Improvements in Friction Clutches.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 20th May, 1897-Accepted, 26th June, 1897
Improvements in Friction Clutches.
We, JOHN ISAAC THORNYCROFT, F.R.S. of Chiswick Mall, Chiswick, in the
County of Middlesex, and THE STEAM CARRIAGE & WAGON COMPANY,
LIMITED, of Homefield, Chiswick, Auto-car Builders, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A friction clutch according to this invention comprises two series of rings, these
rings being alternately arranged so that a ring of one series is located between two
rings of the other series and the rings of one series are connected to the driving
part and the rings of the other series to the part to be driven in such wise that
the rings can move laterally in relation to the part they are connected with but
cannot rotate independently thereof. And in connection with the said rings
(which are the friction rings) there are arranged a stiff ring, suitable blocks to
slide thereon, and toggle levers whose shorter arms constitute cams which bear
against the blocks, the longer arms being slotted and connected by pins to a collar
or sleeve able to he slidden by a fork or an equivalent along the shaft and which
rotates with the shaft. By moving the collar or sleeve along the shaft the friction
rings can be pressed more or less into contact with one another so as to be given
more or less bite according to requirements.
The rings are or may be located within a casing that constitutes a fly wheel
or drum and the cam like arms of the levers take into recess in the blocks;
the fulcra of these levers are on pins carried by eyes or lugs projecting from the
casing.
The arrangement is such that when the maximum bite or grip obtains between
the friction rings the levers will not exert pressure against the collar or sleeve, the
lines of pressure being through the major axes of the cams or short arms of the
levers and at right angles to the plane of the friction rings.
Such an arrangement enables the operator to throw in and out of
gear without
appreciable shock and also to drive with a variable amount of slip between the
driving part and the driven part, which is convenient in some cases as for example
in the case of motor propelled vehicles which by means of this clutch arrangement
can be stopped and started more rapidly than when the motor itself has to be
stopped and started.
נית
البعد
1
2000

page_text: We, JOHN ISAAC THORNYCROFT, F.R.S. of Chiswick Mall, Chiswick, in the
County of Middlesex, and THE STEAM CARRIAGE & WAGON COMPANY,
LIMITED, of Homefield, Chiswick, Auto-car Builders, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
A friction clutch according to this invention comprises two series of rings,
these rings being alternately arranged so that a ring of one series is located
between two rings of the other series and the rings of one series are connected
to the driving part and the rings of the other series to the part to be driven
in such wise that the rings can move laterally in relation to the part they are
connected with but caunot rotate independently thereof. And in connection with
the said rings (which are the friction rings) there are arranged a stiff ring,
suitable blocks to slide thereon, and toggle levers whose shorter arms constitute
cams which bear against the blocks, the longer arms being slotted and con-
nected by pins to a collar or sleeve able to be slidden by a fork or an equivalent
along the shaft and which rotates with the shaft. By moving the collar or
sleeve along the shaft the friction rings can be pressed more or less into contact
with one another so as to be given more or less bite according to requirements.
The rings are or may be located within a casing that constitutes a fly wheel
or drum and the cam like arms of the levers take into recesses in the blocks;
the fulcra of these levers are on pins carried by eyes or lugs projecting from the
casing.
The arrangement is such that when the maximum bite or grip obtains between
the friction rings the levers will not exert pressure against the collar or sleeve, the
lines of pressure being through the major axes of the cams or short arms of the
levers and at right angles to the plane of the friction rings.
Such an arrangement enables the operator to throw in and out of gear without
appreciable shock and also to drive with a variable amount of slip between the
driving part and the driven part, which is convenient in some cases, as, for example,
in the case of motor propelled vehicles which by means of this clutch arrangement
can be stopped and started more rapidly than when the motor itself has to be
stopped and started.
Referring to the accompanying illustrative drawings,
Fig. 1 is an end elevation of such a construction of friction clutch as above
referred to certain portions being broken away for the sake of clearness; and
Fig. 2 shows a vertical section thereof on the line a b Fig. 1.
1 is the driving shaft on which is keyed a casing constituting a fly wheel or drum
and comprising a disc 2 formed with a flange 2 and an annular plate 2° screwed to
said flange as shown.
3 is the part to be driven; it is, in the example, a pinion loosely mounted on the
shaft 1 and having formed integrally with it a disc 3 having a flange 3b concentric
with the shaft 1, the parts 3 and 3b forming in effect a wheel which might be
otherwise constructed. 4, 4 and 5, 5 are friction rings arranged alternately; the
rings 4 are connected by keys 4" to the casing and the rings 5 by keys 5 to the
flange 3 or rim 3b. Between the disc 2 and the adjacent friction ring 4 is a stiff
ring 6, that may be of cast iron having in contact with its outer side blocks 7 that
slide in radial slots 8 formed through the disc 2 and that have bearing against
recessed portions of them cams 9 constituted by the shorter arms of levers 9, 9
fulcrummed on pins 10 carried by eyes or lugs 10 projecting from the disc 2, as

page_text: shown. The longer arms 9 of the levers are slotted and connected by pins 11 to
a grooved collar or sleeve 12 with which engages a shifting fork (not shown). It
will be seen that when the levers 9, 9 have been moved into the positions
indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 2, the maximum grip between the friction rings
will obtain and the levers 9, 9 will not exert a pressure against the collar 12,
since the lines of pressure will pass through the major axes of the cams 9.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we hereby declare that we
do not claim broadly the use in a friction clutch of two series of rings alternately
arranged but what we claim is :-
1. A friction clutch comprising two series of friction rings alternately arranged
and connected respectively to a driving part and to a part to be driven, operating
levers connected to a collar or sleeve on the driving shaft, a stiff ring, and recessed
sliding blocks against which cam-like portions of the said levers are arranged to
act in such wise as to press more or less closely together when required the
friction rings of the respective series substantially as described for the purpose
specified.
2. The improved friction clutch constructed and arranged as hereinbefore
described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of May 1897
For the Applicants,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.