An Improved Frictional Clutch, especially applicable for Differential Speed Devices.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th NOV., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 13th Aug., 1900-Accepted, 15th Sept., 1900
Date of Application, 11th NOV., 7899
Complete Specification Left, 13th Aug., 1900-Accepted, 15th Sept., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Frictional Clutch, especially applicable for Differential
Speed Devices.
We, RALPH JACKSON and ARTHUR FIRTH, both of The Ralpho-Watson Cycle
Works, in Altrincham, Cheshire, Cyclo and Motor-Cycle Manufacturers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
For the purposes of this specification, we will describe our invention as applied
to the differential speed-gear of a self-propelled vehicle.
The driving shaft of the engine or motor is geared by a chain and chain and
sprocket wheels with a counter-shaft. On each side of the counter-shaft sprocket
wheel we provide a free sprocket wheel which wheels are loosely mounted on
such counter-shaft, and are geared by chains with chain wheels of different
diameters mounted on the axle or axles of the vehicle driving wheel or wheels.
Consequently by putting one or other of such free sprocket wheels in gear with
the counter-shaft on which they are mounted, the speeds transmitted by the
engine to the vehicle wheels are differentiated.
The frictional device by which we place one or other of such free sprocket
wheels in rigid connection with the counter-shaft on which they are mounted
consists as follows:-Loosely mounted beside each free sprocket wheel on such
counter-shaft is a collar provided with a coned outer-surface, and fixedly mounted
beside such loose collars on such counter-shaft are other collars also provided
with a coned surface, the coned surfaces of such fixed and loose collars forming
a V-race for a series of balls. Covering such ball-races and arranged to slide
upon such fixed and loose collars are sleeves whose internal surfaces are coned.
These coned sleeves are moved to-and-fro over the ball races by bifurcated levers
as in other clutches. The effect of moving such coned sleeves over such ball
races is that the internally coued surface of such sleeves forces the balls into
the V-shaped hall race formed by the abutting coned surfaces of the fixed and
loose collars. The loose collar is thus pushed in an axial direction and so forces
its free sprocket wheel against the rigid sprocket wheel. Continued movement
of the coned sleeve serves to lock the balls in their race and the result is that
the free sprocket wheel is put in rigid connection with the counter-shaft.
The operating levers of the two coned sleeves are coupled in such a way
that they act in unison so that when in their central position both free wheels
are disengaged, and when one sleeve is locking its free wheel as above described
the other sleeve has released its free wheel.
It will be noted that the friction clutch herein described is extremely gradual
in its locking action.

page_text: An Improved Frictional Clutch, especially applicable for Differential
Speed Devices.
We, RALPH JAOKSON and ARTHUR FIRTH, both of Altrincham, Cheshire,
Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:—
For the purposes of this specification we will describe our invention as applied
to the differential speed-gear of a self propelled vehicle.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 2 is
a plan of a self-propelled tricycle. Figure 3 is a side sectional view of a counter-
shaft which carries the frictional clutch according to this invention. Figure 4 is
a front view and Figure 5 is an end view of the general arrangement of the
counter-shaft.
Reference being had to Figures and 2 it will be seen that upon a tubular
frame A is mounted the propelling engine a. The crank-shaft of this engine
carries a sprocket wheel which transmits motion to the countershaft c. dis
the driving wheel of the tricycle. The sprocket wheel b is geared to a sprocket
wheel keved on the shaft c.
r
Two smaller sprocket wheels f.g freely mounted
on the shaft c transmit motion to the larger sprocket wheels h, i keyed on the hub
of the driving wheel d when the wheel for the wheel is placed in frictional
contact with the wheel e. Such frictional contact is effected by the device shewn
in Figures 3, 4, and 5. Referring to these figures it will be seen that to the
free sprocket wheels are pinned friction discs which fit into corresponding
recesses in the sides of the wheel e. Freely mounted beside each of the wheels f g
are collars formed with a coned outer surface and adjustably screwed upon
the shaft are other collars also provided with a coned surface, the coned
surfaces of such fast and loose collars forming a V-race for a series of balls m.
Covering such ball races and arranged to slide upon such fast and loose collars
are sleeves n whose internal surfaces are partly cylindrical and partly coned.
The sleeves are moved to and fro over the ball races by the parallel levers o
operated by the hand lever p. The effect of moving a sleeve n over a ball race
is that its coned surface naturally forces the halls m between the abutting coned
surfaces of the collars k, 1. The free collar k, the sprocket wheel ƒ (or) and
its friction disc are thus pushed in an axial direction and the friction disc is
forced against the wheel e. Continued movement of the sleeve serves to lock
the balls m and the result is that the sprocket wheel (or g) is placed in frictional
contact with the wheel c In Figure 3 the wheel is shown locked to the
wheel. The wheel being free. The levers o are coupled and act in unison 80
that in their central position (as in Figure 4) both the wheels f, are free
and when one sleeve a is locking its sprocket wheel the other sleeve n is moving
freely on its ball race.
ባ
A differential speed gear such as above described besides providing an extremely
gradual means for placing one or the other speed in gear also permits of the
shaft turning idly without a load upon it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that
what we claim is:-
A frictional clutch especially applicable for differential speed devices, com-
prising a wheel e fixed on a driving shaft c. at its sides a pair of wheels f and g

page_text: each attached to a friction disc j and free on the shaft, also a pair of collars &
free, and collars / adjustably fixed on the shaft the ends of the collars being
coned to form between them a race for the balls m a pair of sliding sleeves n
having their internal surfaces partly coned, and means of simultaneously sliding
the sleeves so as to clutch the one or the other of the wheels f, g to the wheel e,
substantially as described.
111 1
1000
J. A. COUBROUGHT,
Chartered Patent Agent, 10, St. George's Crescent, Liverpool,
Agent for the Applicants.