Patent GB-435829-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to clutches
IPC: F16D13/04
Filed: 1934-07-26
Abstract: 435,829. Friction clutches. RUSSELL, R. C., 15347, Piedmont Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. July 26, 1934, No. 21935. Convention date, Aug. 21, 1933. [Class 80 (ii)] A clutch is adapted to be disengaged under manual control by power at all times derived from that member from which power is normally transmitted through the clutch, the amount of disengagement being proportional to the amount of movement of the element through which manual control is exercised. In a motorvehicle clutch, comprising a driven plate 36, Fig. 1, normally gripped between a driving flywheel 14 and a presser plate 48 by the action of springs 50, the plate 48 being adapted to be withdrawn by radial levers 54, a sleeve 66 fixed to the plate 48 has splined thereon a cam-faced member 74 which abuts against a nut 72, adjustably secured on the sleeve, and which coacts, through the intermediary of caged balls 82, with a complementary cam-faced member 78 mounted freely on the sleeve and bearing against the levers 54 through a thrust bearing 58. A friction-faced flange 84 on the member 78 co-operates with a non-rotatable sleeve 94 which is slidable under the control of the clutch pedal 108. On depression of the latter, for disengaging the clutch, the flanged end of the sleeve 94 moves against the flange 84 to brake the latter, whereby the balls 82 ride up the cam faces of the members 74, 78 and produce axial separation thereof, resulting in withdrawal of the plate 48. Since the member 78 follows up the movement of the sleeve 94, the amount of withdrawal of the plate 48 is proportional to the movement of the sleeve 94. A washer 71 provided with spring fingers is arranged between the nut 72 and the member 74 so that, when declutching with the parts stationary, the member 74 moves with the member 78 so as to maintain the balls 82 in position. In a modification, the flange 84 is slidably connected by pins 119, Fig. 6, to a sleeve 110 formed with an internal helical groove co-operating, through the intermediary of caged balls 114, with an external helical groove on the sleeve 66. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 comprises also an arrangement in which a cam - faced member 172, Fig. 8 (Cancelled), secured to the flywheel cover plate 150, co-operates, through the intermediary of caged balls 180, with a cam-faced member 176 which acts on the presser plate 154 through a thrust bearing 184 and which is fixed to a sleeve 166 to which is adjustably secured a friction-faced disc 168 co-operating with a non- rotatable member 198 which is slidable under the control of the clutch pedal. A spiral spring 188, having its outer end connected to the cover 150 and its inner end connected to the member 176, acts normally to maintain the members 172, 176 separated so that the clutch is engaged against the action of spring links 156 which tend to produce disengagement, each link having one end secured to the plate 154 and the other end secured to the cover 150. By moving the member 198 into braking engagement with the disc 168, disengagement is effected. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.