Improvements in Clutches for Coupling Different Parts of Machinery.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 27th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clutches for Coupling Different Parts of
Machinery.
I, SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, (a comuni-
cation to me from abroad by John Brewer Wight, of 943 S. Street, Washington,
in the United States of America, Gentleman,) do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to apparatus for clutching different parts of machinery
whereby one part may be detachably connected with another, and may be connected
and disconnected at will.
According to this invention, a liquid, such as oil, is interposed between the two
members of the clutch, and the flow of the oil is controlled by valve mechanism.
One member of the clutch is called the driving part, and the other, the driven part,
and the liquid is contained within the space between the driving and driven parts.
When the valve or valves are open, the driving part of the clutch is free to move
without moving the driven part. When the valve or valves are partly closed, the
driven part is moved more or less slowly, and when the valves are completely
closed, the driven part of the clutch is firmly locked to the driving part, and the
two clutch members move together. By varying the position of the valve or
valves, the driven machinery may be operated at the desired speed.
The invention primarily consists broadly in apparatus organized to operate as
above set forth. The invention also comprehends apparatus in which a liquid, such
as oil, is interposed between two clutch members, and an automatically operated
valve or valves are employed in one member, which co-operate with the valve or
valves in the other member to control the flow of the liquid.
One member of the clutch may be continuously operated, and this member may
be in the form of a cog wheel or a pulley having a central closed chamber in which
the other member of the clutch is contained and encased. The continuously driven
member of the clutch may be mounted loosely on a shaft to which the other clutch
member is securely fastened.
The inside member of the clutch may be provided with one or more radially
sliding valves, which co-operate with valves in the other clutch member to control
the flow of the liquid which is interposed between the two parts of the clutch.
These last mentioned valves may be in the form of rods or bolts which slide parallel
with the axis of the clutch in the continuously driven member. They may be
mounted in valve seats which are provided with apertures to allow the liquid to
flow freely, but which are closed when the bolts or valves are inserted. The sliding
valves may be operated by friction rollers engaging with cam tracks in the casing.
Guide tracks may also be employed, against which the outer ends of the sliding
valves work, and by which they are forced inwardly as they pass the valve seats of
the bolt valves.
The sliding valves may be perforated, and their seats may be fluted to allow the
liquid to flow through the valves and along their sides, and also to fill the space
behind their rear ends when they are in their outward position. The bolt valves
above referred to may be operated by a sliding frame operated by a lever, or by
other similar mechanism.
Dated this 6th day of November 1891.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant,

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clutches for Coupling Different Parts of
Machinery.
I, SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, (a communi-
cation to me from abroad by John Brewer Wight, of 943 S. Street, Washington,
in the United States of America, Gentleman,) 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:-
The invention relates to apparatus for clutching different parts of machinery
whereby one part may be detachably connected with another, and may be connected
and disconnected at will.
According to this invention, a liquid, such as oil, is used to connect two members
of a clutch, and the flow of the liquid is controlled by valve mechanism. One
member of the clutch is called the driving part, and the other, the driven part,
and the liquid may be contained within the space between the driving and driven
parts.
When the valve or valves are open, the driving part of the clutch is free to move
without moving the driven part. When the valve or valves are partly closed, the
driven part is moved more or less slowly, and when the valves are completely
closed, the driven part of the clutch is firmly locked to the driving part, and the
two clutch members move together. By varying the position of the valve or valves,
the driven machinery may be operated at the desired speed.
The invention primarily consists broadly in apparatus organized to operate as
above set forth. The invention also comprehends apparatus in which a liquid, such
as oil, is interposed between two clutch members, and an automatically operated
valve or valves, or sliding abutments, are employed in one member, which co-
operate with a suitable regulating valve or valves to control the flow of the liquid.
One member of the clutch may be continuously operated, and this member may
be in the form of a cog wheel or a pulley having a central closed chamber in which
the other member of the clutch is contained and encased. The continuously driven
member of the clutch may be mounted loosely on a shaft to which the other clutch
member is securely fastened.
The inside member of the clutch may be provided with one or more radially
sliding valves, or abutments, which co-operate with valves in the other clutch
member to control the flow of the liquid which is interposed between the two parts
of the clutch. These last mentioned valves may be in the form of rods or bolts
which slide parallel with the axis of the clutch in the continuously driven member.
They may be mounted in valve seats which are provided with apertures to allow
the liquid to flow freely, but which are closed when the bolts or valves are inserted.
The sliding valves, or abutments, may be operated by friction rollers engaging with
cam tracks in the casing. Guide tracks may also be employed, against which the
outer ends of the sliding valves work, and by which they are forced inwardly as
they pass the valve seats of the regulating valves.
The sliding valves, or abutments, may be perforated, and their seats may be
fluted to allow the liquid to flow through the valves and along their sides, and also
to fill the space behind their rear ends when they are in their outward position,
thus balancing the pressure on the valves. The bolt valves above referred to may
be operated by a sliding frame operated by a lever, or by other similar mechanism.
In order that the invention may be more particularly ascertained, reference is
made to the accompanying drawings, which show one way of embodying the
invention.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of clutch mechanism constructed
according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is an end view partly in section

page_text: Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, but showing the outer
member of the clutch in the form of a pulley instead of a cog wheel.
Fig. 4 is a similar section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a view of the inner side of one end of the casing, showing the cam track
therein.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the inner member of the clutch.
Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the radially sliding valves, or abutments.
Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the valve seats, guide tracks and regulating
valves.
In the present instance, the outer member A, of the clutch is shown as the
continuously driven member. It may be in the form of a cog wheel, as shown in
Figs. 1 and 2, or in the form of a pulley, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and suitable
gearing may be employed to operate it. This member of the clutch is formed on
one side integrally with an end piece C³, and is provided on its other side with a
removable end-piece C². The end-pieces are provided with cam tracks C, as shown
particularly in Fig. 5. Bolts, may be employed for fastening the end-piece C³, to
the periphery of the clutch member A.
The shaft D, which may be connected with any machinery to be driven, extends
centrally through the clutch member A, and packing nuts a, engaging screw-
threaded bosses a¹, may be employed for securing a liquid-tight connection, and
they permit the clutch member A, to revolve freely on the shaft D, when desired.
The inner clutch member B, which is called the driven part, or the part movable
at will, is keyed to the shaft D. It is somewhat smaller in diameter than the inner
diameter of the clutch member A, and in the space X, between the clutch members,
is interposed a liquid, such as oil. The member B, of the clutch is provided with a
series of radial recesses B¹, in which are arranged radially moving valves or sliding
abutments F. These abutments, as shown, are provided with a series of longitudinal
apertures g, extending from one end of the valves to the other, and the recesses B¹,
are fluted as at b, and communicate with the space X, between the clutch members.
The recesses B', extend from one side of the clutch member B to the other, and the
abutments F, which are equal in width to the recesses, are provided with anti-
friction rollers G, which engage the cam tracks C, in the sides of the casing.
When the clutch member B, is revolved, the valves or abutments F, are moved
in and out radially by the cam tracks, but it is obvious that the inner member of
the clutch could not be moved by the outer member, unless some means were
provided for checking or impeding the movement of the outer member relatively to
the inner member.
This may be done as shown in the drawings by employing valves M, (two being
shown), which are forced against the liquid, and in turn force the liquid against
the abutments F. As shown, the outer casing is recessed at H, and each of said
recesses is provided with a valve seat J, which is formed on opposite sides with
openings L.
When the valves M, are withdrawn, the liquid can flow freely
through the openings L, but when the valves M, are inserted, the openings are
either partially or completely closed, and the flow of the liquid relatively to the
member A, is checked, impeded or stopped. Each valve scat J, is also shown as
formed with a skeleton guide track K, provided at its central part with a closed
wall k, and this is for the purpose of moving the radial valves inwardly, should the
cam tracks and rollers not act efficiently.
Two valves M, and corresponding valve seats and tracks are shown in the
drawings, and the valves are connected to a frame O, sliding on the shaft D, and
operated by a lever N. By this means, the valves may be opened and closed at
the will of the operator.
In operation, the clutch member A, may be continuously rotated, and when the
valves M, are entirely withdrawn, the clutch member B, and the shaft D, will
remain stationary, but if the lever N, be operated to insert the valves M, in the
valve seats, and completely close the openings L, the liquid, which is practically

page_text: non-compressible, will form a secure connection between the two clutch members,
the valves M, pressing against the liquid and the liquid in turn pressing against the
valves or abutments F, and against the inner and outer members of the clutch.
There being no escape for the liquid, and being practically non-compressible, the
two members of the clutch must revolve together.
In like manner the speed of the driven part may be regulated by partially closing
the regulating valves so as to provide an opening greater or less in extent in the
valve seats for the flow of the liquid. When the abutments F, are in their
intermediate positions, between the valves M, the liquid fills the apertures g, in the
valves and also the fluted portions b, at the sides of the valves, and the portion of
the recess behind the valves When the valves F ride along the tracks K, the
liquid is forced out from behind the valves into the space X.
When unclutched, the driving member revolves freely, the oil acting in some
degree as a lubricant. It also acts as a lubricant for the sliding valves F, and
there is no danger of an accumulation of oil behind the valves to impede their
inward movement, as the oil is free to escape as above described.
The valves or abutments F, are practically balanced as the liquid can press
against their rear ends. Were it not so, the abutments would have to be forced
out against the pressure of the liquid, which would often be very difficult. By
forming recesses B', with fluted sides, the perforations g, in the abutments may
be made much smaller than would otherwise be necessary, and thus the requisite
strength of the abutments is preserved.
As there is no outlet for the oil, there is practically no necessity for refilling the
clutch, and there need be practically no leakage, as tight fitting joints may be
employed, but there may be an opening Y, in the casing closed in any suitable way
for filling the space X, if desired.
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. A clutch member adapted to move continuously, co-operating with a clutch
member adapted to move at will and connected to the other clutch member by a
liquid, the flow or movement of which relatively to the clutch members is controlled
by valve mechanism, the organization being such that the two members are
connected to move together when the flow or movement of the liquid relatively to
the clutch members is stopped.
2. In a clutch, a driving member, and a driven member, mounted to revolve about
the same axis, a liquid interposed between the two clutch members, and valve
mechanism for controlling the liquid to operatively connect the members of the
clutch.
3. In a clutch, a revolving clutch member provided with an automatically moving
valve or abutment, a clutch member revolving about the same axis as the other
clutch member, and provided with an adjustable valve, and a liquid interposed
between the driving and the driven members and controlled by the valves.
4. A clutch, in which one member forms a casing for the other member, and in
which one member is provided with apertured valves or abutments arranged in
Hluted seats and operated by cam tracks, and in which the other member is provided
with valve seats in which sliding valves work to open and close openings in the
valve seats through which.a liquid interposed between the driving and the driven
clutch members is adapted to flow.
5. The combination of the clutch member A, the clutch member B, encased
therein, a liquid interposed between the driving and the driven members of the
clutch, sliding valves or abutments in the clutch member B, cam tracks for
operating the sliding valves or abutments, valve seats in the casing, and sliding
regulating valves for opening and closing openings in said valve seats.
6. In a clutch, a clutch member provided with an automatically moving valve or

page_text: abutment, upon which the fluid pressure is balanced, a clutch member provided with
an adjustable valve, and a liquid interposed between the driving and the driven
members and controlled by the valves.
7. The use of a liquid to effect and control the connecting and disconnecting of
the concentric driving and driven members of a clutch.
Dated this 27th day of November 1891.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.