Improvements in Clutch-mechanism for Use in connection with Cycles, Motor-cars, and other Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Sept., 1899-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1899
Improvements in Clutch-mechanism for Use in connection with
Cycles, Motor-cars, and other Vehicles.
JAMES FREDERICK FREEMAN, of 53, Vincent Parade, Balsall Heath, Birming-
ham, in the County of Warwick, Cycle Salesman, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My improved clutch-mechanism consists of a friction-ring revolving in an
outer-ring or wheel, the friction-ring is provided with a series of slots, such
slots being formed into inclined planes, into each slot in the friction-ring is
placed two or more rollers or two or more balls, such rollers or balls roll
on the inclined planes and when in action engage themselves between the inner
portion or friction-ring and the outer portion so as to form a connection for
the transmission of power to the outer portion, outer-ring or outer wheel.
Dated this 5th day of August 1899.
JAMES FREDERICK FREEMAN.
Witness:
A. W. TURNER.
Cobden Buildings, 67A, Corporation Street, Birmingham,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Clutch-mechanism for Use in connection with
Cycles, Motor-cars, and other Vehicles.
JAMES FREDERICK FREEMAN, of 53, Vincent Parade, Balsall Heath, Birming-
ham, in the County of Warwick, Cycle Salesman, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My improved clutch mechanism consists of a friction-ring revolving in an
outer-ring or wheel, the friction-ring is provided with a series of slots, such slots
being formed into inclined planes. Into each slot in the friction-ring is placed
two or more rollers or two or more balls, such rollers or balls roll on the inclined
planes and when in action engage themselves between the inner portion or
friction-ring and the outer portion so as to form a connection for the transmission
of power to the outer portion, outer ring, or outer wheel.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings
the manner in which my invention is constructed and used.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the improved clutch and outer ring,
outer portion, or outer wheel.

page_text: Figure 2 represents a transverse section of Figure 1 on the line A, B.
Figure 3 represents a side elevation of friction ring on which is pierced the
slots to receive the rollers or balls.
Figure 4 represents a transverse section of Figure 3 on the line, C, D.
Figure 5 represents a vertical front elevation of large roller.
Figure 6 represents a plan of Figure 5.
Figure 7 represents a vertical front elevation of small roller.
Figure 8 represents a plan of Figure 7.
Figure 9 represents a side elevation of cap.
Figure 10 represents a transverse section of Figure 9 on the line, E, F.
In carrying out my invention I provide the sprocket wheel A as shewn at
Figures 1 and 2; I next provide the friction ring as shewn in detail at Figures 3
and 4 such friction ring being formed with a series of inclined planes a.
I next provide the large and small rollers as shewn in detail at Figures 5 6 7
and 8, I next provide the cap or cover as shewn in detail at Figures 9 and 10.
The separate parts hereinbefore described are assembled and utilized in the
following manner:-The friction ring is lowered into the boxed recess of the
sprocket wheel A and then into the slots formed in the periphery of the friction
ring I place the large and small rollers b and c as clearly represented at Figure 1;
I then screw the cap B into position as shewn at Figure 2, it will therefore be
apparent that the friction ring C as shewn at Figure 2 is secured so that it can
revolve within the hollow box-part of the sprocket wheel A: The clutch action
obtained by the combination and arrangement of the parts herein before described
is as follows:-
When the sprocket wheel is revolved in the direction of the arrow d the
rollers and take contact and engage themselves against the inner peripheral
surface e of sprocket wheel and thereby revolve the friction-ring, but when the
pedals or other moving power that revolves the sprocket wheel A, become
stationary the rollers b and c cease to take contact with the internal peripheral
surface e of sprocket wheel, consequently the road-wheel (of which the friction-
ring forms part of the hub) would revolve as a loose wheel.
In some cases I substitute for the rollers b and c suitable balls and in such
cases there may be two or more balls provided in lieu of the large roller
also two or more smaller balls in lieu of the small roller c.
and
In some cases I provide the outer part by dispensing with the sprocket teeth
shewn at A, thereby forming merely an outer ring instead of a toothed wheel
thus producing my improved clutch mechanism in a suitable form to utilize in
connection with various parts of cycles, motor-cars and other vehicles.
Although I have shewn and described two rollers only in each slot of the fric-
tion-ring of my invention, nevertheless a part of my invention consists in utiliz-
ing three rollers, or four or more rollers for the purpose of producing by the
combined wedging action of such rollers (in addition to their wedging action
against the sprocket wheel internal periphery) the desired secure grip when
the loose wheel is not in action; in a like manner when balls are substituted
for the rollers b and c three or more large halls and three or more smaller balls
can be utilized within each of the slots over the inclined faces a of the friction-
ring.
I am aware that a clutch has been patented consisting of a ball working on
an inclined plane formed in a friction-ring I am also aware that many of such
arrangements have been used without being the subject of Letters Patent and
all of such old methods both patented and unpatented I disclaim as forming
any part of my invention because it has been demonstrated by the use of the one
ball under such old arrangements that the brake or clutch of the single ball or
the single roller between the friction-ring and the internal peripheral surface
of the sprocket wheel or equivalent outer-ring is ineffectual and unreliable as
a permanent usable wheel-brake or clutch applied to any part of a cycle, motor-
car, or other vehicles. The action of my large and small rollers within the slots

page_text: of friction-ring as illustrated and described at 6 Figure 1 produces a wedging of
the rollers between the friction-ring C and the sprocket-wheel A or equivalent
outer-ring.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be porformed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1st. The combination with a sprocket-wheel of a friction-ring and a cap, the
friction-ring being provided with a series of inclined recesses within each of
which is placed two or more rollers or two or more balls, so that the rollers or
balls will engage with the inner peripheral surface of the sprocket-wheel to
thereby form a clutch during the time the sprocket-wheel is revolved by means
of its actuating mechanism and so that when the sprocket-wheel is held stationary
the rollers or balls will disengage from the sprocket-wheel and permit of the
friction-ring revolving, as illustrated and described in relation to Figures 1 2 3
and 4.
2nd. In improved clutch-mechanism for use in connection with various parts
of cycles motor-cars and other vehicles, the combination with an outer-ring of
a friction-ring and a cap, the friction-ring being provided with a series of in-
clined recesses within each of which is placed two or more rollers or two or more
balls, so that the rollers or balls will engage with the inner peripheral surface
of the outer ring to thereby form a clutch.
3rd. In improved clutch-mechanism the utilization of two or more rollers or
two or more balls within each inclined slot of the friction-ring for the purpose
of producing a wedging action of such rollers or balls against each other and up
their inclined slots against the inner peripheral surface of the driven sprocket-
wheel or driven outer-ring.
Do
1
.
7000
Witness:
JAMES FREDERICK REEMAN.
ALFRED WILLIAM TURNER,
Cobden Buildings, 67A, Corporation Street, Birmingham,
Patent Agent.