Clutch with fluid operated lock

Claim 2

A clutch mechanism for coupling a first shaft to a second shaft including a clutch housing connected for rotation with said first shaft; a friction plate connected for rotation with said second shaft; a pressure plate operative to engage said friction plate with said clutch housing; fluid pressure activating means operatively associated with said pressure plate and including a first cylinder, a first piston and a first pressure chamber defined between said piston and cylinder, said piston and cylinder being operative when pressure fluid is introduced into said first pressure chamber to urge said pressure plate into its clutch engaged condition, mechanical wedging means associated with said first piston and said first cylinder and operative to retain said first piston and cylinder in a clutch engaged condition, and a second piston, a second cylinder and a second pressure chamber associated with said mechanical wedging means and operative when pressure fluid is introduced into said second chamber, to the exclusion of said first chamber, to condition said mechanical wedging means to allow said first piston and cylinder to assume a clutch disengaged position.

Claim 3

A clutch mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said first and second cylinders and said piston means are mechanically attached to said clutch housing, and wherein said first cylinder and piston means are pressuriZable from a stationary fluid pressure supply while said clutch housing, said first cylinder and said piston means are rotating.

Claim 4

A clutch mechanism as in claim 2 wherein said second cylinder and said piston means are automatically pressurized upon pressurizing of said first cylinder and said piston means, also said second cylinder and said piston means are pressurizable without pressurizing said first cylinder of said piston means.

Claim 5

A clutch mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said fluid pressure activating means is associated with said pressure plate through a lever.

Claim 6

A clutch mechanism including a clutch housing connectable to a driving member; a friction plate con-nectable to a driven member and relatively rotatable with respect to said housing; a pressure plate operative to engage said friction plate with said clutch housing; a lever associated with said pressure plate for activation thereof; fluid pressure activating means associated with said lever including a first cylinder, a first piston and a first pressure chamber defined between said piston and cylinder such that said cylinder is operative when pressure fluid is introduced into said first chamber to act against said lever and urge said pressure plate into a clutch engaged condition, a collet contacting said first cylinder and adapted to retain said cylinder in a clutch engaged condition, a second piston, a second cylinder and a second pressure chamber defined between said piston and said cylinder; said second piston being operatively associated with said collet such that when pressure fluid is introduced into said second chamber to the exclusion of said first chamber said collet is conditioned to allow said second cylinder to assume a clutch disengaged position and resilient biasing means associated with said second piston to normally urge said piston and collet to a piston restraining position.

Claim 7

A clutch mechanism including a clutch housing connectable to a driving member; a friction plate con-nectable to a driven member and relatively rotatable with respect to said housing; a pressure plate operative to engage said friction plate with said clutch housing; a lever associated with said pressure plate for activation thereof; fluid pressure activating means associated with said lever including a first cylinder, a first piston and a first pressure chamber defined between said piston and cylinder such that said cylinder is operative when pressure fluid is introduced into said first chamber to act against said lever and urge said pressure plate into a clutch engaged condition, a collet contacting said first cylinder and adapted to retain said cylinder in a clutch engaged condition, a second piston, a second cylinder and a second pressure chamber defined between said piston and said cylinder; said second piston being operatively associated with said collet such that when pressure fluid is introduced into said second chamber to the exclusion of said first chamber said collet is conditioned to allow said second cylinder to assume a clutch disengaged position and resilient biasing means associated with said second piston to normally urge said piston and collet to a piston restraining position.