Overload clutch

Claim 1

A. An overload clutch comprising b. a first rotary member, c. an intermediate member mounted for rotation with said first member and also for axial motion into two different positions with respect to said first member, said intermediate member having a lug on the side adjacent said first member, d. a second rotary member mounted coaxially with said first member, e. at least one first tooth on said intermediate member and at least one other tooth on said second member engageable with said first tooth in a first axial position of said intermediate member, f. resilient means biasing said intermediate member into a position away from said second member wherein said teeth are disengaged, g. an interposer between said first rotary member and said lug of the intermediate member holding said intermediate member against the force of said resilient means in the second axial position wherein said teeth are engaged, h. drive spring means drivingly connecting said first member and said intermediate member so that said drive spring means yield upon clutch overload permitting said first member to move angularly with respect to said intermediate member sufficiently to clear said interposer, and allowing said resilient means to move said intermediate member into said second axial position to disengage said teeth, i. said interposer being pivotally mounted for rotation about a point near its center and having a first projection radially inward of said pivot point with respect to the central axis of the rotary members, said projection being the interposed part, and having another projection radially outward of said pivot, j. a clutch actuator having a part extending between said first member and said intermediate member and movable axially to reengage said teeth against the force of said resilient means after disengagement of the teeth; k. spring means biasing said interposer toward a position between the lug and said first member to hold said teeth engaged after operation of the actuator, l. means on said actuator engageable with said other projection of the interposer to rotate it about its pivot sufficiently to disengage said teeth, m. said first projection of the interposer in the disengaged position of the clutch teeth being positioned to press against said lug without jamming, n. said drive spring means being a short stiff spring located in a recess in said interposer, adjusting screw means at one end of said recess adjustably restraining one end of the spring and drive lug means on said first rotary member extending into said recess engaging the other end of said spring, o. and stop screw means at the other end oF said recess for engaging said lug in the fully extended position of said stiff spring, said stop screw means and said adjusting screw means and spring being interchangeable for optional right- and lefthand drive.