latch lever 4 has an upstanding stop shoulder or abutment 6 and also has a latch shoulder 7 which is adapted to engage under a corresponding shoulder 8 of a pivoted latch 9, the latter being pivotally mounted at 10 within the casing 1, the latch 9 carries at its upper free extremity a roller 11. A connection 12 such as a rod is attached flexibly at one end by fastening means 13 to the clutch lever 14 which controls the clutch of the motor vehicle. At its other end the connection 12 carries an enlargement or shiftable stop 15 which is adapted to contact with an inclined or cam face 16 of the latch lever 4, hereinabove referred to. A spring 17 has one arm 18 thereof bearing with a lifting action against the latch lever 4 and another arm 19 which bears against the latch 9 and acts to press said latch toward and into engagement with the latch lever 4.

The operation of the mechanism may be described as follows:

Starting with the parts in a neutral position, as shown in Fig. 2, to shift the clutch mechanism of the vehicle into low speed, the operator presses forward on the foot lever 14 causing the shiftable stop 15 to cooperate with the inclined or cam face 16 of the latch lever 4. This depresses the free end of the lever 4 until the shoulder 7 is engaged beneath the shoulder 8 of the latch 9, the latter being moved into engagement with the latch lever by means of the arm 19 of the spring 17. To shift into high speed, the operator allows the foot lever 14 to move rearwardly. In this operation, the shiftable stop 15 passes over the top of the stop shoulder 6 and engaging the roller 11, moves the latch 9 in a corresponding direction until the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 4. When the operator again presses forward on the foot lever 14, the shiftable stop 15 passes off the stop shoulder 6 and the parts are then restored to the neutral position shown in Fig. 2. The operator can not now shift the clutch mechanism into high speed without first going into low speed, as the stop shoulder 6 will prevent the movement of the stop 5 toward high speed position. This avoids frequent stalling of the engine by reason of the operator either purposely trying to shift to high speed without first shifting to low speed, and it also has the same effect when the operators foot slips off Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

the lever 14: which, of course, would throw the transmission gearing into high speed and thereby stall the engine.

I claim:

The combination with the clutch lever of a motor vehicle, of a shiftable stop connected thereto and actuated thereby, a latch lever cooperating with said shiftable stop and adapted to prevent the movement of said stop toward high speed position, a latch adapted to hold said latch lever in a certain predetermined position, while the transmission gearing is in low speed, said latch lever having a stop shoulder With which said shiftable stop engages when in neutral, and a spring having tWo arms cooperating respectively with said latch lever and latch to bring about an engagement between the latch and latch lever and also to insure an engagement between said shiftable stop and the stop shoulder of the latch.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

COLUMBUS BRYAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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