Patent ID: 8608602
Filing Date: 2013-12-17
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
1. A belt clutch comprising: a first traction pulley; a second traction pulley horizontally displaced from the first traction pulley; a belt rotationally coupling the first and second traction pulleys; two vertically displaced rotating idler pulleys residing between the first and second traction pulleys, the idler pulleys having an engaged position increasing tension on the belt and coupling the rotation of the first traction pulley to the second traction pulley causing the second traction pulley to rotate when the first traction pulley rotates and a disengaged position reducing tension on the belt and decoupling the rotation of the first traction pulley to the second traction pulley allowing the first traction pulley to rotate without causing the second traction pulley to rotate; a multiplicity of rollers residing outside a closed loop of the belt and spaced apart from the belt while the idler pulleys are in the engaged position, the multiplicity of rollers limiting the outward movement of portions of the belt around the traction pulleys when the idler pulleys are in the disengaged position; wherein the two idler pulleys are jointly mounted to an actuator to move the two idler pulleys together and apart; the actuator is free to move in the direction about perpendicular to the displacement of the traction pulleys, wherein: when driving the first traction pulley in a clockwise direction under a load, an increased tension in the lower side of the belt which is pressed against a lower one of the idler pulleys pushes the actuator and the two idler pulleys downward with the two idler pulleys maintaining the same separation with respect to each other; the geometry of the upper and lower paths of the belt is such that vertical motion of the idler pulleys away from center increases the path of the belt and increases tension in the belt as the torque on the first traction pulley increases, keeping the belt from slipping under heavy load, and increasing efficiency by decreasing the tension in the belt under light load; and when driving first traction pulley in a counter-clockwise direction under a load, the actuator slides in an opposite direction and provides the same tension limiting function providing automatic and completely bi-directional and torque compensating when engaged but drag free when disengaged.