Patent US3653228A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3653228A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Progressive clutch
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-11-12
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Granted: 1972-04-04
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Expires: 1990-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A coupling device for progressively, gradually and shocklessly coupling a rotary drive shaft and driven shaft, comprising a flat, cup-shaped impeller member with a disc shaped impelled member rotatably disposed therein. Jaws on the impeller member and impelled member are disposed in fluid filled first and second chambers inside the impeller member. A narrow bore in one jaw passes fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber when the impeller member starts rotating. A passage containing a check valve passes fluid in one direction from the second chamber to the first chamber when the impeller member stops rotating. A coil spring connected between the impelled and impeller members returns the jaws to initial angular position. A laterally weighted ring balances the jaws when rotating together. Two jaws can be provided on each of the impeller and impelled members for cooperative action.
Inventors
- 👤 Giuseppe Tiberio
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:34
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D3/00; F16D3/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
350 words
A coupling device for progressively coupling a rotary drive member and a driven shaft, comprising an impeller member having a first circular disc to which said drive member can be axially coupled for rotating the impeller member, a cylindrical skirt integral with the periphery of said disc, and a first flat jaw on said disc inside said skirt; an impelled member comprising a second circular disc rotatably disposed in said impeller member, an axial hub on said disc for receiving and engaging a driven shaft, and a second jaw on the second disc coplanar with the first jaw, both discs defining with said skirt a first chamber between one side of the first jaw and one side of the second and a second chamber between the other side of the first jaw and the other side of the second jaw; a fluid filling both chambers; sealing means in said impeller member sealing said second disc against leakage of fluid from said chambers; a closure plate on said skirt defining a third chamber between said second disc and said closure plate; a spirally coiled spring in said third chamber connected at one end to said hub and at its other end to the inside of said skirt for yieldably holding said jaws in a predetermined angularly spaced first position in said impeller member, said second jaw having a narrow bore therein extending between opposite sides of the second jaw for passing said fluid therethrough from the first chamber to the second chamber; and means for coupling said driven shaft axially to said hub for rotating with the impelled member, whereby the drive member will be drivingly coupled to the driven shaft gradually, progressively and shocklessly, while said first jaw drives said fluid through said bore from the first chamber to the second chamber when the impeller member starts to rotate, and whereby the coil spring will be tensionally wound while the two jaws assume another angularly spaced position so that the impeller member and impelled member rotate together while driving force is applied by said drive member to the impeller member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
350 words
A coupling device for progressively coupling a rotary drive member and a driven shaft, comprising an impeller member having a first circular disc to which said drive member can be axially coupled for rotating the impeller member, a cylindrical skirt integral with the periphery of said disc, and a first flat jaw on said disc inside said skirt; an impelled member comprising a second circular disc rotatably disposed in said impeller member, an axial hub on said disc for receiving and engaging a driven shaft, and a second jaw on the second disc coplanar with the first jaw, both discs defining with said skirt a first chamber between one side of the first jaw and one side of the second and a second chamber between the other side of the first jaw and the other side of the second jaw; a fluid filling both chambers; sealing means in said impeller member sealing said second disc against leakage of fluid from said chambers; a closure plate on said skirt defining a third chamber between said second disc and said closure plate; a spirally coiled spring in said third chamber connected at one end to said hub and at its other end to the inside of said skirt for yieldably holding said jaws in a predetermined angularly spaced first position in said impeller member, said second jaw having a narrow bore therein extending between opposite sides of the second jaw for passing said fluid therethrough from the first chamber to the second chamber; and means for coupling said driven shaft axially to said hub for rotating with the impelled member, whereby the drive member will be drivingly coupled to the driven shaft gradually, progressively and shocklessly, while said first jaw drives said fluid through said bore from the first chamber to the second chamber when the impeller member starts to rotate, and whereby the coil spring will be tensionally wound while the two jaws assume another angularly spaced position so that the impeller member and impelled member rotate together while driving force is applied by said drive member to the impeller member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
A coupling device as defined in claim 1, wherein said second jaw has a wide passage therein extending between opposite sides of the second jaw; and a one-way check valve in said passage to limit passage of fluid therethrough in only one direction from the second chamber to the first chamber while said coiled spring unwinds when driving force exerted upon said impeller member is relieved to restore the jaws to said first angularly spaced position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A coupling device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a massive member in said impeller member arranged to balance the mass of said jaws when they are disposed adjacent to each other during rotation of the impelled member with the impeller member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A coupling device as defined in claim 3, wherein said massive member is a ring with diametrically opposite portions of different thickness.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
A coupling device as defined in claim 3, wherein said second jaw has a wide passage therein extending between opposite sides of the second jaw; and a one-way check valve in said passage to limit passage of fluid therethrough in only one direction from the second chamber to the first chamber while said coiled spring unwinds when driving force exerted upon said impeller member is relieved to restore the jaws to said first angularly spaced position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A coupling device as defined in claim 1, wherein said sealing means comprising a ring having a central hole, said ring being disposed in said third chamber between said spring and said second disc, means sealing the periphery of said ring to said skirt and sealing the rim of said hole to said hub.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
A coupling device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a third jaw integral with said first disc and diametrically opposite from the first jaw, and a fourth jaw integral with the second disc and diametrically opposite from the second jaw, said fourth jaw having a narrow second bore therein extending between opposite sides of the fourth jaw for passing said fluid therethrough whereby the third jaw will drive said fluid through the second bore and effect gradual progressive coupling of the drive member to the driven shaft in cooperation with the first and second jaws when the impeller member starts to rotate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
108 words
A coupling device as defined in claim 7, wherein said fourth jaw has a wide second passage therein extending between opposite sides of the fourth jaw, said coiled spring yieldably holding the third and fourth jaws in an initial angularly spaced position in the impeller member; and a second one-way check valve in said second passage to limit passage of fluid therethrough in only said one direction while the coiled spring unwinds when the driving force exerted upon said impeller member is relieved to restore the third and fourth jaws to said initial angularly spaced position, and while the third jaw drives the fluid through said second passage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A coupling device as defined in claim 7, wherein all the jaws are sector shaped and substantially equal in size, so that the impeller and impelled members are dynamically balanced when they rotate together.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A coupling device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a fluid filler plug fitted in a lateral hole in said skirt for filling said first and second chambers with said fluid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A coupling device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a following ring to set the optimum running fit between the impeller and impelled discs.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-04 | 1975-10-04 | 1976-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-04 | 1979-10-04 | 1980-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-04 | 1983-10-04 | 1984-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |