Improvements in the Construction of Clutches.
Year: 1896

page_text: bate of Application, 8th June, 1896-Accepted, 18th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Clutches.
I, CLARENCE BENJAMIN SCHULTZ of 64 Wilmersdorferstrasse, Charlottenburg,
Berlin, Germany, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven
tion, 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 improvements in the construction of clutches.
With some small machines it is essential, to have a clutch, by which the motion
is started and interrupted quickly with the least possible shock, and by which the
machine stops at a given point after one or more revolutions.
These objects are attained by the mechanism, illustrated in the accompanying-
drawing.
Fig. 1 shows the clutch uncoupled. Part a revolves by any given power loosely
on shaft h, which is connected with the machinery, to be driven. Part 6, also turning
loosely on shaft h, is carried along by spiral spring f of proper size. Part b bears-
the catch c.
When coupling, i.e. when catch a suddenly meets resistance, spring f is strained
until equilibrium is reached. Part 6 is the only one, which does not touch the
machine elastically, and is therefore made of so little weight, that the unavoidable.
shock is reduced to a hardly perceptible minimum.
Part d is fastened to the shaft h by key i. By collar p part b is held at the
proper distance from d. Latch k by a slight turn of shaft Figs. II and III-
can be raised out of groove 9 of part d and be placed back again. Latch k has a
wedge-like shape with equal-Fig. 111-or with increasing or steplike pitch-
Fig. IV--so that, when part d turns in the direction of the arrow, the latch kis
pushed into a suitable notch s of bolt e. Bolt e, sliding on the slanting part of
latch k, will be drawn from catch c and into part d. As soon as latch k is raised,.
spring g will push bolt e forward again.
When latch k is placed in the groove, spring 9 acts like a brake, because the
side face of notch s will be pressed by spring g against the slanting face of latch k.
At uniform speed the shaft will stop always in the same position without any
shock. In certain machinery, where foot power is used, and the speed varies
considerably, it has been found advantageous, to first pull bolt e from catch c by a
comparatively slight slanting of latch k, and then let bolt e slide along a slant,.
increasing gradually or in steps, in order to check the machine within a small
range.
Bolt e is a flat bar, sliding in part d. In order to reduce the speed of striking
catch c to a minimum, bolt e slides right on the shaft h. By nose n the stroke of
bolt e is limited. Spring 9 rests against plate o, which is fastened to part d..
Bolt e may be also square or round and arranged to be drawn back by
latch k.
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 a wedge shaped latch k with increasing or step like pitch, with-
drawing a bolt e from the driving catch c, substantially as and for the purpose