Patent GB-726338-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to tractor control mechanism
IPC: B60K17/28
Filed: 1953-03-02
Abstract: 726,338. Friction clutches. FORD MOTOR CO., Ltd. March 2, 1953 [May 17, 1952], No. 5780/53. Class 80 (2) [Also in Group XXXI] An agricultural tractor has a pair of axially aligned clutches arranged one to connect the traction wheels and the other a power take-off shaft to the traction engine, and clutch control means arranged to disengage the said other clutch upon further movement of the control means in the same direction. As shown in Fig. 2, the engine crankshaft 36 drives a flywheel 38 to which is secured the centre plate 40 of a dual clutch assembly 20. Mounted for axial movement on opposite sides of the plate 40 are pressure plates 92, 94 and clutch discs 96, 102 carrying friction linings 100, 106, respectively, are mounted for sliding movement between the plate 40 and the plates 92, 94, respectively. The hub 98 of the disc 96 is slidably splined on an intermediate shaft 44, piloted at its left hand end in a bearing 42 carried by the flywheel and splined at its other end to the main shaft 46 of a gear box 22. The hub 104 of the disc 102 is slidably splined to a sleeve 74 rotatable around the shaft 44 and carrying at its right hand end a pinion 78. Meshing with the pinion 78 is a gear wheel 80 splined to the power take-off shaft 28 which extends through the hollow countershaft 56 of the gear box 22. Power is transmitted from the shaft 44 to the shaft 46 and thence through the gearbox 22 in known manner to a drive shaft 61, Fig. 1, which is connected to the tractor rear wheels 12 through a bevel pinion 63 and ring gear 65 carried by the rear axle 67. Power is also transmitted from the sleeve 74 to the power take-off shaft 28 which drives a hydraulic pump 26 and has a rear end portion 90 in a position readily accessible for connecting implements and accessories thereto. The pump 26 supplies power to conventional hydraulic mechanism (not shown) for raising and lowering conventional links 30, 34, 32 and thus any implement which is connected thereto. Referring again to Fig. 2 a spider 120 is secured to the centre plate 40 and has three radially extending bifurcated guideways 122 and three radially extending bifurcated guideways 142 spaced between the guideways 122. The pressure plates 92, 94 and discs 96, 102 are urged towards the centre plate by twelve springs 108 Fig. 6, cooperating with pins 114 and retainers 112, which pins pass through the plate 40. Mounted in the guideways 122 on pins 126 are operating levers 124 for the pressure plate 92. Links 128 pivoted to the plate 92 at 130 are pivoted to the levers 124 at 132. Mounted in the guideways 142 on pins 144 are operating levers 140 for the pressure plate 94 which has extensions 146 pivoted to the levers 140 at 148. As will be clear from Fig. 2, on operating a foot pedal (not shown) a shaft 70 is rocked to move an arm 68 which in turn moves a clutch throw out bearing 66 along a fixed sleeve 64 coaxial with the shaft 44 and sleeve 74. Initially the bearing 66 will contact the levers 124 to operate the pressure plate 92 by pushing it away from the plate 40 and thus cause the disengagement of the drive to the shaft 44 and the drive to the rear wheels. Further movement of the bearing will then cause the levers 140 to operate the plate 94 by pulling it away from the plate 40 and thus cause the disengagement of the drive to the sleeve 74 and thus to the shaft 28 and pump 26.