Improvements in Clutches for Machinery.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 18th Jan., 1896
Improvements in Clutches for Machinery.
I, JOSEPH SAMUEL BEEMAN of Station Street, Camberwell, in the Colony of
Victoria, Engineer, 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 :—
"
This invention provides improvements in that form of apparatus technically
known as a "clutch that is to say mechanism for throwing oue portion of
machinery in and out of gear or contact with another part of machinery, either in
motion or at a stand still, so as to cause a whole set of machinery to come into or
go out of operation.
My invention has most especial reference to a means whereby that half of the
clutch (commonly called the fixed member of the clutch in contradistinction from
the opposite or loose member) which slides backwards and forwards upon its shaft
can travel backwards and forwards on said shaft with greater facility and promptness
than has heretofore been the case, but has also reference in a lesser degree to the
fixed and loose miembers themselves.
Although my invention is applicable for connecting and disconnecting two shafts
whose axes of rotation are in the same straight line, it is especially applicable for
the purpose of connecting and disconnecting a main driving shaft and driven wheel
mounted loosely and capable of revolving upon the said shaft and any intelligent
mechanics can adapt the application of my invention as described herein to the
former purpose.
In order that my invention may be the more easily understood reference may be
made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the application of my
invention to a main driving shaft and driven wheel mounted loosely on said main
shaft in which―
Figure 1 is a plan view embodying my improvements, constituting a complete
clutch.
Figure 2 a front view of a part of same, and
Figure 3 a detail section of some of the parts, whilst
Figure 4 is a detail elovation of a portion of my improvements.
In these drawings "B, B, B1, B3" as illustrated in Figure 1 represent plan views
of the exposed parts of the main driving shaft (referred to in its complete state as
the main driving shaft) and "B" (Fig. 2) is a cross section of part "B" (Fig. 1).
"B" (Fig. 2) shews the difference of diameter of the part of the shaft (shewn in
dotted lines hid from view in Fig. 1) to that of the exposed part "B."
The part "B" (Fig. 2) is the centre upon which the wheel "G" hereinafter
referred to revolves. The main driving shaft is preferably made of various cross
sections, the parts marked "B, B" being formed to run in bearings, the part
marked "B forming a shoulder for the driven wheel "G" (hereinafter referred
to) to revolve, and rest, against. The part marked "B" (Fig. 2) is of smaller
diameter than the part "B" and forms a centre upon which the driven wheel "G"
can rest when not rotating and during the time the main driving shaft is revolving;
the part marked "B" being preferably square in cross section as shewn at "B³
(Figs. 2 and 4) but may be circular and fitted with a fixed feather key to
correspond with a corresponding bore or passage in the block "A" hereinafter
referred to.
•

page_text: "
The main driving shaft has motion given to it by any convenient means such as
a pulley "L" (driven by a belt) rigidly fixed to said shaft. Upon the portion " B'
of main driving shaft is mounted a wheel "G" (which may be a cog, belt or
friction wheel) free to rotate and abutting against "B1" previously described.
This wheel "G" carries on its face one or more projecting pins or teeth such
as "I" preferably of the shape shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 so as to engage with and
also release (with as little friction as possible) the clutch plate "H" hereinafter
referred to and for this purpose the points "11" are rounded off or may contain a
ball of any antifriction device and the engagement faces "[2" cut aslant so that
the engaging edge of."H" may enter into and leave its engagement with the
blocks in an unobstructed manner. "G" has a circular recess "A+" (Fig. 2)
for a similar object to the recess "AS" in "A" (Fig. 3) as hereinafter
explained.
66
"G" together with its pin or pins "I" is for the sake of convenience called the
"loose member." Upon the portion "B" of main driving shaft is mounted a
block of metal such as "A" (and for sake of convenience called the fixed member)
arranged to slide freely along "BB" "C" is the usual rod or lever for giving the
forward and backward sliding motion to the block "A."
"This lever "C" is centred at "C" and is provided with two rectangular forks
or horns "C" which operate in a recess "A" of the block "A."
66
In Figure 3 it will be seen that the block "A" has a circular recess A³" sunk
in its front face and is also provided with a stud "E" (the function of which latter
will be hereinafter explained). "F" is a spiral spring (see Figs. 1 and 3) operating
to keep the block "A" apart from the wheel" G" (Fig. 1) and should be carefully
constructed so as to exert an even pressure upon the whole of the face of "A"in
the annular channel or recess "A" (Fig. 3), the recess "A" having for its object.
the keeping of the spring "F" in position.
I desire it to be understood that the employment of this spring "F" is the most
important feature of my invention inasmuch as it has the effect, by exercising an
increased counteractivo resistance when pressed home, of overcoming binding and
cross friction between the block "A" and its shaft "B" by reason of thrust of F
being exerted in a line parallel to the axis of the main driving shaft, and at the
same time facilitates the releasing of the clutched members of "A" and "G"
"from one another. This part of my invention. is applicable to most of the existing
forms of clutch.
"H" (see Figs. 1, 3 and 4) is a plate of spring metal fulfilling the functions of
a coupling thumb for engagement with one of the pins "I" of the wheel "G."
"This plate "H" is preferably constructed in the shape shewn on Figure 4 that
is to say beginning at its top somewhat in the form of a parallelogram and
terminating in a ring or annular plate "H" This ring "H" is kept in position
against the block "A" by a small curved outer plate "H" (Fig. 4) and
screws "H³ H³" and is also backed by an annular plate or washer "K" (see
Figs. 1 and 3) also constructed of spring metal.
Reverting again to the block "A"it will be noticed that a part of same has
been cut away, at "A" (Figs. 1 and 3) for the purpose of permitting a slight
"backward movement of the top of spring washer "K" when the plate "H" presses
or impinges against same. It will be seen that the stud "E" which passes freely
through holes in "K" and "H" also forms a guide for the flexible washer "K"
and clutch plate "H" when they are under pressure. The curved plate "H*"
(Fig. 4) is constructed of metal and is placed in the manner shewn so that its
parts "H, H" will form a stay or support to back up and strengthen the annular
plate "H" and obviate the possibility of the said plate "H" snapping off at the
bolt screws "H-H" or of the heads of the said screws "H-H" from being
broken off from their shanks by the direct angular strain of "HI" which would
otherwise occur at those particular points, or alternatively I may back up the
pins "I" with a flexible spring or analogous device in order that when the
point during the rotary progression is touched by the front face of "H"

page_text: which in this case need have no spring appertaining to it the impact of the blow
is thus slightly cushioned and thus obviates friction or scratching by the said
point "on the face of "H," but in practice I prefer the construction as illus-
trated as I find that the spring plate "H" assisted by the backing spring "K,"
satisfactorily fulfils its function in cushioning off the sudden super-imposition or
impact of plate "H" upon the point "[1" particularly as the points "I" are-
constructed of an antifriction. form.
I
In some cases I do not require to use the pins "I" at all in which case the
friction of the spring plate "H" when pressed upon and held against the face of
the loose member or wheel "G" (which would then be a disc instead of having.
arms as illustrated)-would be sufficient to cause "G" to revolve.
The modus operandi of my invention is as follows-
The main driving shaft being set in motion (presumably by the pulley "L").
the fixed member "A" revolves therewith in the direction shewn by the arrows.
marked on "L." Presuming it is now desired to place the wheel "G" in motion:
the operator moves the clutch handle "C" in the direction shewn by the arrow
upon the same, thus causing the fixed member " A " to move forward in the-
direction of the arrow upon the same, thus bringing the face of the plate "H"
either into the space not occupied by pin "I" or into contact with one of the-
points "I" of the loose member "G." If "H" should come into contact.
with "I" it ("H") will slip past and down or along point "11" until it meets.
one of the faces "12" of the pin "I" and the clutch engagement will be com-
pleted. When the plate "H" meets the point "I" the pressure of the operating
handle "C" will cause H" to momentarily deflect until such time as "H
has passed the point "11" when as aforesaid the engagement will immediately
follow.
k
It will be noticed that during the operation last described the spring "F"
having been compressed has acquired stored energy which necessitates the clutch
handle "C" being locked in position until such time as the clutched parts of "A"-
and "G" are to be released.
When it is desired to free the fixed member "A" and loose member "G" from.
engagement the handle "C" is unlocked and the spring "F" will immediately
push back the block "A" (either by the energy of its expansion alone or with the
addition of a little power on the handle "C") and it will also be found that.
the said outward expansive energy exerted by the spring "F" will prevent the
block "A" from binding its shaft "B" owing to its direct thrust upon the face-
of "A³."
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 clutches for machinery-a spring as "F" in combination with the two.
engagement members of a clutch substantially as and' for the purposes set forth.
2. In clutches for machinery-a flexible or spring plate as "H"in combination
with the two engagement members of a clutch substantially as and for the purposes.
set forth.
3. In clutches for machinery-in combination a spring as
"F" a loose clutch
member as "G" and a flexible plate as "H" substantially as and for the purposes.
set forth.
4. In clutches for machinery-in combination a non-springing plate as "II" the
blocks as "1" having antifriction points as "11" and faces cut aslant as
"12" and
provided with a flexible medium at their base substantially as and for the purposes.
Bet forth.
5. In clutches for machinery-a block as "A" having an annular recess
as "A" and on which is mounted a plate as "H" substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
"H" screws.
6. In clutches for machinery-in combination the plate as

page_text: as "H³" annular plate as "H¹" and flexible backing plate as "K" substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
7. In clutches for machinery-in combination the stud as "E" clutch plate
as "II" flexible backing plate as "K" and block as "A" substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
Dated this 12th day of November 1895.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.