Improvements in Automatic Engaging and dis- engaging rotative Clutches
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 10th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 5th Oct., 1888
We RICHARD JAMes Hodges, of 112 Osbaldeston Road, Stoke Newington, London,
Engineer, and ALFRED BRIDGMAN of 307 Amhurst Road Stoke Newington London,
Box Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object "Improvements in Automatic Engaging and dis-
engaging rotative Clutches" and relates to that class of mechanism used for stopping
and starting Stamping, Cutting and Embossing Presses, Nail driving and other similar
machines which require the eccentrics, cams or cranks to make a single revolution, or
series of revolutions, and then stop in one position.
In order that this Invention may be more readily understood we annex hereto one
sheet of Drawings which forms part of this specification and illustrates our improve-
ments as embodied in such a machine as above referred to.
Referring to the Drawings.
Figure 1. is a front elevation showing the upper part or side standards of a Press,
such as is used for drawing metal cartridge cases, Punching, Stamping, Embossing or
similar work.
Figure 2. is a plan of the same, with the cover removed from the clutch box.
Fig. 3. is an end elevation of same looking through A. B.
Fig. 4. is an end elevation of the driving shaft &c. looking through A. B. without
the side standards.
Fig. 5. is an elevation of Fig. 4 in section through the clutch box, on line C. D.
(see Fig. 1.)
Similar letters of reference are shown in corresponding parts wherever they occur.
(a) (a) Figure 1 are two side standards of a machine as above referred to, which
carry the horizontal shaft (b), to one end of which is attached any suitable gear wheel
or belt pulley by which it is driven; this shaft passes through and supports a
sleeve (e), having formed solid therewith, or fixed thereto, two eccentrics or cams (c')
and (c) on one side of the eccentric (c¹) and formed solid with said sleeve is a
clutch box (d) having a moveable cover (di).

page_text: Passing through said eccentric and clutch box is a small rocking shaft (e) formed
with a wiper or crank (e) at one end, this rocking shaft supports the pawl (f)
which is fixed thereto by the set screw (f³); on the back of the pawl is formed a pro-
jection (2) against which presses the end of a small pin plunger (9), which slides
freely in a hole bored in the back of the clutch box, this hole is closed at its bottom
end by a hollow scrow plug (g) which forms a guide for the tail end of said pin
plunger working freely upon this pin plunger is a spiral spring (²), one end of
which rests upon the screw plug (g), the other end presses the large end of said pin
plunger against the projection on the pawl (f); the shaft (6) has a series of notches
or ratchets (1) formed in it (opposite the said pawl) and is shown in section in
Fig. 5.
Projecting from the side of the eccentric (c) is a stop (c³) the object of which is
hereinafter stated: Through one of the side standards passes a sliding pin (h) which
is pressed towards the eccentric (e) by a balance weight or spring, and is withdrawn
from said eccentric to start the machine by a suitable treadle or handle.
In operating a machine fitted with a clutch motion as above described and illus-
trated by the Drawings attached hereto, the shaft (b) is set in motion and revolves in
the direction shown by the arrow in Figs. 3 and 4; against the sliding pin (h) presses
the stop (3) whereby the sleeve and eccentrics are retained in the position shown, by
the friction of the shaft (b) revolving therein; the said sliding pin also presses
outward the wiper (e) on the rocking shaft (e) by which the pawl (f) is held clear of
the notches or ratchets in the shaft (6) To put the clutch in motion the sliding
pin (h) is drawn clear of the stop (³) and leaves the sleeve and eccentrics free to
revolve together with the shaft, the wiper (e) being freed from the end of the sliding
pin at the same moment, allows the pawl (f) to engage one of the notches or ratchets
in the shaft (), by which the said sleeve and eccentrics is carried round by the
revolving shaft.
After the stop (3) passes the end of the sliding pin (h) (if the treadle or handle be
released) the said sliding pin is pressed back into its former position before the com-
pletion of a revolution of the shaft, and presses the wiper (e) outward which trips the
pawl () clear of the notches or ratchets in the shaft (), when the sleeve and eccentrics
again come to rest and are prevented from overrunning by the contact of the stop (c³)
with the said sliding pin.
In machines constructed for such purposes as embossing &c. where a dwell is
required on the bottom stroke, we employ two sliding pins (h) placed diametrically
opposite each other, both of which can be operated together or separately, whereby
the sleeve and eccentrics can be brought to rest on the bottom as well as on the top of
the stroke.
Where very great strain is transmitted to the two eccentrics or cams, two clutches
may be employed, one by the side of each eccentric, both of which can be operated
by one rocking shaft passing through both clutch boxes, and having both pawls fixed
thereto, and operated as above described; or in cases where only one eccentric or cam
is required, such eccentric can be fixed at either end of said sleeve, or in the middle
thereof, or the said sleeve can be extended through one of the supporting standards
and have a overhanging crank arm, eccentric, or cam, attached thereto.
Dated this 20th day of December 1887.
RICHARD JAMES HODGES.
ALFRED BRIDGMAN.

page_text: Improvements in Automatic Engaging and Disengaging Rotative
Clutches.
We, RICHARD JAMES HODGES of 112 Osbaldeston Road, Stoke Newington London
Engineer and ALFRED BRIDGMAN of 307 Amhurst Road, Stoke Newington, London,
Box Maker, 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:-
This invention has for its object "Improvements in Automatic Engaging and
disengaging rotative Clutches" and relates to that class of mechanism used for
stopping and starting Stamping, Cutting and Embossing Presses, Nail driving and
other similar machines which require the eccentrics, cams or cranks to make a single
revolution, or series of revolutions, and then stop in one position.
Referring to the Drawings left with the Provisional Specification.
Figure 1. is a front elevation showing the upper part or side standards of a Press,
such as is used for drawing metal cartridge cases, Punching, stamping, Embossing or
similar work.
Figure 2, is a plan of the same, with the cover removed from the clutch box.
Figure 3, is an end elevation of same looking through A. B.
Figure 4, is an end elevation of the driving shaft &c., looking through A. B.
without the side standards.
Figure 5. is an elevation of Fig. 4, in section through the clutch box, on line C. D.
(See Fig. 1).
Similar letters of reference are shown in corresponding parts wherever they occur.
(a.) (a.) Figure 1. are two side standards of a machine as above referred to, which
carry the horizontal shaft (b), to one end of which is attached any suitable gear
wheel, or belt pulley by which it is driven; this shaft passes through and supports
a sleeve (c), having formed solid therewith or fixed thereto, two eccentrics or cams (c¹)
and (c) on one side of the eccentric (c¹) and formed solid with said sleeve is a
clutch box (d) having a moveable cover (¹).
Passing through said eccentric and clutch box is a small rocking shaft (e) formed
with a wiper or crank (e¹) at one end, this rocking shaft supports the pawl (7) which is
fixed thereto by the set screw (¹); on the back of the pawl is formed a projection (2)
against which presses the end of a small pin plunger (), which slides freely in a hole
bored in the back of the clutch box, this hole is closed at its bottom end by a hollow screw
plug (g) which forms a guide for the tail end of said pin plunger working freely
upon this pin plunger is a spiral spring (2), one end of which rests upon the screw
plug (g), the other end presses the large end of said pin plunger against the pro-
jection on the pawl (f); the shaft (b.) has a series of notches or ratchets (6¹) formed
in it, (opposite the said pawl) and is shown in section in Fig. 5.
Projecting from the side of the eccentric (c¹) is a stop (3) the object of which is
hereinafter stated: Through one of the side standards passes a sliding pin (h) which
is pressed towards the eccentric (c¹) by a balance weight or spring, and is withdrawn
from said eccentric to start the machine by a suitable treadle or handle.
In operating a machine fitted with a clutch motion as above described and illustrated
by the Drawings referred to, the shaft. (b) is set in motion and revolves in the direction
shown by the arrow in Figs. 3 and 4; Against the sliding pin (h) presses the stop (c³)

page_text: whereby the sleeve and eccentrics are retained in the position shown, by the friction
of the shaft (b) revolving therein; the said sliding pin also presses outward the
wiper (e) on the rocking shaft (e) by which the pawl (f.) is held clear of the notches
or ratchets in the shaft (b).
To put the clutch in motion the sliding pin () is drawn clear of the stop (c) and
leaves the sleeve and eccentrics free to revolve together with the shaft, the wiper (el)
being freed from the end of the sliding pin at the same moment, allows the pawl (f)
to engage one of the notches or ratchets in the shaft (b), by which the said sleeve
and eccentrics is carried round by the revolving shaft.
After the stop (c) passes the end of the sliding pin (h) (if the treadle or handle
be released) the said sliding pin is pressed back into its former position before the
completion of a revolution of the shaft, and presses the wiper (e) outward which
trips the pawl (f) clear of the notches or ratchets in the shaft (6), when the sleeve
and eccentrics again come to rest, and are prevented from overrunning by the contact
of the stop (e) with the said sliding pin.
In machines constructed for such purposes as embossing &c. where a dwell is
required on the bottom stroke, we employ two sliding pins (4) placed diametrically
opposite each other, both of which can be operated together or separately, whereby
the sleeve and eccentrics can be brought to rest on the bottom as well as on the top
of the stroke.
Where very great strain is transmitted to the two eccentrics or cams, two clutches
may be employed, one by the side of each eccentric, both of which can be operated
by one rocking shaft passing through both clutch boxes, and having both pawls fixed
thereto, and operated as above described; or in cases where only one eccentric or
cam is required, such eccentric can be fixed at either end of said sleeve, or in the
middle thereof, or the said sleeve can be extended through one of the supporting
standards and have a overhanging crank arm, eccentric or cam attached thereto.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
First In machines driven by a main shaft or spindle (having a continuous
rotary motion) upon which are cut or formed suitable notches or ratchets, the
construction of "Automatic engaging and disengaging rotative clutches, having a
pawl or pawls (f) supported by and fixed to a rocking shaft (e) having a wiper or
crank arm (e) at one end thereof, by which said pawl or pawls are allowed to engage
with, or disengage from the notches or ratchets (6') in the main driving shaft.
Second-The combination of pin plunger (g) screw plug (g) and spring (92), for
the purpose of pressing said pawl or pawls into contact with the notches or ratchets
in the main driving shaft.
Third: The sleeve (c) having fixed thereto the eccentrics, cams or cranks together
with a clutch box, or clutch boxes (d) and moveable cover (d¹) and stop (3), as
herein described and illustrated in the drawings referred to.
Fourth In the side framing, the sliding pin actuated by hand or treadle, for
the purpose of engaging the wiper or crank arm (e¹) fixed to the rocking shaft (e)
thereby releasing the pawl or pawls from the main shaft and stopping the sleeve (c)
positively, by contact with the stop (e³).
Dated this 10th day of August 1888.