Improvements in and relating to Friction Clutches.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 1st July, 1893—Accepted, 5th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Friction Clutches.
HENRY ERNEST NEWSTEAD 486 Woodborough Road Nottingham Mechanical
Draughtsman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:―
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of friction clutches for
transmitting motion from one shaft to another one in a straight line with the first
shaft, or it may be used for any other purpose to which friction clutches are
applicable.
In constructing a clutch according to my invention the outside casing is fixed
upon one shaft and is in shape a short parallel cylinder connected to a boss fitting
the shaft by arms or a plate. Upon the other shaft is fixed an arm the end of which
fits a suitable recess in a ring placed inside the outer casing and of such a size that
it is an easy fit in the outer casing. Connected to the boss carrying the arm but
upon the other side of the shaft is a bracket for carrying a quick threaded screw to
which a lever is attached, and this latter is connected by a link to a collar capable
of sliding on the shaft and moved by any convenient arrangement for throwing the
clutch in and out of action. The quick threaded screw fits a tapped hole in a
wedge piece placed between inclines on the inside ring which is divided in the
centre of the inclines. When the sliding collar is moved end ways it turns the
screw, thus raising the wedge which opens the inside ring and causes the outer
surface of the same to press upon the inner surface of the outer casing and thus
transmit the motion from one shaft to the other, or if the collar is moved in the
opposite direction the action is reversed and the shafts disconnected.
When my improvements are applied to large clutches the inside ring may be
divided at two or more places, a corresponding number of screws and wedges being
also introduced, all of which are worked from the same sliding collar.
When my improved clutch is applied to pulleys both parts of the clutch are upon
the same shaft and the outer casing runs loose upon it.
Dated this 1st day of October 1892.
W. H. POTTER, M.I.M.E.,
Parliament Chambers, Nottingham, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Friction Clutches.
HENRY ERNEST NEWSTEAD 486 Woodborough Road Nottingham Mechanical
Draughtsman 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 improved friction clutch may be used for transmitting motion from one shaft
to another one in a line with the first, or for other purposes to which friction
clutches are applicable. It may also be used for connecting a pulley to the shaft
carrying it.
I have attached hereto one sheet of drawings illustrating my invention and
refer to the same in the following description. The same letters are used to
indicate the same parts in the different views.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the friction clutch.
Fig. 2. a side elevation of the clutch partly in section, and with the sliding collar
for throwing the clutch into and out of gear.

page_text: Fig. 3. is a plan of the inside ring of the clutch and connections for actuating
the screw.
Fig. 4. is a front elevation showing a clutch fitted with three screws and
connections.
The shaft a is fitted with drum or short cylinder b which is attached to a boss b³
on the shaft by arms or a plate 6'. On the other shaft c is a boss d securely
attached thereto, and made with an arm d' to which is connected by screws or
other methods a ring e this latter being thicker at one side than the other
substantially as shown in Fig. 1.
Upon the boss d and on the side opposite to that carrying the arm d¹ is a
bracket shaped to form a jaw for a leverf and a bearing for a quick threaded
screw g which may also have a bearing in the boss d. The thinnest side of the
ringe is divided and it is thickened up as shown at e' Fig. 1. to give increased
bearing surface for a wedge which is tapped to form a nut for the screw g.
Fitting within the jaws of the bracket d and firmly attached to the screw g is a
lever which is connected by a link k to a collar capable of sliding upon the
shaft c, and which may be moved upon the same by any suitable arrangement of
mechanism.
In Fig. 4 I show a clutch which has the inside ring e divided in more than one
place and in this figure the same reference letters are used to indicate similar parts
to these indicated by the same letters in the other figures. Thus the boss d has
three arms d' and brackets which are each fitted with a screw g, wedge h and
lever f. The outer ring bis exactly the same as is shown in Figs. 1. 2. and 3
but the inner ringe is provided with three arms d' and three divisions and wedge
surfaces e. Each screw is fitted with a lever and the three levers are connected
by three links to a single collar which may be moved to throw the clutch in and
out of action by any suitable mechanism."
The inner ring in my improved clutch is made an easy fit within the outer one,
so that when the wedge pieces are drawn towards the shaft c the driving ring
revolves without actuating the driven ring, but when the collar is moved so that
the wedges are pushed outwards from the shaft c then the inner ring is expanded
and is pressed upon the outer one with a force which is sufficient to transmit the
motion of one shaft to the other.
C
With my improved clutch either of the two rings may be upon the driving shaft,
and the two shafts can be connected and disconnected and remain coupled without
any end thrust being produced on either shaft.
When my improved arrangement is used for connecting and disconnecting belt
pulleys from the shaft carrying them, the inside ring is fastened to the shaft and
the outside ring is loose but is prevented from end movement by a collar.
It will be understood that the pitch of the screw used for actuating the wedge
should be such as to raise the wedge the required distance without being turned
through an inconveniently large angle, but must be small enough to prevent the
pressure on the wedge turning the screw and thus throwing the clutch out of gear.
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 friction clutches having an inner and outer ring, the use of a screw or
screws acting substantially as shown for producing friction between the two rings
without end thrust on the shaft or shafts carrying the two rings.
2. In friction clutches having an inner and outer ring, and in combination with a
screw arranged as shown and described the use of, and arrangement of, a wedge
piece designed to act as a nut to the screw, and as an expander of the inner
ring substantially as shown and described in the accompanying drawings and
Specification.
3. The general arrangement of the parts forming the friction clutch shown in 5

page_text: Figs. 1. 2. and 3, of the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing
Specification.
4. The general arrangement of the parts forming a friction clutch with two or
more screws and wedge pieces substantially as shown in Fig. 4 and described in the
foregoing Specification.
Dated this 30th day of June 1902
W. H. POTTER,
Parliament Chambers, Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.