Improvements in Friction-clutch Mechanism.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by ERSKINE L. BABCOCK, Cuyahoga Falls, State of
Ohio, United States of America, Engineer.]
Improvements in Friction-clutch Mechanism.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 relates to improvements in friction clutch mechanism.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is an end view of a portion of a pulley and of the friction clutch
mechanism.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same through the line of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a modification of certain of the parts and
Figure 4 is another modification of the same.
a is a pulley free to revolve upon the shaft between the collars c and d both of
which collars are fixed to the shaft. e is a friction-ring fixed upon the pulley.
ff are two parallel arms fixed to the collar d and projecting radially therefrom.
From each of these arms opposite the ring e projects backwards an ear 9 ql parallel
with one another. Between these arms extend the pivots h and i. Upon the
pivot h between the ears g and y', are hinged the jaws j and j extending forward
on either side of the friction-ring e and provided with the wooden friction-blocks k k¹.
Between these jaws is interposed a coil-spring which tends to hold them apart.
Fixed to the jaws are the inversely extending lugs m m¹ each provided at its
extremity with an opening suitable for pivotal connection on opposite sides of the
pivot i
Now, it will be scen, that when the jaws j and j' are drawn together, a friction
connection will be made between the blocks k k and the ring e; but when the jaws
are not drawn together, they will be held apart so as to break the friction connection
by means of the spring. The prime mover by which this operation is effected, is
a sleeve n of ordinary construction on the shaft and I have illustrated in Figures 2,
3 and 4 respectively, three modifications of mechanism whereby the movement of
this prime mover is transmitted to the jaws.
is
In Figure 2, upon the pivot i is mounted a rocker o pivotally connected with the
cars m and m' by the pivots of and of respectively. Through the long arm of this
rocker, passes a set screw provided with the nuts p2 and 3 by which it may be
adjusted in different positions in the rocker o. is an angle-lever fulcrumed
between the cars fixed to the arm ff, respectively. One arm of the lever
coupled to the end of the set screw p by the link q', and the other arm of the
lever g is coupled to the sleeve n by the link g. Now, it is evident that when the
parts are in the position shown in Figure 2 the friction clutch is released, but by
forcing the sleeve n toward the collar d, the short arm of the lever y and the link ¹
act together as a toggle joint to force the rocker in the direction of the arrow and
draw the two jaws together in antagonism to the spring 7.
It will also be observed that owing to the diposition of the parts of the clutch
mechanism, as it is swung round by the shaft in its unclutched position, there will be
no substantial tendency for centrifugal force to cause the jaws to advance toward
each other.
In Figure 3, the angle lever instead of being coupled to a set screw on the
rocker bears against the inclined side of a slide p adjustably mounted in the
rocker o and held to any suitable adjustment by the nuts på pº.

page_text: In the modification shown in Figure 4, the short arm of the lever 7 is cam shaped
and bears against the extremity of the set screw p which may be adjusted in the
rocker o.
The cam formation on the lever q here performs the function of the
incline on the slide 1 of Figure 3 and the adjustment of the set screw » performs
the function of the adjustment of the slide pt.
In all modifications shown, when the jaws are released they are held substantially
equidistant from the friction-ring, because the position of the rocker o is fixed by
the pivot and the positions of the jaws with respect to the rocker are substantially
fixed by the pivots o' o which fit snugly, in the direction of the radius from the
shaft but are allowed sufficient play in a direction parallel with the shaft to
provide for the rotary motion of the rocker o.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In combination, a shaft, a pulley, a friction ring fixed thereto, a clutch arm
fixed to the shaft, a pair of jaws pivoted at one end upon the clutch arm and
engaging at the other end with the friction ring, a spring whereby said jaws are
held apart, a rocker pivotally connected with said clutch arm and with said jaws
intermediate their ends, a sleeve from the shaft and means whereby the motions of
said sleeve are communicated to said rocker, substantially as described.
2. In combination, a shaft, a pulley, a friction ring fixed to the pulley, a clutch
arm fixed to the shaft, the jaws engaging at one end with the friction ring and
pivoted at the other end to the clutch arm, the spring whereby said jaws are held
apart, the rocker pivotally connected with the clutch arm and with the jaws
whereby the jaws are held equi-distant from the friction ring, a sleeve upon the
shaft and means whereby the motions of said sleeve are communicated to said
rocker, substantially as described.
3. In combination the shaft, the pulley, the friction ring fixed to the pulley, the
clutch arm fixed to the shaft, the jaws pivoted at one end to the clutch arm and
engaging at the opposite end with the friction ring, the spring whereby the jaws
are held apart, the rocker pivotally connected to the clutch arm and to the jaws, a
lever g, a link g², a sleeve upon the shaft and adjusting mechanism whereby the
position of the jaws may be adjusted relatively to the sleeve, substantially as
described.
4. In combination a shaft, a pulley, a friction ring fixed upon the pulley, a clutch
arm fixed to the shaft, jaws pivoted at one end to the clutch arm and engaging at
the other end with the friction ring, a spring whereby said jaws are thrust apart, a
rocker pivotally connected to said clutch arm and said jaws and containing a long
arm extending radially inward toward the shaft, a sleeve upon the shaft, adjusting
mechanism at the extremity of said long arm, whereby the position of the jaws may
be adjusted relatively to the sleeve and means whereby the motions of said sleeve
are transmitted to said adjusting mechanism, substantially as described.
5. In combination a shaft, a pulley, a friction ring fixed to the pulley, a clutch
arm fixed to the shaft, jaws pivotally connected at one end with the said clutch
arm and engaging at the opposite end with said friction ring, a spring whereby said
jaws are thrust apart, a rocker pivotally connected with said clutch arm and said
jaws, a sleeve upon the shaft, a lever pivoted to the clutch arm, a link interposed
between said lever and said sleeve and another link interposed between said lever
and said rocker, substantially as described.
Dated this 26th day of Doomlion 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.