A New or Improved Clutch.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 29th Jan., 1898
A New or Improved Clutch.
I, HENRY CHAMBERS, of 10, Hope Street, Haslingden, Lancashire, Engineer,
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 relates to a new or improved clutch gearing, and its object is
to provide an arrangement by which pulley wheels or the like may be thrown
into or out of gear in a simple and effective manner.
The arrangement I propose to employ consists of a disc having a tubular part
keyed with the boss of the pulley wheel and provided with bearing pieces so
that it will run on the shaft. This disc is formed with two flanges at its outer
side, placed concentrically so that a deep circular channel or groove is formed
on the shaft, and keyed to it a boss is fixed having two extending parts placed
opposite each other. To each of these extensions a strong driver pin is fitted
secured in place by a nut and projecting at one side. This pin projects into the
groove or channel above described, and is preferably square in cross section.
The pin serves to carry two pairs of clutches, each pair consisting of an inner
and outer one. The outer clutches are provided with an extension at their centre
formed with a hole so as to receive the driver pin. The hole or slot through which
the piu passes is slightly longer than the pin so that the clutch can travel
radially a short distance, but does not move transversely. The inner clutch is
provided with a flange, recessed to receive the extension or lug on the outer,
so that both the clutches are connected together and cannot slide past each
other.
These clutches always lie in the circular groove or between the two flanges on
the disc, but do not bear against these flanges when the clutch is in inoperative
position. To bring the clutch into action the inner and outer clutches are sup-
ported so that one pair bears against the inside of the outer flange and the other
against the periphery of the inner. The parts are thus firmly fixed together and
the pulley wheel will be turned with the shaft.
To operate the clutches in the manner described, a screwed pin or spindle is
employed on each side extending through the ends of both the inner and outer
clutches. These pins are provided at each end with quick screw threads, one right
handed and the other left handed, so that on turning the spindle in one direction,
the clutches will be separated and will bear against the flanges. On turning
the spindle back the clutches will be brought together and will be rendered
inoperative.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is made
to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a cross section of a
clutch constructed according to my invention, Fig. 2 is a section at right angles,
Fig. 3 is an elevation with the shaft in section, and Fig. 4 is a detail view."
A is the disc with the cylindrical part a fitting around the shaft B provided
with bearing pieces a. This disc is fixed to the boss C of the pulley wheel by
the key c and is placed within the said boss so that the pulley wheel does not

page_text: bear directly upon the shaft. The disc is formed with the outer and inner
flanges and forming a circular groove or channel between them. Keyed
to the shaft is the boss D having the extension at each side. To these exten-
sions driving pins E are fitted, these pins being formed with a conical part,
and a flange fitting into the carrying pieces d, the nut e serving to secure the
pins in place. Both these pins project from the face of the carriers, and the
projecting parts are square in cross section as shown in Fig. 1, the corners how-
ever being preferably rounded. These pins serve to carry the clutches F and F,
the periphery of the clutches F being curved so as to fit exactly against the inner
side of the flange. The inner clutches F are formed with their inner sur-
faces of the same curve as the periphery of the flange, so that when these clutches
are brought together, they will grip the flange between them. These clutches
are fitted to the driving pin by means of a slotted lug or socket f at the inside of
the outer clutch, this socket receiving the square end of the pin E.
As shown in Fig. 1 the clutches are slightly larger than the pin in one
direction, so that the clutches are allowed to move radially a short distance
sliding upon the pins. The inner clutches F are formed with the flanges having
a recess fadapted to receive the projecting portion on the outer clutches. The
inner and outer clutches are thus all fixed together, and also secured to the pins
and boss so that they will move together.
To operate the clutches, the spindles G are employed shown in detail in
Fig. 4. These are formed with the two sets of screw threads g and g¹, one set
being left handed and the other right handed. The screw threads are quick,
so that a slight turn of the spindles will cause the clutches to be separated
and to bear against the flanges, or drawn together sufficiently to clear them.
The inner clutches F are formed with the extension through which the
pins or spindle G passes. The ends of the spindles are preferably of smaller
diameter and extend into the extremities of the outer clutches. The clutches
are provided with the screwed sockets f³ of brass, these sockets receiving the
serewed part of the spindle.
t
Each spindle is provided with the arm which projects outwardly at each
side. To the extremities of each arm a link II is fitted, this link being also
connected to the sliding sleeve h carried by the shaft and receiving the fork used
to operate the clutch as in the ordinary arrangement. When this sleeve is slidden
in one direction it will cause the spindles to turn so as to separate the clutches.
These will then grip the flanges as above described, and the pulley will be fixed
to the shaft and will turn with it. On the sleeve returning to its original
position, the spindles will be turned in the opposite direction, and will draw
the clutches together. These will then lie in the groove between the flanges clear
of both flanges. The clutch is also adapted to serve as a shaft coupling by
keying the disc on to the end of one shaft and the boss to the end of the next.
The inner and outer clutches are adapted to balance each other, the centrifugal
force of the outer, which would tend to cause the clutch to act when not
required, being balanced by that of the inner, which tend to separate and thus
to draw the outer clutches together.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
(1) A new or improved clutch, consisting of a disc fitted to a pulley wheel,
shaft or the like, two flanges on the face of the said disc, two pairs of clutches
placed between the two flanges adapted to bear one against the outer and the other
against the inner flange, a boss carrying the said clutches and spindles or pins
provided with right and left handed screws adapted to separate or draw the
two together, substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
(2) In an improved clutch the combination with a disc turning loosely upon
the shaft, and two concentric flanges on the face of the said disc, of a boss fixed

page_text: on the shaft, two driver pins fitted to the said boss, two pairs of clutches carried
by the pins and arranged to slide radially upon them adapted to grip against
the outer and inner Hanges, pins or spindles provided with right and left
handed screw threads fitted to the clutches and connections from the spindles
to a sliding sleeve, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(3) In an improved clutch the combination with a disc having a tubular
extension carried loosely on the shaft and fitted to the pulley wheel, and two
concentric flanges on the face of the said disc of two clutches projecting within
the said flanges and adapted to bear against them when in operative position,
slotted extensions at the inside of the outer clutches, corresponding recesses in
the flanges of the inner clutches, pins adapted to project into the said slots
allowing the clutches to project into the said slots allowing the clutches to slide
radially, a boss fixed to the shaft carrying the said pins, two pins or spindles
one at each side each pin provided with right and left banded screw threads
fitting in the ends of the clutches, and connections operating the said spindles,
all constructed and operating substantially as described and shown and for the
purposes specified.
100-
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.