US3625326A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Centrifugally controlled loop spring clutch
Assignee: Olympia Werke AG
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Filing: 1970-03-03
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Granted: 1971-12-07
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Expires: 1990-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A centrifugally controlled loop spring clutch for coupling and decoupling a drive shaft to a coaxial member. The drive shaft is provided with a pair of centrifugally responsive weight members which are mounted so that they pivot in opposite directions about their pivot axes, and are coupled for movement together. Movement of the weight members causes a loop spring mounted on the coaxial member and encircling the end of the drive shaft, to be pressed against the periphery of the drive shaft to thereby couple the drive shaft to the coaxial member. The oppositely acting arrangement of the centrifugal weight members permits the forces caused by tangential accelerations due to torsional vibrations to be compensated and a smooth coupling and decoupling action to take place.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert Rix
- 👤 Georg Werner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:06
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D43/00; F16D43/02; F16D43/04; B; B41; B41J; B41J7/00; B41J7/02; G; G06; G06C; G06C23/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A centrifugally controlled loop spring clutch having a speeddependent clutch action for the smooth coupling in an out of engagement of two coaxial rotating members comprising: a. a drive shaft; b. a driven member coaxially mounted with said drive shaft; c. a normally untensioned loop spring mounted on said driven member for rotation therewith, said loop spring extending over and loosely enclosing the end of said drive shaft; d. at least one pair of centrifugal weight members mounted on said drive shaft for rotation therewith, each of said weight members being pivotally mounted for movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said drive shaft with the weight members of each pair moving in opposite directions about their respective axes due to centrifugal force, and being coupled together so that movement of one of said weight members influences the movement of the other weight member of each pair and, means responsive to the pivotal movement of said weight members for pressing said loop spring against the periphery of said drive shaft to cause said loop spring to tension and couple said driven member to said drive shaft whereby the oppositely acting arrangement of said weight members permits compensation of the forces caused by tangential accelerations during torsional vibrations of said drive shaft and said driven member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
A centrifugally controlled loop spring clutch having a speeddependent clutch action for the smooth coupling in an out of engagement of two coaxial rotating members comprising: a. a drive shaft; b. a driven member coaxially mounted with said drive shaft; c. a normally untensioned loop spring mounted on said driven member for rotation therewith, said loop spring extending over and loosely enclosing the end of said drive shaft; d. at least one pair of centrifugal weight members mounted on said drive shaft for rotation therewith, each of said weight members being pivotally mounted for movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said drive shaft with the weight members of each pair moving in opposite directions about their respective axes due to centrifugal force, and being coupled together so that movement of one of said weight members influences the movement of the other weight member of each pair and, means responsive to the pivotal movement of said weight members for pressing said loop spring against the periphery of said drive shaft to cause said loop spring to tension and couple said driven member to said drive shaft whereby the oppositely acting arrangement of said weight members permits compensation of the forces caused by tangential accelerations during torsional vibrations of said drive shaft and said driven member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
The centrifugally controlled loop spring clutch defined in claim 1 wherein each of said weight members includes an arm which is pivotally mounted about a point intermediate its ends, one end of each of said arms being provided with a contoured surface which engages the corresponding surface of the adjacent end of the other arm of each pair to couple said weight member together; and wherein said loop spring pressing means includes a bearing surface formed on the end provided with said contoured surface of one arm of each pair of weight members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A centrifugally controlled loop spring clutch as defined in claim 2 wherein said contoured surfaces on the ends of said centrifugal weight arms include a plurality of teeth with the teeth of the arms of each pair being in formfitting engagement with one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A centrifugally controlled loop spring clutch as defined in claim 3 wherein said teeth are designed as involute teeth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A centrifugally controlled loop spring clutch as defined in claim 4 wherein said involute teeth have equal sectors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A centrifugally controlled loop spring clutch as defined in claim 2 wherein said contoured surfaces engaging one another are constructed as overlapping force-transmittingly coupled edges; and wherein said bearing surface is on the one of said arms having its contact edge closer to said loop spring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A centrifugally controlled loop spring clutch as defined in claim 2 wherein the centrifugal weight members of each pair are returned to their starting position, without any additional return means, by the spreading effect of said loop spring when the tension thereof is released.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A centrifugally controlled loop spring clutch as defined in claim 2 wherein said weight members are substantially identical in shape and in the location of their center of gravity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A centrifugally controlled loop spring clutch as defined in claim 3 wherein said driven member comprises a gear rotatably mounted on the end of said drive shaft.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US317586A
Cited
US3165184A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-06 | 1975-06-07 | 1975-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-06 | 1979-06-07 | 1979-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-06 | 1983-06-07 | 1983-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |