Friction couplings with spring cushioned operators

Claim 1

In a clutch of the type having a drive member, a driven member, a shaft in driven relation with one of said members, two adjacent clutch elements surrounding the axis of said shaft respectively and connected in drive engagement with said members, one of said elements being mounted for movement in a direction axially of said shaft between an engaged position in gripping engagement with the other of said elements and a release position spaced from said other element, resilient means for urging said one clutch element away from said other element, an actuating mechanism movable along said shaft for applying a force to move said one element into engaged position with said other element against the resistance of said resilient means, spring means for applying a substantially uniform pressure against said actuating mechanism in a direction to cause said mechanism to apply said force to said one clutch element, the improvement which comprises transmission means operatively connected between said actuating means and said spring means for transmitting the pressure of said spring means to said actuating means, said transmission means being adjustable in a direction longitudinally of said shaft, adjustment in one direction being effective to lengthen said transmission means and adjustably move said actuating means and said one clutch element in a direction toward the engaged position of said clutch elements.