US465596A - Friction-clutch - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

E. I. MASON. PRIGTION- CLUTCH.l

No. 465,596. Patented Dec. 22', 1891.

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UNITED STATES 4PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY I. MASON, OF OUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO.

FRlCTlON-CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,596, dated December 22, 1891.

Application fled April 11, 1889. Serial No. 306,830. (No model.)

A and useful Improvement in Friction-Clutch es,

of which the following is a specification.

This inventionl relates to lthat class of clutches in which a cylindrical fiange is grasped by two jaws, which move inversely and radially upon a clutch-arm. Examples of this class are shown in Letters Patent of the United States numbered 383,104, dated May 22, 1888, issued to Crowell, No. 367,856, dated August 9, 1887, to Slayton, and No. 808,872, dated December 9, 1884, to Brock.

This invention relates to the mechanism by which the motions of the shifting-sleeve are communicated to the jaws for operating the clutch; and it consists in the interposition of an inclined surface between a projection from the sleeve and a bearing connected with each jaw, whereby when the projection from the sleeve is forced forward the jaws will be forced toward each other.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the axis of the pulley and clutch. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same through the line 1 1 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are similar sections of modifications.

Similar lettersof reference indicate similar parts in all the figures.

a is the shaft.

b is the pulley, loose upon the shaft.

c is the iiange, cylindrical to and concentric with the shaft.

d is the shifter-sleevee is a hub keyed fast to the shaft, from which project radially the clutch-arms f. j

g and g are the jaws, which are formed, as

Y shown, so as to grasp the cylindrical Iiange upon the inside and outside thereof, and which are arranged to slide in guideways on the clutch-arm, being held thereon, preferably, by a tongue-andgroove connection. The friction-surfaces of these jaws are preferably faced with wood.

h is a rocker, which is pivoted at h to the clutch-arm in the middle and at either end to one of the jaws, sufficient play being introduced around the pivots to permit of the free reciprocation of the jaws in their guideways. A function which this rocker performs is to insure a corresponding motion of the two jaws in inversedirections and communicate the centrifugal force of leach jaw tothe other, so

that the two forces, acting in opposite directions, will moreor less counterbalance each other, depen ding upon the respective weights of the jaws.

I will now describe the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2. c' is a piece projecting forward from the shifter-sleeve d. This projecting piece extends through a hole out through the stem of each jaw and through the clutch-arm. On the lower side of this projecting piece, where it passes through the stem of jaw g, it is provided with an inclined bearing-surface- Another inclined bearing-surface, but inclined in the opposite direction, is provided on theupper side of the piece t' where it passes through the stem of jaw g. j Below thelowerinclined bear ing-surface of the projecting piece i the stem of jawgis provided withabearing-surface resting against said inclined bearing, which bearingsurface is preferably provided with a roller j to reduce the friction. The stein of the jaw g' is provided with a corresponding bearingsurface resting against the inclined bearing upon the upper side of the projecting piece i', whichv bearing-surface is preferably provided with a roller j to lessen the friction. Now it is evident that the forcing of the shifter-sleeve d forward in the direction `of the arrow 7c will cause the jaws to move inversely, so as to gripthe flange, and that mo- 'tion of the shifter-sleeve in the opposite di` rection will release the pressure upon the jaws, so that they may separate either by the action of centrifugal force or by the operation of a spring, as Z. The separation or tendency to separate by the action of centrifugal force may be accomplished by having the outer jaw g of equal or greater weight with the inner jaw g', so that the greater distance of the center of gravity of the outer jaw from the center of the shaft will, upon the rotation of the clutch, cause it to exert a greater cen` trifugal force than the inner jaw and therefore to move radially outward, pushing at the same time the inner jaw radially inward, because of their being coupled together by the rocker. It is, however, desirable that wear of the friction-surfaces, and to this end IDO the friction-rollersj andy" may be mount-ed,

respectively, in the pieces m and m', each of which is located in a slot cut through the stem of its jaw. Each piece 'm and m is formed with an incline n n on the opposite side to the friction-roller, and in each case this incline is in contact with a corresponding incline upon the stern of the jaw, so that by sliding these inclines upon each other each friction-roller may be forced forward toward the projecting piece z. These inclines are moved and held in fixed positions by the screws 0 and o', projecting from them through slots in their respective jaw-stems, as shown, in the direction of the shifting-lever, Where the jam-nuts 19 and p upon the screws are Areadily accessible to the operator to adjust the position of the pieces mand m. Now it is evident that by adjusting the piecesm and m toward the right the jaws will be brought nearer together and that by adjusting them toward the left they will be moved farther apart.

I will now describe the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In this case the projecting piece i extends, as before, through holes cut through the jaw-stems and clutch-arm but in this case the inclined bearing-surfaces of the projecting piece t', instead of being located upon the exterior thereof, are located in a slot q, cut throughV the same, the portion of the slot opposite to the jaw-stem g being inclined in one direction, as shown, and that portion opposite the jaw-stem g being inclined in the opposite direction. Across the openingin the jaw-stem g is a shaft or bar r, mounted at opposite ends in the jaw, which passes through the slot q of the piece i. A corresponding shaft or rod r crosses the opening in jawstem g', and also passes through the slot q( Upon the shaft or rod o", where it passes through the slot q, is mounted a friction-roller s, and a corresponding friction-roller s is mounted upon the rod or shaft r where it passes through the slot q. Each of these friction-rollers is in diameter nearly equal to the width'of the slot q, so that there is very little lplay in either direction between either friction-roller and the piece i.. Now it will be observed that when the shifter-sleeve ismoved in thedirection of the arrow 7a the frictionroller s will run upon the incline at the top of the slot q and force the jaw g inward, whereas ,the friction-roller s will run upon the incline at the bottom of the slot q and force the jaw gf outward. On the other hand, when the shifter-sleeve is moved in the opposite direction the two friction-rollers will run upon the inclines at the opposite sides of the slot q. and permit or produce the reverse movement of the jaws.

Although I have shown the inclined surfaces as being located upon the projecting piece i and the friction-rollers as located upon the jaw-stems, I do not wish to beconiined to such relative arrangements of those parts, nor do I Wish to be confined to the employment of friction-rollers. l

It remains to provide meansfor adjustment to take up the wear of the friction-surfaces, and for this purpose the ends of the shafts or rods 7' r may be mounted in slots in the jawstems, so that by the use of the set-screwst t the rods or shafts fr r may be respectively adjusted to and from the shaft, so as to bring the jaws nearer together or farther apart. y

I claim- Y In combination, the friction-lian ge cylindrical to the shaft, the inversely radially moving jaws adapted to grip said iiange inside and out, the clutch-arm upon which said jaws move, the rocker by which one jaw is colnpelled to respond to the motions of the other, the shifting-sleeve7 and the piece projecting from the shifting-sleeve and having the inversely-inclined planes interposed between said piece and said jaws, respectively, Whereby said jaws are moved inversely by the movement of the shifting-sleeve, substantially as described.

Il. I` MASON. Witnesses:

ORLANDO WILcoX, H. J. STAMBAUGH.-

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