Solenoid-operated spring clutch

Claim 2

A clutch mechanism comprising: a. a drive shaft having first and second coaxial segments integral with each other; b. said first segment having a diameter greater than the diameter of said second segment; c. a driven drum coaxially supported on said second segment and having a first portion with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said first segment, and adjacent thereto; d. a fixed bearing coaxially disposed about a second portion of said drum and having a diameter greater than the diameter of the first portion of said drum defining a shoulder therebetween; e. a coiled spring having opposing free ends coaxially wrapped about said first segment of said drive shaft and said first portion of said drum; f. said spring having an internal diameter sufficiently small relative to the diameters of said first segment and said first portion that said spring is normally in resilient gripping relationship with said first segment and said first portion, whereby said drive shaft transmits rotational forces to said drum; and g. clutch release means for concurrently engaging and rotating the free ends of said spring in opposing directions, whereby the internal diameter of said spring is sufficiently increased to release its gripping relationship with said first segment and said first portion to prevent the transmission of rotational forces from said drive shaft to said drum.

Claim 3

A clutch mechanism comprising: a. a drive shaft having first, second, and third coaxial segments integral with each other; b. said first segment having a diameter greater than the diameter of said second segment; c. a driven drum coaxially supported on said second segment and having a first portion with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said first segment, and adjacent thereto; d. a fixed bearing coaxially disposed about a second portion of said drum; e. a coiled spring having opposing free ends coaxially wrapped about said first segment of the drive shaft and said first portion of said drum; f. said spring having an internal diameter sufficiently small relative to the diameters of said first segment and said first portion that saId spring is normally in resilient gripping relationship with said first segment and said first portion, whereby said drive shaft transmits rotational forces to said drum; g. clutch release means for concurrently engaging and rotating the free ends of said spring in opposing directions whereby the internal diameter of said spring is sufficiently increased to release its gripping relationship with said first segment and said first portion to prevent the transmission of rotational forces from said drive shaft to said frame; and h. said clutch release means including first and second actuating wheels, said first wheel coaxially disposed on said third segment and secured to the respective free end of said spring, and said second wheel coaxially disposed on said fixed bearing and secured to the respective other free end of said spring.

Claim 4

A clutch mechanism comprising: a. a drive shaft having first, second, and third coaxial segments integral with each other; b. said first segment having a diameter greater than the diameter of said second segment; c. a driven drum coaxially supported on said second segment and having a first portion with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said first segment, and adjacent thereto; d. a fixed bearing coaxially disposed about a second portion of said drum; e. a coiled spring having opposing free ends coaxially wrapped about said first segment of the drive shaft and said first portion of said drum; f. said spring having an internal diameter sufficiently small relative to the diameters of said first segment and said first portion that saId spring is normally in resilient gripping relationship with said first segment and said first portion, whereby said drive shaft transmits rotational forces to said drum; g. clutch release means for concurrently engaging and rotating the free ends of said spring in opposing directions whereby the internal diameter of said spring is sufficiently increased to release its gripping relationship with said first segment and said first portion to prevent the transmission of rotational forces from said drive shaft to said frame; and h. said clutch release means including first and second actuating wheels, said first wheel coaxially disposed on said third segment and secured to the respective free end of said spring, and said second wheel coaxially disposed on said fixed bearing and secured to the respective other free end of said spring.

Claim 5

The clutch mechanism defined in claim 2, wherein said actuating wheels have a plurality of radially extending teeth configured about their periphery.

Claim 6

The clutch mechanism defined in claim 3, further including a mount, said mount having a pair of actuating rods secured thereto, said rods adapted to engage said teeth on said wheel.

Claim 7

The clutch mechanism defined in claim 4, wherein electromagnetic means are provided for displacing said mount, whereby said actuating rods engage said actuating wheels.

Claim 8

The clutch mechanism defined in claim 5, wherein said electromagnetic means is a solenoid having a linearly movable plunger connected to said mount for displacing said mount.