Improvements in Friction Clutches and Couplings.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 20th Jan.. 1893-Accepted. 11th Mar.. 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Friction Clutches and Couplings.
I, FRANCIS FURLONG BYRNE, of 42 James' Street, Dublin, Ireland, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention has reference to an improved friction clutch and coupling of
simple and efficient construction for the purpose of transmitting motion to shafting,
or pulleys in a secure and reliable manner.
The invention consists in an outer cylinder, or shell keyed on a shaft at rest.
To another shaft is keyed a flanged hub enclosed by an expansion ring, which
latter is recessed at both sides to receive flange of hub on one side, and a junk ring
on the other side, so that the hub is protected or enclosed, and the complete clutch
rendered dust proof.
The expansion ring is caused to expand and grip the outer cylinder or shell by
means of a right and left hand screw, gearing in two round transverse units,
working free in recesses formed in the interior of the ring. While the ring which
is eccentric is out of hold its circumferential recesses enable it to fit tightly on the
hub flange, and junk ring, whereby it is maintained concentric with the shaft.
The right and left hand screw is provided midway with a boss having a number
of sides, and this screw is operated by a lever containing a corresponding number
of inside flats, so that when it is required to take up the wear of the expansion
ring, and outer cylinder or shell, the screw lever may be altered one flat.
This screw lever is hinged to a link, which latter is pivoted to a loose grooved
collar, whereby the clutch is operated by an ordinary clutch lever or handle.
The clutch lever or handle instead of being pivoted to an outside anchorage or
bracket is pivoted to a suitable arın hung loosely on the shaft and maintained in
position by a collar or disk keyed to the shaft.
By this arrangement the clutch is self contained, and injurious strains are obviated,
while the clutch is being thrown into, or out of gear.
:
It is obvious that the cylinder or shell may be attached to either driving, or
driven shaft, or to any description of wheel or pulley.
Dated this 20th day of Anvil 180
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
9, Westland Row, Dublin, Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Friction Clutches and Couplings.
I, FRANCIS FURLONG BYRNE, late of 42 James Street, but now of 37 College
Green, Dublin, Ireland, Mechanical and 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 has reference to an improved friction clutch and coupling of
simple and efficient construction for the purpose of transmitting motion to shafting,
pulleys and the like, in a secure and reliable manner.
Referring to the accompanying two sheets of illustrative drawings
:-
Figure 1 represents a sectional side elevation of a friction clutch or coupling
constructed according to this invention and Figure 2 represents a transverse section
of the same.,
An outer cylinder or shell a is keyed on a shaft b, while to another shaft o is
keyed a flanged hub d enclosed by an expansible friction ring e, which latter is
provided with a recess fat both sides to receive the flange g of the hub d on one

page_text: .
side and a junk ring hon the other side, so that the hub is protected or enclosed,
and the complete clutch rendered dust proof. The hub is provided with arms i
engaging in corresponding slots in the expansible friction ring e, and with ribs / to
which the junk ring is secured. The expansible friction ring is caused to expand
and grip the outer cylinder by means of right and left handed screws m working in
cylindrical transverse nuts n working freely in corresponding recesses formed in
the interior of the ring. While the friction ring is out of engagement its circum-
ferential recesses enable it to fit tightly on the hub flange and junk ring whereby
it is maintained concentric with the shaft. The right and left handed screws are
provided midway with bosses o having a number of sides as shown in Fig. 7, and
these screws are operated by levers p containing a corresponding number of inside
flats, so that when it is required to take up the wear of the friction ring and outer
..cylinder the screws are advanced one or more flats. Or, instead of flats the levers
may be fixed by set screws y as shown in Fig. 8. These screw levers are hinged to
..links y provided with slots, as shown to an enlarged size in Figure 5, which slots
allow of an exact adjustment so that the said links q always take a position slightly
beyond the vertical when the clutch is in gear and so make the clutch self-locking,
there thus being no tendency to work out and no strain or friction on the levers,
collars &c. These links are pivoted to a loose grooved collar or sliding coupling r
through which the clutch is operated by an ordinary clutch lever or handle s. The
clutch lever or handle is pivoted to a suitable arm & hung loosely on the shaft c and
maintained in position by a collar or disc v keyed or fixed by set screws to the
.shaft. By this arrangement the clutch is self contained, and injurious strains are
. obviated while the clutch is being thrown into or out of gear. It is obvious that
the cylinder or shell may be attached to either driving or driven shaft, or to any
description of wheel or pulley.
:
The expansible friction ring may be in two pieces as shown in Figures 1 and 2,
or it may be in one piece as shown in Figure 3, or in three or more pieces as shown
.in Figure 4. The links may be provided with a slot was shown in Figure 5 or
with two or more holes as in Figure 6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
'
1. In a friction clutch or coupling: the employment of a hub working in
conjunction with a friction cylinder and having a flange at one end and a junk ring
at the other, in combination with an expansible friction ring, the whole substantially
as described and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a friction clutch or coupling; the employment of cylindrical transverse
nuts working in corresponding bearings formed in the expansible friction ring, in
combination with a right and left handed screw having a flattened central boss for
carrying the screw lever substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
3. In a friction clutch or coupling; the means for adjusting the length of the
links connecting the sliding boss to the expanding levers so as to permit the
aliding boss to be forced home against the hub substantially as described with
-reference to Figures 5 and 6 and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a friction clutch or coupling, the fulcrum arm t mounted loosely on the
shaft and prevented from sliding axially on the shaft by the loose collar ♥
substantially as described.
5. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting my improved
friction clutch or coupling constructed and operating substantially as described in
the foregoing Specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.