Transverse engaging, pivoted pawl clutch

Claim 2

A clutch for selectively coupling a driving member to a driven member for rotating the latter from a power source comprising: a base member; a driving member comprised of a circular plate journaled in said base member, said plate rotatably drivable by the power source and having teeth about the periphery thereof; and a driven member including a first disc journaled on said base member coaxially with said circular plate, said first disc being axially adjacent said plate and having a greater radial dimension than said circular plate, a pawl pivotally mounted on said first disc at A pivot point located a greater radial distance from the common axis of the first disc and circular plate than the radius of the latter, said pawl being pivotally movable into and out of engagement with the peripheral teeth of said circular plate, a second disc journaled on said base member coaxially with said first disc and axially adjacent said first disc, and means linking said second disc to said first disc for rotating the former with the latter while permitting limited reciprocal arcuate movement of said second disc with respect to said first disc, said second disc containing a camming surface engaging said pawl, said camming surface being so located on said second disc as to engage said pawl generally along a radial line extending from said common axis to said pivot point for pivotally moving said pawl into engagement with the peripheral teeth of said circular plate during limited relative arcuate movement in one direction of said first and second discs for drivingly connecting said first disc to said circular plate to couple said driving member to said driven member.

Claim 3

The clutch of claim 1 wherein said means linking said first disc with said second disc includes bias means for generating force aiding said limited relative movement in said one direction and opposing said limited relative movement in the other direction.

Claim 4

The clutch of claim 2 including means for arresting the rotation of said second disc, whereby the driving connection between said first disc and said circular plate effects the relative motion in the other direction between said first and second discs against the force of said bias means, said second disc containing an additional camming surface, said additional camming surface being formed and located on said second disc to engage said pawl generally along said radial line to move said pawl out of engagement with the peripheral teeth of said circular plate during said relative movement in the other direction thereby decoupling said driving member from said driven member.

Claim 5

The clutch according to claim 3 further including means for arresting the movement of said first disc at the end of said relative movement in the other direction and for retaining said first and second discs in a condition of relative arcuate displacement when said pawl is out of engagement with the peripheral teeth of said circular plate, thereby to retain the clutch in the decoupled position against the force of said bias means.

Claim 6

The clutch according to claim 3 wherein said additional camming surface is formed by a member mounted in said second disc for limited movement with respect thereto and presenting said additional camming surface to said pawl generally along said radial line, whereby said pawl moves said member the limited amount in said second disc during the initial portions of the relative movement in the other direction between said first and second discs and said movable member becomes stationary during the terminal portions of said relative movement for effecting the disengagement of said pawl from said peripheral teeth.

Claim 7

The clutch according to claim 5 wherein said movable member includes a second bias means for generating a force opposing the force exerted on said movable member by the engagement with said pawl, said second bias means restoring said movable member to its original position subsequent to the disengagement of said pawl with said peripheral teeth, the coaction of said pawl and said movable member during the restorative motion moving said pawl further out of engagement with said peripheral teeth.

Claim 8

The clutch according to claim 2 wherein said clutch includes a plurality of means for arresting the rotation of the second disc and decoupling said driving member from said driven member after the former has rotated the latter a desired amount.

Claim 9

The clutch according to claim l wherein said driven member includes an output shaft journaled in said base member along the axis of said circular plate and said first and second disc, said ouTput shaft being drivingly connected to said first disc.

Claim 10

A clutch for selectively coupling a driving member to a driven member for rotating the latter from a power source comprising: a base member; a driving member comprised of a circular plate journaled in said base member, said plate being rotatably drivable by the power source and having teeth about the periphery thereof; and a driven member including a first disc journaled on said base member coaxially with said circular plate, said first disc being axially adjacent said plate and having a greater radial dimension than said circular plate, a pawl pivotally mounted on said first disc at a point located a greater radial distance from the common axis of the first disc and circular plate than the radius of the latter, said pawl being pivotally movable into and out of engagement with the peripheral teeth of said circular plate, a second disc journaled on said base member coaxially with the first disc and axially adjacent said first disc, means linking said second disc to said first disc for rotating the former with the latter while permitting limited relative arcuate movement of said second disc with respect to said first disc in either direction, said linking means including first bias means for generating force aiding said limited relative movement in one direction and opposing said limited relative movement in the other direction, said second disc containing a camming surface engaging said pawl for pivotally moving said pawl into engagement with the peripheral teeth of said circular plate during relative arcuate movement in one direction between said first and second discs for drivingly connecting said first disc to said circular plate to couple said driving member to said driven member, said clutch including means for arresting the rotation of said second disc, to cause the driving connection between said first disc and said circular plate to effect relative motion in the other direction between said first and second discs against the force of said first bias means, said second disc containing an additional camming surface formed by a member mounted in said second disc for limited movement with respect thereto and presenting said additional camming surface for engagement by said pawl, said additional camming surface being so located on said second disc that said pawl moves said member the limited amount in said second disc during the initial portions of the relative movement in the other direction between said first and second discs and said movable member becomes stationary during the terminal portions of said relative movement for effecting the disengagement of said pawl from said peripheral teeth.

Claim 11

A clutch for selectively coupling a driving member to a driven member for rotating the latter from a power source comprising: a base member; a driving member comprised of a circular plate journaled in said base member, said plate being rotatably drivable by the power source and having teeth about the periphery thereof; and a driven member including a first disc journaled on said base member coaxially with said circular plate, said first disc being axially adjacent said plate and having a greater radial dimension than said circular plate, a pawl pivotally mounted on said first disc at a point located a greater radial distance from the common axis of the first disc and circular plate than the radius of the latter, said pawl being pivotally movable into and out of engagement with the peripheral teeth of said circular plate, a second disc journaled on said base member coaxially with the first disc and axially adjacent said first disc, means linking said second disc to said first disc for rotating the former with the latter while permitting limited relative arcuate movement of said second disc with respect to said first disc in either direction, said linking means including first bias means for generating force aiding said limited relative movement in one direction and opposing said limited relative movement in the other direction, said second disc containing a camming surface engaging said pawl for pivotally moving said pawl into engagement with the peripheral teeth of said circular plate during relative arcuate movement in one direction between said first and second discs for drivingly connecting said first disc to said circular plate to couple said driving member to said driven member, said clutch including means for arresting the rotation of said second disc, to cause the driving connection between said first disc and said circular plate to effect relative motion in the other direction between said first and second discs against the force of said first bias means, said second disc containing an additional camming surface formed by a member mounted in said second disc for limited movement with respect thereto and presenting said additional camming surface for engagement by said pawl, said additional camming surface being so located on said second disc that said pawl moves said member the limited amount in said second disc during the initial portions of the relative movement in the other direction between said first and second discs and said movable member becomes stationary during the terminal portions of said relative movement for effecting the disengagement of said pawl from said peripheral teeth.

Claim 12

The clutch according to claim 9 further including means for arresting the movement of said first disc at the end of said relative movement in the other direction and for retaining said first and second discs in a condition of relative arcuate displacement when said pawl is out of engagement with the peripheral teeth of said circular plate, thereby to retain the clutch in the decoupled position against the force of said bias means. ll. The clutch according to claim 9 wherein said movable member includes a second bias means for generating a force opposing the force exerted on said movable member by the engagement with said pawl, said second bias means restoring said movable member to its original position subsequent to the disengagement of said pawl with said peripheral teeth, the coaction of said pawl and said movable member during the restorative motion moving said pawl further out of engagement with said peripheral teeth.

Claim 13

The clutch according to claim 9 wherein said driven member includes an output shaft journaled in said base member along the axis of said circular plate and said first and second discs, said output shaft being drivingly connected to said first disc.