Improvements in Clutch Shifters or Mechanism for Operating Clutch Couplings.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 10th Feb. 1893-Accepted, 11th Mar., 1893
12TAT
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clutch Shifters or Mechanism for Operating
Clutch Couplings.
I, JOHN SPENSER ADAMS, a Draughtsman, residing at 105 Chalia Street, New
Orleans, Louisisma, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to a shifting mechanism designed for clutches of considerable
capacity, or clutches in which a considerable amount of force is required in the
operations of connecting, and disconnecting the clutch mechanism.
The object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism for actuating
the sliding collar, sleeve, or other longitudinally moving member, through which
the clutch is thrown into or out of action, and the improvement is in the direction
of greater power of action, perfection of control, ease of operation, and economy of
space.
It is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which-
Figure 1 shows an end view of a combined friction and positive clutch coupling,
with my improved clutch shifter attached.
Figure 2 is a vertical section through line
a Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows the clutch shifter detached from the clutch, the view being from
the opposite point of view as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a rear view, and,
Figure 5 is a top view of the clutch shifter.
Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures.
A, A, shows the shaft in two sections, to be connected by the use of the coupling.
B shows that portion of the clutch coupling which is firmly fixed upon one of the
shaft sections. C shows that portion of the coupling which may be moved longi-
tudinally upon the shaft and feather, so as to engage with or be disengaged from
the part B. D is a yoke, freely fitting in an annular groove in part B ; and D' is
a yoke freely fitting in a similar groove in part C.
For convenience, D will be termed the fixed yoke, and D' will be termed the
movable, or the threaded yoke. E, E, are the actuating screws which are journaled
in yoke D, and operate in threaded journals in yoke D'.
F, F, are sprocket wheels, fixed upon the ends of the screws, and upon the .
operating shaft. G is a chain, connecting the several sprockets.
H, H, are cranks, secured upon the ends of the operating shaft, by which the
mechanism is preferably operated. I is a forked bracket or bearing head, for
the operating shaft. J, J, are arms or bars, socketed in and extending from the
yokes. K is a bar, or rest, so placed and secured as to prevent the shifting
mechanism from rotating with the clutch.
It will be seen that by means of the chain, the actuating screws may be turned
simultaneously in either direction, as desired, and that the yoke D' will thus be
moved; and in the movement will carry with it the movable portion C, of the
clutch, and thus connect or disconnect the parts B and C, at the will of the
operator.
This mechanism is therefore an operative device, without the use of the cranks,
the operating shaft, or the third sprocket wheel, but these additional elements
afford greater convenience of operating, and also afford means for varying the speed
of the actuating screws, by using, on the operating shaft, a sprocket wheel; larger
or smaller than those on the actuating screws.
When this shifter is to be used for operating clutch pulleys, or in any instance
where it is not practicable, or desirable to extend the shifter over the two parts of

page_text: the clutch, as herein shown, the fixed yoke may be connected with a grooved collar,
fixed upon the shaft to the rear of the sliding collar, or it may be secured upon a
journal box, or any fixed object which is sufficiently rigid to resist the thrust and
pull of the actuating screws.
Under these conditions the sprocket ends of the actuating screws may be
journaled in any desirable form of bearing brackets, instead of the fixed yoke D,
without departing from the substance of the invention. It will be seen that this
shifter is capable of exerting great power, with a comparatively small expenditure
of manual strength, and will be valuable in use with large friction clutches, which
require great force to throw them into, or out of action.
By this mechanism is practicable to apply the friction pressure gradually, in
starting heavy machinery, and thus prevent the severe strains which are so
frequently destructive, when the clutch is thrown suddenly into action. The
compactness of the mechanism is an element of value, where operating space is
limited.
Dated this 27th day of April 1892.
HUELSER & Co.,
Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clutch Shifters or Mechanism for Operating
Clutch Couplings.
I, JOHN SPENSER ADAMS, Draughtsman, residing at 105, Chalia Street, New
Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America, 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 :-
My invention relates to a shifting mechanism designed for clutches of con-
siderable capacity, or clutches in which a considerable amount of force is required
in the operations of connecting and disconnecting the clutch mechanism.
The object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism for actuating
the sliding collar, sleeve, or other longitudinally moving member, through which
the clutch is thrown into or out of action, and the improvement is in the direction
of greater power of action, perfection of control, ease of operation and economy of
space.
It is illustrated by the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification, in
which :-
Figure 1 shows an end view of a combined friction and positive clutch coupling
with my improved clutch shifter attached :
Figure 2, a vertical section through line & Figure 1:
Figure 3, the clutch shifter detached from the clutch, the view being from the
opposite point of view from that shown in Figure 1 :
Figure 4, a rear view: and
Figure 5, a top view of the clutch shifter.
Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures.
A, A, shows the shaft in two sections, to be connected by the use of the coupling.
B shows that portion of the clutch coupling which is firmly fixed upon one of the
shaft sections. C shows that portion of the coupling which may be moved longi-
tudinally upon the shaft and feather, so as to engage with or be disengaged from
the part B. D is a yoke freely fitting in an annular groove in part B: and D¹ is
a yoke freely fitting in a similar groove in part C.
For convenience, D will be termed the fixed yoke, and D' will be termed the
movable or the threaded yoke. E, E, are the actuating screws which are journaled
in yoke D and operate in threaded journals in yoke D¹.
F, F, are sprocket wheels fixed upon the ends of the screws and upon the
operating shaft. G is a chain, connecting the several sprockets.

page_text: H, H, are cranks, secured upon the ends of the operating shaft, by which the
mechanism is preferably operated. I is a forked bracket or bearing head for the
operating shaft. J, J, are arms or bars, socketed in and extending from the yokes.
K is a bar or rest, so placed and secured as to prevent the shifting mechanism
from rotating with the clutch.
It will be seen that, by means of the chain, the actuating screws may be turned
simultaneously in either direction, as desired, and that the yoke D' will thus be
moved, and in the movement will carry with it the movable portion C of the
clutch, and thus connect or disconnect the parts B and C, at the will of the
operator.
This mechanism is, therefore, an operative device, without the use of cranks,
the operating shaft or the third sprocket wheel, but these additional elements
afford greater convenience of operating and also afford means for varying the
speed of the actuating screws by using on the operating shaft a sprocket wheel,
larger or smaller than those on the actuating screws.
When this shifter is to be used for operating clutch pulleys, or in any instance
where it is not practicable or desirable to extend the shifter over the two parts
of the clutch, as herein shown, the fixed yoke may be connected with a grooved
collar, fixed upon the shaft to the rear of the sliding collar, or it may be secured
upon a journal box, or any fixed object which is sufficiently rigid to resist the
thrust and pull of the actuating screws.
Under these conditions, the sprocket ends of the actuating screws may be
journaled in any desirable form of bearing brackets, instead of the fixed yoke D,
without departing from the substance of the invention. It will be seen that this
shifter is capable of exerting great power, with a comparatively small expenditure
of manual strength, and will be valuable in use with large friction clutches, which
require great force to throw them into or out of action.
By this mechanism, it is practicable to apply the friction pressure gradually
in starting heavy machinery and thus prevent the severe strains which are so
frequently destructive when the clutch is thrown suddenly into action. The
compactness of the mechanism is an element of value where operating space is
limited.
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 clutch-shifter, the combination of a fixed yoke and a series of sprocket-
wheels with the movable threaded yoke, the actuating screws, and the sprocket-
chains, substantially as shown and described.
2. In a clutch-shifter, the combination, with the fixed and movable yokes, of the
actuating screws and the sprocket wheels and chains connecting the said screws
with the supplementary crank-shaft. substantially as shown and described.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.