US3710903A

US3710903A - Single revolution clutch

Info

Publication number: US3710903A
Application number: US00158400A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Shearer
Original assignee: PERSSON ENG CO
Current assignee: PERSSON ENG CO
Priority date: 1971-06-30
Filing date: 1971-06-30
Publication date: 1973-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-16

Abstract

A driving member has an abutment which rotates in an annular path about an axis. Within that annular path is a driven member. A dog is slideably mounted on the driven member to move along a way which is substantially normal to a radius about the axis. The dog moves between positions at which it is (a) projecting into the annular path, and (b) is out of the annular path. A disc pivotally connected to the driven member at a point spaced from the axis and at the opposite side of the axis from the dog is also pivotally connected to the dog. A spring connects the driven member and the plate to urge the plate into a position at which the dog is in the annular path. A finger outside the clutch moves to contact a stop on the plate to pivot the plate to a position at which the dog is withdrawn from the annular path thereby disengaging the clutch.

Description

l I 3,710,903 Jan. 16, 1973 United States Patent n21 Shearer [541 SINGLE REVOLUTION CLUTCH Primary E xaminer-Benjamin W. Wyche [75] Inventor Attorney-Howard H. Darbo et al.

Robert B. Shearer, Park Ridge, II]. 60068 [57] ABSTRACT A driving member has an abutment which rotates in" an annular path about an axis. Within that annular' path is a driven member. A dog is slideably mounted on the driven member to move along a way which is Company,

[73] Assignee: Persson 221 Filed: June30, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 158,400

substantially normal to a radius about the axis. The

dog moves between positions at which it is (a) projecting into the annular path, and (b) is out of the annular path. A disc pivotally connected to the driven member [52] US. 192/71 .F16d 71/00, Fl6d 11/06 [58] Field of [51] Int.

...l92/71, 28, 33 at a point spaced from the axis and at the opposite side of the axis from the dog is also pivotally con- References cued nected to the dog. A spring connects the driven UNITED STATES PATENTS member and the plate to urge the plate into a position at which the dog is in the annular path. A finger outside the clutch moves to contact a stop on the plate to pivot the plate to a position at which the dog is H1971 Banchette 6/ 1960 Gelling.... l2/l948 withdrawn from the annular path thereby disengaging the clutch.

Curtis......

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLKCATIONS 3/l960 Italy 2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAH 16 I975 SHEET 1 [1F 2 PATENTEI] JAN 16 1973 SHEET 2 BF 2 mmgznw z SINGLE REVOLUTION CLUTCH BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to providing a simple and positively engaging clutch of the type that can be used to always maintain a preestablished orientation between the driving member and the driven member.

In many types of machinery a particular timing or phase relationship must be maintained between two mechanisms which are connected by a clutch so that the driving of one can be stopped periodically as required by the apparatus. That is, when the clutch is reengaged the parts at each side of the clutch must return to a predetermined orientation with respect to each other for the machine to operate properly. The present invention is directed toward supplying a clutch of this type which is adaptable to a variety of different types of installation.

The clutch is simple to construct and maintain. The means for actuating the clutch (causing it to engage or disengage) can be selected from a variety of power operated elements.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view as seen from the near end of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section as seen at line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the driving member;

FIG. 5 is a section taken at line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a section taken at line 6-6 of FIG. 3 and showing the clutch disengaged;

FIG. 7 is a view taken at line 6-6 of FIG. 3 and Y showing the clutch after engagement;

FIG. 8 is an end view of an alternative form of driving member; and

FIG. 9 is a view taken at line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS The following disclosure is offered for public dissemination in return for the grant of a patent. Although it is detailed to ensure adequacy and aid understanding, this is not intended to prejudice that purpose of a patent which is to cover each new inventive concept therein no matter how others may later disguise it by variations in form or additions or further improvements. The claims at the end hereof are intended as the chief aid toward this purpose, as it is these that meet the requirement of pointing out the parts, improvements, or combinations in which the inventive concepts are found.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. l-7 comprise a driving member, generally 10, and a driven member, generally 11. The driven member is secured to a shaft 12 as by means ofa key 13 and a set screw 14. The driving member is rotatably mounted on shaft 12, as by means of bearings 15. It has, for example, a gear 16 which forms a part of a power source not otherwise illustrated.

The driving member 10 has a flange 17 normal to the axis of rotation and an annular wall 18 extending therefrom. The annular wall has a projection 19 which, with respect to the direction of rotation 20 defines a forwardly facing abutment 21.

The driven member 11 has a collar 24 secured thereto as by means of set

screws

25 and 26. Between the collar and the main body of the driven member is an actuator in the form of a plate'27. Plate 27 has an in temal opening 28 which is larger than the annular part 29 of the driven member about which it is received. The plate is pivotally mounted on a pin 30 pressed into an opening 31 in the driven member 11.

At the opposite side (with respect to the axis) of the driven member 11 is a slot 34 which is at right angles to a radius about the axis of rotation. This slot defines a way for the movement of a dog 35. A pin 36 connects plate 27 and dog 35. The arrangement is such that the plate and dog are movable between a position at which the dog is clear of the annular path described by projection 19 about the axis of rotation (FIG. 6) or a second position (FIG. 7) at which the dog projects into that annular path. The plate 27 has a curvilinear periphery with a step therein which step defines a forwardly facing abutment 28. Screw 25 on collar 24 projects outwardly from the collar and serves as an anchor for one end of a spring 39. The other end of the spring is anchored to a screw 40 threaded into plate 27. Thus, the spring supplies a resilient force urging the plate and dog toward the position at which the dog projects into the path of the abutment 21 on projection 19.

Externally of the rotating parts of the clutch is a finger 43 pivotally mounted on a shaft 44. Means not shown, such as a solenoid, an air cylinder, etc., are connected to the other end of finger 28 to move it between the two positions illustrated in FIG. 2.

The disengaged condition of the clutch is illustrated in FIG. 6. Here the end of finger 43 is against the abutment 28 defined by the step in the plate 27. Against the urging of spring 39, the finger thus holds the plate 27 and the dog 35 in their positions such that the dog is out of the annular path of movement of abutment 21. The driving member 10 continues to rotate but the driven member 11 is stopped.

Toengage the clutch, the finger 43 is moved to the full line position illustrated in FIG. 2 thereby releasing the plate 27. The spring 39 pivots the plate 27 about the pin 30, the extend of movement being indicated by the dimension A in FIG. 2. In an actual embodiment this movement amounted to 10. The dog 35 now is in the annular path described by abutment 21 of the driving member and as that abutment reaches the point illustrated in FIG. 2 it' contacts the dog to commence the rotation of the driven member 1 1.

The finger 43 need only be held in the displaced position but briefly, for as soon as the step 28 moves past the end of the finger the finger can be released to ride on the periphery 37 of the plate. FIG. 7 illustrates the position of the plate and dog after a brief period of rotation and also illustrates the finger 43 back resting on the periphery 37 of the plate.

When the plate rotates to the position at which the end of finger 43 is just first contacting abutment 28, the

plate stops. For a brief angular movement the driven member l1 continues to rotate. During this brief angular movement as previously mentioned in a specific embodiment) the plate 27 tips back to the position illustrated in FIG. 6 with respect to the driven member. This is done against the urging of spring 39 and the relative movement causes a withdrawal of the dog 35 from the path of abutment 21. Thereafter, the driving member is free to rotate while the driven member remains stationary.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate an alternative form of driving member and an alternative mounting therefor. Here the driving member, generally 48, is secured to a driving shaft 49, as by means of a key 50. The driven member, not shown in these views, is secured to a driven shaft 51. As in the previous embodiment, this driving member has a flange 52 which terminates in an annular wall 53. In this instance there are, however,

' two projections 54 each defining a forwardly facing abutment 55 so far as the direction of rotation is concerned. The mounting of the driven member, plate, dog, etc., in relation to the driving member are the same as that illustrated in FIGS. 1-7.

When the dog is allowed to move out into the annular path defined by the abutments 55, it may be picked up by either one or the other of the abutments depending upon the relationship of the driving and driven members at the time the dog makes that move. After the dog is engaged by one of the abutments, the driven member will be rotated through one revolution before disengagement. The extent of rotation could be more by holding the finger 43 out of the path of abutment 28 rather than letting it drop into that path prior to the completion of one revolution.

I claim:

.1. A clutch mechanism for use with a source of power and including:

a driving member rotatable about an axis and adapted to be connected to said source of power for rotation in a given direction, said member having a side normal to said axis and having an abutment extending from said side, spaced from said axis and parallel to the axis whereby as said member rotates said abutment moves in a path in the form of an annulus about said axis; driven member rotatable about said axis, said driven member having a portion in juxtaposition to said side and within said annulus, said portion defining a way extending transversely to a radius of said axis; dog part in said way and movable therealong between a first position at which it is fully within said annulus and a second position at which it extends into said annulus, whereby when the dog part is in the second position the rotation of the driving member will bring the abutment against the dog part and cause the driven member to rotate with the driving member while when the dog part is in the first position the dog will not be contacted by the abutment; and operating means operatively coupled to the dog part for moving the dog part between said two positions, said operating means including an actuator part pivotally connected to said driven member at a point spaced from said axis and from said dog part and movable in an are about said pivotal connection, said actuator part being coupled to said dog part to move said dog part between said positions as said actuator part moves between the ends of the are, resilient means coupled to one of said parts to urge the dog part to the second position,

said actuator being a plate having a curvilinear periphery normal to said axis, said periphery having a step therein defining an abutment facing forward with respect to said direction of rotation, said pivotal connection being at the opposite side of said axis from said dog, and a device positioned at a side of said mechanism for contacting said actuator part and moving it against said urging to the end of the arc corresponding to the first position of the dog part, said device including a finger movable between a first position at which it rides on said periphery and a second position at which it is spaced away from said plate, whereby when the finger is riding on the periphery and said abutment contacts said finger, said plate will be pivoted to the end of the arc at which said dog part isin the driven member having a portion in juxtaposition to said side and within said annulus;

latching means on said driven member and including a part adjacent said annulus which is movable between a first position at which it is out of the path of said abutment and a second position at which it is in said path; and

operating means having a portion. on said driven member and coupled to said part formoving said part between said positions, said operating means including an actuator pivotally connected to said driven member at a point spaced from said axis and from said part and movable in anarc about said pivotal connection, said actuator being coupled to said part to move said part between said positions as said actuator moves between the ends of the are, resilient means to urge the'part to the second position, said actuator being a plate having a curvilinear periphery normal to said axis, said periphery having a step therein facing forward with respect to said direction of rotation, said pivotal connection being at the opposite side of said axis from said part, and a device positioned at a side of said actuator for contacting said actuator and moving it against said urging to the end of the arc correspondingto the first position of the part, said device including a finger movable between a first position at which it rides on said periphery and a second position at which it is spaced away from said plate, whereby when the finger is riding on the periphery and said abutment contacts said I,

driven member rotatable about said axis, said

Claims

1. A clutch mechanism for use with a source of power and including: a driving member rotatable about an axis and adapted to be connected to said source of power for rotation in a given direction, said member having a side normal to said axis and having an abutment extending from said side, spaced from said axis and parallel to the axis whereby as said member rotates said abutment moves in a path in the form of an annulus about said axis; a driven member rotatable about said axis, said driven member having a portion in juxtaposition to said side and within said annulus, said portion defining a way extending transversely to a radius of said axis; a dog part in said way and movable therealong between a first position at which it is fully within said annulus and a second position at which it extends into said annulus, whereby when the dog part is in the second position the rotation of the driving member will bring the abutment against the dog part and cause the driven member to rotate with the driving member while when the dog part is in the first position the dog will not be contacted by the abutment; and operating means operatively coupled to the dog part for moving the dog part between said two positions, said operating means including an actuator part pivotally connected to said driven member at a point spaced from said axis and from said dog part and movable in an arc about said pivotal connection, said actuator part being coupled to said dog part to move said dog part between said positions as said actuator part moves between the ends of the arc, resilient means coupled to one of said parts to urge the dog part to the second position, said actuator being a plate having a curvilinear periphery normal to said axis, said periphery having a step therein defining an abutment facing forward with respect to said direction of rotation, said pivotal connection being at the opposite side of said axis from said dog, and a device positioned at a side of said mechanism for contacting said actuator part and moving it against said urging to the end of the arc corresponding to the first position of the dog part, said device including a finger movable between a first position at which it rides on said periphery and a second position at which it is spaced away from said plate, whereby when the finger is riding on the periphery and said abutment contacts said finger, said plate will be pivoted to the end of the arc at which said dog part is in the first position.

2. A clutch mechanism for use with a source of power and including: a driving member rotatable about an axis and adapted to be connected to said source of power for rotation in a given direction, said member having a side normal to said axis and having aN abutment extending from said side, spaced from said axis and parallel to the axis whereby as said member rotates said abutment moves in a path in the form of an annulus about said axis; a driven member rotatable about said axis, said driven member having a portion in juxtaposition to said side and within said annulus; latching means on said driven member and including a part adjacent said annulus which is movable between a first position at which it is out of the path of said abutment and a second position at which it is in said path; and operating means having a portion on said driven member and coupled to said part for moving said part between said positions, said operating means including an actuator pivotally connected to said driven member at a point spaced from said axis and from said part and movable in an arc about said pivotal connection, said actuator being coupled to said part to move said part between said positions as said actuator moves between the ends of the arc, resilient means to urge the part to the second position, said actuator being a plate having a curvilinear periphery normal to said axis, said periphery having a step therein facing forward with respect to said direction of rotation, said pivotal connection being at the opposite side of said axis from said part, and a device positioned at a side of said actuator for contacting said actuator and moving it against said urging to the end of the arc corresponding to the first position of the part, said device including a finger movable between a first position at which it rides on said periphery and a second position at which it is spaced away from said plate, whereby when the finger is riding on the periphery and said abutment contacts said finger, said plate will be pivoted to the end of the arc at which said part is in the first position.