Dog clutch

Claim 2

A dog clutch comprising: a rotatable driving member; a ring affixed to said driving member and having a plurality of axially extending teeth integral therewith and disposed adjacent the periphery thereof; a rotatable driven member; a coupling dog carRied by said driven member and being movable radially of said ring from the central portion to the periphery thereof for engagement between two of said teeth to connect the driving member to the driven member; an extension integral with said coupling dog; a movable abutment selectively engageable with said extension for holding the coupling dog in the central portion of the ring; and an elastic means connecting said coupling dog to said driven member for urging the coupling dog radially outwardly of the ring, whereby upon disengagement of the abutment from the extension, centrifugal force assists the elastic means in keeping the coupling dog engaged between two of the teeth.

Claim 3

A dog clutch comprising: a rotatable driving member; a ring affixed to said driving member and having a plurality of axially extending teeth integral therewith and disposed adjacent the periphery thereof; a rotatable driven member having a prismatic guide formed therein; a slider slidable in said guide and including a coupling dog movable radially of said ring from the central portion to the periphery thereof for engagement between two of said teeth to connect the driving member to the driven member, said slider further including a semicircular sector-shaped portion having a radial extension displaced substantially 90* from said coupling dog; a shaft partially encircled by said semicircular sector-shaped portion and connected to one of said driving and driven members; an abutment movable radially of said semicircular sector-shaped portion and selectively engageable with said extension for holding the coupling dog in the central portion of the ring; and an elastic means connecting said slider to said driven member for urging the coupling dog radially outwardly of the ring, whereby upon disengagement of the abutment from the extension, centrifugal force assists the elastic means in keeping the coupling dog engaged between two of the teeth.

Claim 4

A dog clutch comprising: a rotatable driving member; a ring affixed to said driving member and having a plurality of axially extending teeth integral therewith and disposed adjacent the periphery thereof; a rotatable driven member having a prismatic guide formed therein; a slider slidable in said guide and including a coupling dog movable radially of said ring from the central portion to the periphery thereof for engagement between two of said teeth to connect the driving member to the driven member, said slider further including a semicircular sector-shaped portion having a radial extension displaced substantially 90* from said coupling dog; a shaft partially encircled by said semicircular sector-shaped portion and connected to one of said driving and driven members; an abutment movable radially of said semicircular sector-shaped portion and selectively engageable with said extension for holding the coupling dog in the central portion of the ring; and an elastic means connecting said slider to said driven member for urging the coupling dog radially outwardly of the ring, whereby upon disengagement of the abutment from the extension, centrifugal force assists the elastic means in keeping the coupling dog engaged between two of the teeth.

Claim 5

A clutch as recited in claim 2 wherein said driven member includes a projecting portion and two ribs integral therewith, said prismatic guide being defined between said projecting portion and ribs; and wherein said slider includes two projections integral therewith, each of said projections being slideable between said projecting portion and one of said ribs.