Improvements in Friction Clutches.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 11th Mar., 1895-Accepted, έth June, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Friction Clutches.
We, JAMES REGINALD CHURCHILL and FREDERICK GEORGE SEELEY
Engineers of 37 Alexandra Road Finsbury Park London and Stanley Road
Woodford, Essex respectively do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
:-
Our invention relates to improvements in friction clutches; having reference
more especially to clutches of the kind described in Patent No. 11788.
The frictional surface we form by providing on the driving shaft or pulley (here-
after called the driver) a hollow cylindrical box or drum projecting in the axial
line over a boss or sleeve attached to the driven shaft or pulley (hereafter called
the driven sleeve); the annular space between the driver drum and the driven sleeve
being occupied by a series of discs or plates; every alternate plate being revolved
by an attachment on the driver drum and driven sleeve respectively. The pressure
for transmitting power by friction may be obtained by a spring or springs as
described in the above-mentioned Patent, or by any suitable means such as a lever
and screw.
The end plate (on either the driver or driven side, as may be most convenient)
is attached so that its position axially relative to the driven sleeve is unalterable;
all the other plates are free to move axially on suitable guides, and, pressure being
applied to the free plate at the opposite end of the series, the same pressure is
transmitted through the intervening free plates till the whole are pressed with the
full force of the springs, or operating geur, against the abutment formed by the
fixed plate before mentioned thus, with any given pressure between the surfaces,
the mechanical power of the clutch is multiplied in direct proportion to the number
of plates employed.
For the greater convenience of adjustment and renewal, we may employ a number
of springs attached to or abutting against the driven sleeve and a series of screws
or screw plugs so that, in case of necessity, any spring or springs can be renewed
or adjusted without necessitating the dismantling of the clutch or the removal of
the shaft to which it is attached.
For connecting eliding frictional surfaces to a fixed driving drum or driven sleeve,
we provide an eye attached to each of the portions to be connected, these eyes
being connected by rods or links carried' by pins passing through the eyes in a
direction at right angles to the axis of the clutch, thus permitting a slight swivelling
motion on the pins and allowing the part to be traversed with much less friction
than is possible when a sliding feather or key is employed.
For operating the clutch, we employ a thrust or pulling ring (hereafter called a
thrust ring) journalled on a portion of the driven sleeve--extended on one side to
form the fulcrum for a pair of side bars or levers and extended on the opposite side
to form or receive the supports of a bearing to carry, and take the thrust of a
screw operated' by a suitable wheel or lever.
The side bars (or equivalent) working on the fulcrum of the thrust ring, are
connected to a screw nut, and press against the sliding plate which receives the
thrust of the springs or operating gear.
Thus, in a clutch with springs,-when the screw is revolved, it causes the
screwed nut to traverse, and, by means of the side bars, thrusts back the sliding

page_text: plate against the springs, and, relieving the pressure on the frictional surfaces, stops
the transmission of power from the driver to the driven shaft or pulley.
By revolving the screw in the opposite direction, the side bars are drawn clear of
the spring plate-the whole force of the springs being taken on the frictional
surfaces, and the driven shaft or pulley is set in motion.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1894.
JAMES R. CHURCHILL.
FRED. G. SEELEY.
We, JAMES REGINALD CHURCHILL of 37 Alexandra Road, Finsbury Park, N.
Engineer, and FREDERICK GEORGE SEELEY Stanley Road, Woodford, Essex,
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 :-
According to our invention which relates to improvements in friction clutches we
combine with springs (or a spring) tending normally to force and hold frictional
surfaces together (see the Specification of our prior Patent No. 11788 of 1892) disc-
like rings or annular plates (hereinafter called friction plates) arranged alternately,
that is to say, alternate friction plates being connected to so as to rotate with the
driving shaft or pulley (hereinafter called the driver) the other alternate friction
plates being connected to the shaft to be driven so as to cause it to rotate when
they are driven as will be hereinafter more particularly explained with reference to
the accompanying illustrative drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section in two planes, partly in elevation, showing a
friction clutch with operating gear according to this invention.
1 is the driving shaft having keyed to it a box or drum 2 which projects over the
end of a boss or sleeve 3 keyed to the driven shaft 4. 5, 5 are annular friction
plates connected to the drum 2 by means of pins or attachments 6 which project
longitudinally from the drum and pass freely through eyes 5 formed in the plates 5,
one of which is shown separately in Fig. 14. 7, 7, are other friction plates having
eyes 7 formed on their inner edges through which pins or attachments 8 projecting
from the sleeve 3 freely pass, one of these friction plates is shown separately in
Fig. 1. The two sets of friction plates are thus free to move lengthwise on the
pins 6 & 8 respectively. The outer or right hand plate 7* is formed in one with
the sleeve 3 and the plate at the opposite end of the series is connected by bolts 9
with an annular plate 10 that is mounted to slide upon the sleeve 3 and between
which and the adjacent fixed friction plate 7* are arranged a series of coiled
springs 11. In the arrangement shewn, the plate 10 is formed with a Hange 10*
that extends partly over the springs 11 so as to protect them and is also formed
with bosses 10 which retain the springs in position.
For operating the clutch we employ the following arrangement. On the sleeve 3
is journalled a thrust ring 12 extended on one side to form a fulcrum 12° for a pair
of side bars or levers 13 and having an extension 12b on the opposite side formed at
its lower end as a nut in which works a screw 14 operated by a hand wheel 14" and
having loosely mounted upon it a block 14 that is prevented from moving length-
wise thereon and is journalled by trunnions in the lower ends of the side bars or
levers 13. The thrust ring 12 abuts against a nut 3 screwed on the outer end of
the sleeve 3. The side bars or levers 13 are provided with projecting portions 13°
adapted to bear against a loose washer 15 on the sleeve 3 which abuts against the
sliding annular plate 10. As will be readily understood by turning the hand
wheel 14 and screw in one direction, the sliding plate 10 will be moved endways so

page_text: ns to compress the springs 11, assuming the friction plates to have been in contact,
so as to relieve the pressure upon the friction plates 5 and 7 thus stopping the
transmission of power from the driver 1 to the driven shaft 4.
Although we have shown the friction plates 5 and 7 each formed with two
eyes 5 and 7 respectively it is obvious that the number of eyes on each plate can
be varied to suit requirements.
Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate a modified construction of clutch according to this inven-
tion, Fig. 2 being a similar view to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 a transverse section on the
line A B, Fig. 2. The same numerals are applied to parts corresponding to
similarly marked parts in Fig. 1.
In this case the sleeve 3 extends through the annular friction plates 5 and 7
a flange 7* on its end portion forming the end friction plate and carrying the pins
or attachments 8 connecting the sleeve with the friction plates 7. The springs 11
are carried between a pair of oppositely arranged plates 10 carried by sleeves
mounted upon and capable of rotary and end wise movement relatively to the"
sleeve 3. A ring 12 encircles the flanges of the sliding plates 10 as shown and has
secured to its upper part a pair of arms 16 to which are pivoted levers 12 and 13
the lower ends of which are connected by a screw 14 as in the previously described
arrangement. As will be seen the levers 12 and 13 are so arranged that when
their lower ends are drawn together by means of the screw 14, projecting
portions 13* thereon will come into contact with the sliding plates 10 and force
them towards each other against the action of the springs 11 thus preventing the
pressure of the springs being exerted to force the frictional surfaces together.
put the clutch into action, the screw is operated so as to permit the sliding
plates 10 to be forced apart by the springs il so that the one plate will
abut against the nut 3* and the other against the adjacent friction plate 7, the
whole force of the springs being then taken by the frictional surfaces and the driven
shaft 4 coupled with the driver and so set in motion.
To
It will be understood that the levers 12" may if desired be formed in one, with
one of the sliding plates 10 which in that case may be extended to form a cover for
the springs and be adapted to have the levers 13 pivoted to it.
Fig. 4 illustrates in part longitudinal section, an arrangement that can be applied
to either of the above described forms of clutch and by means of which a spring
may be conveniently adjusted or renewed without dismantling the clutch. For this
purpose each spring is arranged to abut against a removable screwed plug 17 that is
of greater diameter than the spring and is screwed through the sliding plate 10.
The plug is preferably provided at one end with a squared head and at the other
with a boss or projection as shown.
In constructing clutches of large size, the friction plates 5 and 7 may be cach
connected to the driving drum or driven sleeve respectively in the manner illus-
trated in Figs. 5 and which are elevations at right angles to each other of a
friction plate connected to the driven sleeve. Each of the parts to be connected
together has attached to it an eye or as shown, a pair of eyes 18 18ª, these eyes
being connected by links 19 carried by pins 20 passing through the eyes in a
direction at right angles to a plane passing through the axis of the clutch, thus
permitting a slight swivelling motion on the pins and allowing the parts to be
traversed with much less friction than is possible when a sliding pin or feather is
employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a friction clutch of the kind herein referred to the combination of
alternately arranged annular friction plates connected respectively to the driver
and to the shaft or object to be driven, springs (or a spring) so applied and
arranged in relation to the said plates as normally to keep them in frictional contact

page_text: and means for releasing the friction plates and keeping the springs (or spring)
inoperative when required substantially as described.
2. In a friction clutch of the kind herein referred to the adjustment by means of
screws or screwed plugs as described of the springs used to press the friction plates
together as set forth the arrangement being such that a spring can be adjusted or
renewed without dismantling the clutch.
3. In a friction clutch of the kind herein referred to the use in conjunction with
the springs (or spring) for pressing together the frictional surfaces of hinged or
pivotted side bars or levers connected at their free ends by a screw the arrange-
ment being such that assuming the frictional surfaces of the clutch to be in contact,
by then turning the screw in one direction the springs (or spring) will he com-
pressed relieving the pressure on the frictional surfaces and that if whilst the said
surfaces are relieved of pressure the screw be rotated in the reverse direction the
springs (or spring) will be allowed to again press the frictional surfaces into contact
as set forth.
4. Friction clutches of the kind herein referred to constructed arranged and
operating as described, with reference respectively to Figs. 1, 1A and 1B, and to
Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings or modified according to Fig. 4 or to Figs. 5 & 6.
Dated this 11th day of March 1895.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.