Year: 1897

page_text: 1, LEANDRE MÉGY, of 15 Rue des Halles, Paris, France, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of improvements in clutches having for objects to render
such apparatus easy to operate, accurate, progressive, and certain in action.
In order to enable the nature of my improvements to be readily understood I
have annexed to the present description a sheet of drawings illustrative thereof,
Fig. 1 being a longitudinal section (according to the line a b of Fig. 2) of a clutch
according to my invention, and Fig. 2 a cross section according to the line m n of
Fig. 1.
A is the driving shaft, B is a sliding operating sleeve, which is operated by
means of a screw by a lever or otherwise and by means of which the engaging and
disengaging spindle is worked. C is a tightening and slackening spindle for pro-
ducing engagement and disengagement. D is a box which is mounted and revolves
idly on the sleeve and carries the pulley or toothed wheel that is intended to
transmit the motion. E is a plate or cover for closing the box. F is a driving
sleeve carrying the necessary devices, viz.:-A connecting compression spring G
covered externally with a strap or band of leather; a lug I fixed to the middle of
the spring and engaging in a corresponding recess formed in the sleeve F, R and
R springs, which, of whatever kind they may be, have no initial tension when in
he state of rest, and are each situated between two heads t and t¹, which have
lightly rounded outer end surfaces, the two outer heads t¹ bearing against the
heads of small rivets r, which are fixed to the strap of the connecting compression
Spring G.
Wilst at rest, or as long as the speed of rotation of the shaft A has not reached
termined number of revolutions, the springs R and R¹ have no tension,
and a contact with each other, and the spring G remains tight upon the sleeve F
and dot touch the box D,-that is to say, the force with which the spring G
rip the sleeve F is initially such that it cannot be overcome by centrifugal force
the speed of rotation of the sleeve exceed the predetermined maximum limit.
The force with which the spring G grips the sleeve F can, however, be 'neutralized
at any desired speed by advancing the spindle C between the heads t, which has
the result of compressing the springs R and R' more or less, and of causing the
[Price 8dI

page_text: spring G to adhere more or less against the inner wall of the box D, whose result-
ing speed of revolution is consequently greater or less, its maximum limit being
the speed of the sleeve.
The action of the spindle is proportionate to the extent of its penetration, and its
action, can, therefore, be regulated with the greatest exactness.
It is obvious that the apparatus is reversible--i.e., the motion may be transmitted
to the shaft A and to the sleeve F by the box D. It is also obvious that the spindle
might be placed at the centre, the sleeve being then hollow and bearing against its
supports.
I, LEANDRE MÉGY, of 15 Rue des Halles, Paris, France, Civil 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 consists, of improvements in clutches having for objects to render
such apparatus easy to operate, accurate, progressive, and certain in action.
In order to enable the nature of my improvements to be readily understood, I
will now proceed to describe the same by the aid of the sheet of illustrated draw-
ings filed with my Provisional Specification. wherein Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section
(according to the line a 6 of Fig. 2) of a clutch according to my invention, and
Fig. 2 is a cross section according to the line mn of Fig. 1.
A is the driving shaft and B is a sliding operating sleeve, which is operated by
means of a screw by a lever or otherwise and by means of which the engaging and
disengaging spindle is worked. C is a tightening and slackening spindle for pro-
ducing engagement and disengagement. D is a box, which is mounted and revolves
idly on the driving sleeve hereinafter mentioned, and carries the pulley or toothed
wheel that is intended to transmit the motion. E is a plate or cover for closing
the box. F is a driving sleeve carrying the necessary devices, viz.: A connecting
compression spring G covered externally with a leather strap; a lug H fixed to
the middle of the spring and engaging in a corresponding recess formed in the
sleeve F, springs R and R', which, of whatever kind they may be, have no initial
tension or compression when in the state of rest, and are each situated between
two heads and t, which have slightly rounded outer end surfaces, the two outer
heads bearing against the heads of small rivets r which are fixed to the connecting
compression spring G.
Whilst at rest, or as long as the speed of rotation of the shaft A has not reached
a predetermined number of revolutions, the springs R and R¹ have no tension or
compression and are in contact with each other, and the spring G remains tight
upon the sleeve F and does not touch the box D,--that is to say, the force with
which the spring G grips the sleeve F is initially such that it cannot be overcome
by centrifugal force until the speed of rotation of the sleeve exceed the prede-
termined maximum limit. The force with which the spring G grips the sleeve F
can, however, be neutralized at any speed by advancing the spindle C between the
heads t, which has the result of compressing the springs R and R¹ more or less,
and of causing the spring G to adhere more or less against the inner wall of the

page_text: box D, whose resulting speed of revolution is consequently greater or less, its
maximum limit being the speed of the sleeve.
The action of the spindle is proportionate to the extent of its penetration, and
its action can, therefore, be regulated with the greatest exactness.
It is obvious that the apparatus is reversible-i.e., the motion may be trans-
mitted to the shaft A and to the sleeve F by the box D. It is also obvious that
the spindle might be placed at the centre, the sleeve being then provided with a
central bore for the spindle, being carried by plummer-blocks, and acting as a
shaft.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A reversible clutch in which, in consequence of the sufficient initial binding
action given to the connecting compression spring G, the expansion of the said
spring and the degree of its adhesion against a box D, are independent of centri-
fugal force, and depend exclusively on the progressive action exerted upon the
springs R and R¹, and consequently upon the said spring G, by a spindle C, sub-
stantially as described and shown.
2. A clutch of the kind referred to in the preceding claim which will be thrown
into gear by the action of centrifugal force as soon as a predetermined speed of
rotation be reached, substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 21st day of January 1898.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.