Centrifugal clutch

Claim 2

A centrifugal clutch comprising: a. rotatable shaft means; b. first rotatable means mounted on the shaft means and axially stationary thereon, the first rotatable means defining a first clutching surface; c. second rotatable means mounted on the shaft means and axially movable thereon, the second rotatable means forming an enclosure and defining a second clutching surface cooperable with the first clutching surface; d. third rotatable means mounted in an axially stationary position on the shaft means and within the rotatable enclosure; e. one of said second and third rotatable means having a plurality of pairs of spaced members projecting toward the other of said second and third rotatable means, the opposed faces of each pair forming guiding surfaces which extend essentially parallel to the axis of the shaft means; f. the other of said second and third rotatable means having a guiding member for each of said pairs, each guiding member constructed and arranged for cooperating, guiding engagement with the opposed guiding surfaces; g. and centrifugal actuating means disposed within said rotatable enclosure for effecting axial movement thereof relative to the first rotatable means as a function of rotational velocity of the shaft means.

Claim 3

The centrifugal clutch defined by claim 1, wherein the guiding members are disposed on the third rotatable means.

Claim 4

The centrifugal clutch defined by claim 2, wherein the third rotatable means comprises a hub and a radially extending arm for each pair of spaced members, the guiding members being carried at the outer ends of the arms.

Claim 5

The centrifugal clutch defined by claim 1, wherein the centrifugal actuating means comprises a plurality of flyweights pivotally mounted on one of the second and third rotatable means and arranged to move radially outward with increasing rotational velocity of the shaft means, the flyweights being engageable with the other of said second and third rotatable means to effect said axial movement relative to the first rotational means.

Claim 6

The centrifugal clutch defined by claim 4, wherein a flyweight is provided for each pair of spaced members, the flyweight being mounted between the spaced members at the base thereof.

Claim 7

The centrifugal clutch defined by claim 5, and further comprising a roller operatively carried by each of the guiding members for engagement by its associated flyweight.

Claim 8

The centrifugal clutch defined by claim 4, wherein the flyweights are mounted on the second rotatable means.

Claim 9

The centrifugal clutch defined by claim 7, wherein the third rotatable means comprises a hub having a plurality of radially extending arms, each arm carrying a guiding member at its outer end.

Claim 10

The centrifugal clutch defined by claim 8, wherein: a. a flyweight is provided for each pair of spaced projections, the flyweights being mounted between the projections; b. each radially extending arm is bifurcated at its outer end; c. a roller is operatively mounted between the bifurcations of each arm for engagement by the associated flyweight; d. and the guiding members comprise low friction caps mounted outside the respective bifurcations on opposite sides of the roller.

Claim 11

The centrifugal clutch defined by claim 1, wherein the pairs of spaced members are circumferentially and equidistantly spaced.

Claim 12

The centrifugal clutch defined by claim 1, wherein the guiding surfaces comprise bearing surfaces, and each guiding member is constructed and arranged for sliding engagement with its associated opposed bearing surfaces.

Claim 13

The centrifugal clutch defined by claim 11, wherein the bearinG surfaces are concave over the length, and the engaging portions of the guiding members comprise dome-shaped caps formed from low friction material.

Claim 14

The centrifugal clutch defined by claim 1, wherein: a. the first rotatable means comprises a first sheave member, b. and the second rotatable means comprises a second sheave member and a bell housing sealably connected to define said enclosure.

Claim 15

The centrifugal clutch defined by claim 13, wherein the pairs of spaced members are integrally formed with the second sheave member.

Claim 16

A centrifugal clutch comprising: a. rotatable shaft means; b. a first sheave mounted on the shaft means for rotation with the shaft means and axially stationary thereon; c. second rotatable means comprising an enclosure mounted for rotation on the shaft means and axially movable thereon, the rotatable enclosure defining a second sheave cooperable with the first sheave; d. third rotatable means mounted on the shaft means for rotation on the shaft means and axially stationary thereon, the third rotatable means being disposed within the rotatable enclosure; e. the rotatable enclosure having a plurality of pairs of spaced members projecting in cantilever fashion toward the third rotatable means, the opposed faces of each pair of spaced members defining guiding surfaces extending essentially parallel to the axis of the shaft means; f. the third rotatable means having a guiding member for each of said pairs, each guiding member being constructed and arranged for cooperating, guiding engagement with said opposed guiding surfaces; g. and a plurality of flyweights pivotally mounted on one of the second and third rotatable means and arranged to move radially outward with increasing rotational velocity of the shaft means, the flyweights being engageable with the other of said second and third rotatable means to effect axial movement relative to the first rotatable means.

Claim 17

A centrifugal clutch comprising: a. rotatable shaft means; b. a first sheave mounted on the shaft means for rotation with the shaft means and axially stationary thereon; c. second rotatable means comprising an enclosure mounted for rotation on the shaft means and axially movable thereon, the rotatable enclosure defining a second sheave cooperable with the first sheave; d. third rotatable means mounted on the shaft means for rotation on the shaft means and axially stationary thereon, the third rotatable means being disposed within the rotatable enclosure; e. the rotatable enclosure having a plurality of pairs of spaced members projecting in cantilever fashion toward the third rotatable means, the opposed faces of each pair of spaced members defining guiding surfaces extending essentially parallel to the axis of the shaft means; f. the third rotatable means having a guiding member for each of said pairs, each guiding member being constructed and arranged for cooperating, guiding engagement with said opposed guiding surfaces; g. and a plurality of flyweights pivotally mounted on one of the second and third rotatable means and arranged to move radially outward with increasing rotational velocity of the shaft means, the flyweights being engageable with the other of said second and third rotatable means to effect axial movement relative to the first rotatable means.

Claim 18

A centrifugal clutch comprising: a. a rotatable shaft; b. a first sheave mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith and axially stationary thereon; c. a second sheave mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith and axially movable thereon for cooperation with the first sheave; d. a housing member mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith and axially movable thereon, the housing member being sealably connected to the second sheave member to define a rotatable enclosure; e. a spider member mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith and axially stationary thereon, the spider member being disposed within the rotatable enclosure; f. the second sheave further comprising a plurality of pairs of spaced members projecting in cantilever fashion toward the spider member, the opposed faces of each pair of spaced members defining guiding surfaces extending essentially parallel to the axis of the shaft; g. the spider member comprising an essentially radially extending arm for each of said pairs of spaced members, each of said arms including a guiding member constructed and arranged for cooperating, guiding engagement with its associated guiding surfaces; h. and a flyweight pivotally mounted to the second sheave between each pair of spaced members at essentially the base thereof and arranged to move radially outward with increasing rotational velocity of the shaft, each flyweight being engageable with an associated arm of the spider member to effect axial movement of the rotatable enclosure relative to the first sheave.

Claim 19

A centrifugal clutch comprising: a. a rotatable shaft; b. a first sheave mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith and axially stationary thereon; c. a second sheave mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith and axially movable thereon for cooperation with the first sheave; d. a housing member mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith and axially movable thereon, the housing member being sealably connected to the second sheave member to define a rotatable enclosure; e. a spider member mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith and axially stationary thereon, the spider member being disposed within the rotatable enclosure; f. the second sheave further comprising a plurality of pairs of spaced members projecting in cantilever fashion toward the spider member, the opposed faces of each pair of spaced members defining guiding surfaces extending essentially parallel to the axis of the shaft; g. the spider member comprising an essentially radially extending arm for each of said pairs of spaced members, each of said arms including a guiding member constructed and arranged for cooperating, guiding engagement with its associated guiding surfaces; h. and a flyweight pivotally mounted to the second sheave between each pair of spaced members at essentially the base thereof and arranged to move radially outward with increasing rotational velocity of the shaft, each flyweight being engageable with an associated arm of the spider member to effect axial movement of the rotatable enclosure relative to the first sheave.

Claim 20

The centrifugal clutch defined by claim 16, wherein: a. each arm of the spider member is bifurcated as its outer end; b. a roller is operatively mounted between the bifurcations of each arm for engagement by the associated flyweight; c. and the guiding members comprise low friction caps mounted outside the respective bifurcations on opposite sides of the roller.