AN IMPROVED CLUTCH
Year: 1886

page_text: I, CHARLES SUMNER SCOTT of Cadiz in the State of Ohio, United States of
America, a watchmaker, do solemnly and sincerely declare the nature of my
invention for AN IMPROVED CLUTCH to be as follows:-
"
This clutch consists simply of two wheels, preferably one within the other,
eccentrically arranged, and a clog or block placed between them so as to lock then
in one direction, while the revolution of the inner mechanism is free in the other
direction; then the clog follows between the wheels, .always in position to lock
when the motion is reversed. In applying this clutch to a bicycle, I have first a
central shaft; upon said shaft a "cam ог "eccentric" revolves freely, upon, this
cam is placed an externally toothed wheel, said wheel meshing into an internally
toothed wheel, which latter is usually the hub of the bicycle and is concentric
with the central shaft. It will be seen that since the externally toothed wheel is
smaller than the internally toothed wheel and the two in gear, that the teeth will
recede from each other, each way, to a point opposite the point of contact of the
two pitch lines. Now, in one of these open spaces between the wheels I place à
curved wedge, and it will be plain that the inner wheel cannot revolve in the
direction of the side toward the wedge, hence the entire mechanism is locked
together and revolves the drive wheel as desired. As the inner wheel revolves;in
the free direction the wedge or clog is drawn after it by means of a light spring.
The motive power is applied to the cam, and may be so applied by means of said
cam being fast to a central shaft, or loose on said shaft and connected by a pin to
a drum or treadle.

page_text: Improved Con
* I, CHARLES SUMNER SCOTT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing
at Cadiz, in the County of Harrison and State of Ohio, a watchmaker, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED CLUTCH, 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 mechanical clutches, not essentially a friction-clutch, as
it does not depend entirely upon friction; but partly upon tooth-gearing.
The object is to provide a noiseless clutch that will catch more quickly, not slip
in catching its grip or after it has caught, and especially I desire to provide a
clutch that dirt and thick oil will not render ineffectual and useless, as is so
common in noiseless or friction clutches.
The invention consists in placing a wheel within a wheel, said wheels of such
difference in diameter as to permit of a clog being placed between them, substan-
tially as hereinafter described.
The figure is a plan view of 'my entire clutch mechanism with all outer casing,
drums, or' treadles removed.
I have a wheel; A, geared inwardly to a wheel, B, the inner wheel running on a
cam, C, which cam revolves about a shaft, D, said shaft concentric with the outer
ring or wheel, A, and eccentric to inner wheel, B, and cam C. A circular, wedge-
shaped clog, E, is placed between the wheels and held in by a weak spring, e, or
out by pin, h. It is evident that the cam C revolving in the direction indicated
by the arrow will revolve the wheel B, as similarly indicated, about the cam C.
The clog E following, it is evident that this motion of the parts would continue;
but when the cam C is reversed the wheel B runs upon the clog E and will lock
the entire mechanism. The clog E may be placed anywhere between the point of
contact of the two wheels and a point diametrically opposite thereto, and such clog
may be of any desired length, so that it will retain a proper position and not make
a noise sliding over the wheels.
A clutch similar in action to mine could be made with the inner wheel small
enough to be entirely within the half-circle of the larger wheel; also, two external
wheels may be locked in one direction by a clog; but I have found that neither
of these plans will work successfully, except in very large wheels, where the
peripheries will diverge very gradually from the tangential' point. The clog E
need not of necessity slide upon the tops of the teeth, as shown, since a recess may
be turned partly from each series of teeth, so that said clog would lock against a
smooth surface.
The simplicity of this clutch is a feature of the invention.
I have found great difficulty, and have noticed the difficulty with others, in
providing a good silent clutch for a bicycle; hence I am inclined to believe my
clutch to be a great improvement on any tried before, especially in bicycles, for
which I expect to find it the most used.
L
ha nin

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a clutch, a wheel within a wheel eccentrically arranged, means for rotating
the center of one about the center of the other, and a clog between the wheels,
substantially as described.
2. In a clutch, the combination of an inwardly toothed wheel, B, meshing
together, the latter revolving about a cam, C, together with a clog, E, interposed
between said wheels, and a spring, e, for keeping said clog in a locking position,
substantially as described.
3. In a clutch, the clog E, interposed between two wheels, A and B, and means
for holding said clog in position, substantially as described..
Deted this 18th day of November 1886
CHARLES SUMNER SCOTT.