Improvements in and connected with Clutches.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 14th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 5th Oct., 1395
Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 14th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 5th Oct., 1395
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Clutches.
We, ERNEST JOHN CLUBBE and ALFRED WILLIAM SOUTHEY, both of
16 Elm Street, Gray's Inn Road in the County of Middlesex Electrical Engineers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, to be as follows:-
"
"
This invention relates to an improved two-speed gear for electrically
propelled vehicles, but applicable also to other machinery where it is requisite
to suddenly change from the one to the other gear whilst the driving shaft is
rotating at a bigh speed, without permitting the motor to race in the interval
between its disconnection with the one, and its connection with the other of the
two gears.
It is the primary object of this invention to prevent this racing of the motor,
and to prevent the unduly sudden strain which would otherwise be caused by
throwing the two parts of the clutch into and out of engagement whilst the
mechanism is running.
The malo and female members of the clutch are in the form of a boss and socket
respectively, the boss being provided with, say, two external lugs which abut
against two corresponding internal Ings within the socket, these lugs occupying but
a relatively small space in the circular direction so that the segniontal spaces
between the lugs of the socket aro amply sufficient to allow the lugs of the boss
to enter fully between them, even though the two parts are running at very
different speeds.
For the purposes of a two-speed gear, two such sockets formed in the bubs of
spur wheels of different diametore, would be placed face to face with a boss
between them so that it may be engaged with either.
In order to prevent the boss boing wholly free at any moment in passing out of
and into engagement, the invention consists essentially in the combination with one
of the wheels (or it may be with each of them) of an intermediate friction ring
having internal lugs corresponding to those of the socket and connected friction
tight to the said wheel, for which purpose the intermediate ring has a peripheral
flange secured to the wheel by a spring pressed clamping ring. The boss in
passing from the one socket to the other, first engages with the intermediate
friction ring. which, by its frictional connection with the wheel to which it is
attached, oppusos sufficient resistance to prevent the whole load being suddenly
taken off the motor at the same time that the boss and the wheel with which it is
about to engage gradually approximate in velocity, so that the engagement is
ellested without shock.
In applying the clutch to electrically propelled vehicles, the boss would generally
be fitted to rotate with and slide on the driven shaft on which the wheels are loose,
the wheels gearing with pinions of correspondingly different diameters on the motor
or driving shaft.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1895.

page_text: We, ERNEST JOHN CLUBRE and ALFRED WILLIAM SOUTHEY, both of
16, Elm Street, Gray's Inn Road, in the County of Middlesex, Electrical
Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and nascertained in and
by the following statement :-
"
This invention relates to an improved "two-speed" clutch gear designed for
electrically propelled vehicles, but applicable also to other machinery which is
required to be suddenly changed from the one to the other speed whilst the driving
shaft is rotating at a high velocity without the motor being permitted to "
race in
the interval between its disconnection with the one, and its connection with the
other, of the two gears. It is the primary object of the clutch gear of this
invention to enable this to be done and, by preventing racing of the motor, to
avoid the unduly sudden strain which would otherwise be caused by throwing the
two parts of the clutch into and out of engagement whilst the mechanism is
running.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification, wherein Figure 1 is an axial section and Figure 2 is a transverse
section of the clutch, on line 2-2 Figure 1.
The male and female members of the clutch are in the form of a boss or
sleeve A and sockets B, B', the sleeve A being provided with, say, two external
lugs a, a, which abut against two corresponding internal lugs b, b, b', 6', within the
sockets, these lugs occupying but a relatively small space in the circular direction
so that the segmental spaces between the lugs of the sockets are amply sufficient
to allow the lugs of the sleeve to enter fully between them, even though the two
parts, sleeve and socket, are running at very different speeds. For the purpose of
a two-speed gear the two sockets B, B', would be formed in the bubs of spur
wheels C, D, of different diameters, placed face to face and mounted loose upon
the sleeve A which has its lugs a between them and is capable of being moved
longitudinally so that it may be engaged with the socket of either wheel.
The sleeve A is fitted to slide upon, and is coupled by keys to, the shaft E
which may be the driving or driven shaft and the sleeve is provided with a
collar A', engaged by a fork or other means of shilting it longitudiually. In order
to prevent the entire disconnection of the clutch at any moment whilst the sleeve
is passing out of engagement with the one, and into engagement with the other, of
the two sockets B, B, there is combined with one of the wheels an intermediate
friction ring F having internal lugs corresponding to those of the socket of the
said wheel. The ring F is connected friction tight to the said wheel, the wheel C
in the example illustrated, for which purpose the iutormediate ring has a peripheral
flange engaged by a correspondingly flanged clamping ring G secured by bolts y
and pressure springs gl. The lugs a of the sleeve A in passing from the one
socket B or B, to the other, first engage with the lugs of the intermediate
friction ring F which, by its frictional connection with the wheel C to which it is
attached, opposes sufficient resistance to prevent the whole load being suddenly
taken off the motor, at the same time that the sleeve and the wheel C or D
with the lugs of whose socket it is about to engage, gradually approximate in
velocity, so that the engagement is effected without shock. Such a friction ring
might be similarly combined with both of the wheels, although one is generally
sufficient.
In applying the clutch to electrically propelled vehicles the sleeve would
generally be fitted to rotate with and slide on the driven shaft, the wheels being
mounted loose on the sleeve and gearing with pinions of correspondingly

page_text: different diameters on the motor or driving shaft. The wheels are held in place
by stationary bearings G', G, botween which they rotate whilst the sleeve is of
sufficient length and enters the one bearing G so as to allow for the sliding motion
necessary to put it into engagement with the wheel D without moving entirely out
of the wheel C.
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. The combinatiou, with the male and female ineinbers of a clutch, of an
intermediate clutch-like device in frictional connection with the one member and
adapted to be temporarily engaged by the other member in its passage into
and out of gear, substantially as specified, so as to prevent racing of the motor aud
lessen shock, as described.
2. In a clutch whereof the male member is formed of a sliding boss or sleeve
with external lugs and keyed on the driving or driven shaft, and the female
member is formed of a socket with internal lugs in the hub of a wheel loose on the
sleeve, the combination with the said members of an intermediate friction ring
provided with lugs corresponding to those of the socket, the ring being connected
spring tight to the hub of the wheel and being temporarily engaged by the lugs of
the sleeve on its passage into and out of gear with the Rocket, as and for the
purpose specified.
8. A two-speed clutch gear consisting in the combination with a sliding sleeve
or boss having lugs, sockets having lugs in the bosses of gear wheels loose on the
sleeve and adapted to be engaged by the lugs thereof, a friction ring intermediate
of the two sockets connected spring tight to the one boss and having lugs adapted
to be temporarily engaged by the lugs of the sleeve on its passage from the one
Hooket to the other, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. The herein described two-speed clutch gear, consisting of the sliding sleeve or
boss having external lugs adapted to be engaged with sockets having internal lugs
in wheel busses loose on the sleeve, au intermediate friction ring provided with
lugs adapted to be temporarily engaged by those of the sleeve and connected
spring tight to the one boss by a clamping ring and spring bolts, substantially as
aud for the purpose specified.
Dated this 14th day of August 1895.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lano, London, Chartered Patent Agents.