Modulatable friction clutch controlled by a centrifugal force and angular acceleration sensitive valve

Claim 2

A modulatable, hyraulically actuated friction plate type clutch having an input member, an output member, interleaved friction clutch plates between said members, and hydraulically actuated means for slippingly clamping up said clutch plates, clutch apply pressure means for conducting clutch apply fluid pressure to said hydraulically actuated means thereby causing slipping engagement of said interleaved clutch plates, hydraulic control means comprising, an element pivotally mounted on one of said members, said clutch apply pressure means being in communication with said element and forming a valve therewith whereby said element can pivot and either close said apply pressure means and permit clutch clamp up or open said apply pressure means in varying degrees and dump said apply fluid pressure in vary amounts, and remotely controlled pressure means including a pair of spaced apart fluid operated pressure producing means acting on said pivoted valve element to tend to pivot said element to close said apply pressure means.

Claim 3

The hydraulic control system as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said element includes a weight mass located radially outwardly of said pivot point of said element so as to be subject to rotational speed and to change in rotational speed of said member and thereby swing said element relative to said clutch apply pressure means.

Claim 4

The hydraulic control system set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said control pressure means includes two pressure producing means on said element, one of said pressure producing means including an orifice whereby the control pressure acting on said element will be varied depending on the position of said pivoted element.

Claim 5

The hydraulic control system set forth in claim 24 further characterized in that said control pressure means includes two pressure producing means on said element, one of said pressure producing means including an orifice whereby the control pressure acting on said element will be varied depending on the position of said pivoted element.

Claim 6

The clutch as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said element is pivoted on said one member about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said one member.

Claim 7

The clutch set forth in claim 1 including apply pressure balancing means acting on said element to counterbalance the effect of said clutch apply pressure means on said element whereby movement of said element is influenced only by said control pressure means.

Claim 8

The clutch set forth in claim 2 including apply pressure balancing means acting on said element to counterbalance the effect of said clutch apply pressure means on said element whereby movement of said element is influenced only by said control pressure means.

Claim 9

The clutch set forth in claim 3 including apply pressure balancing means acting on said element to counterbalance the effect of said clutch apply pressure means on said element whereby movement of said element is influenced only by said control pressure means.

Claim 10

The clutch set forth in claim 4 including apply pressure balancing means acting on said element to counterbalance the effect of said clutch apply pressure means on said element whereby movement of said element is influenced only by said control pressure means.

Claim 11

A modulatable, hydraulically actuated friction plate type clutch having an input member, an output member, interleaved friction clutch plates between said members, and hydraulically actuated means for slippingly clamping up said clutch plates, clutch apply pressure means for conducting clutch apply fluid pressure to said hydraulically actuated means thereby causing slipping engagement of said interleaved clutch plates, hydraulic control Means comprising, an element pivotally mounted on one of said members, said element being pivoted on said one member about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said one member, said clutch apply pressure means being in communication with said valve element and forming a valve therewith whereby said element can pivot and either close said apply pressure means and permit clutch clamp up or open said apply pressure means in varying degrees and dump said apply fluid pressure in varying amounts, said element including a weight mass located radially outwardly of the pivot point of said element so as to be subject to rotational speed and to change in rotational speed of said member and thereby swing said element relative to said clutch apply pressure means; remotely controlled pressure means acting on said pivoted valve element to tend to pivot said element to close said apply pressure means, said control pressure means including two fluid operated pressure producing means acting on said element, one of said pressure producing means including an orifice whereby the control pressure acting on said element will be varied dependent on the position of said pivoted element; and apply pressure balancing means acting on said element to counterbalance the effect of said clutch apply pressure means on said element whereby movement of said element is influenced only by said control pressure means.

Claim 12

A modulatable, hydraulically actuated friction plate type clutch having an input member, an output member, interleaved friction clutch plates between said members, and hydraulically actuated means for slippingly clamping up said clutch plates, clutch apply pressure means for conducting clutch apply fluid pressure to said hydraulically actuated means thereby causing slipping engagement of said interleaved clutch plates, hydraulic control Means comprising, an element pivotally mounted on one of said members, said element being pivoted on said one member about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said one member, said clutch apply pressure means being in communication with said valve element and forming a valve therewith whereby said element can pivot and either close said apply pressure means and permit clutch clamp up or open said apply pressure means in varying degrees and dump said apply fluid pressure in varying amounts, said element including a weight mass located radially outwardly of the pivot point of said element so as to be subject to rotational speed and to change in rotational speed of said member and thereby swing said element relative to said clutch apply pressure means; remotely controlled pressure means acting on said pivoted valve element to tend to pivot said element to close said apply pressure means, said control pressure means including two fluid operated pressure producing means acting on said element, one of said pressure producing means including an orifice whereby the control pressure acting on said element will be varied dependent on the position of said pivoted element; and apply pressure balancing means acting on said element to counterbalance the effect of said clutch apply pressure means on said element whereby movement of said element is influenced only by said control pressure means.

Claim 13

A modulatable, hydraulically actuable friction plate type clutch having an input and an output member with interleaved friction clutch plates therebetween, and hydraulic means for clamping up said clutch plates to provide a modulated clutch, clutch apply pressure means for conducting clutch apply fluid pressure to said hydraulic means, in element pivotally mounted on one of said member, said clutch apply pressure means having a discharge for forming a valve with said element whereby said element can pivot and either close said apply pressure means and permit clutch clamp up or open said apply pressure means in varying degrees and dump said apply fluid pressure is varying amounts, and remotely controlled pressure means acting on said pivoted valve element to tend to pivot said element to close said apply pressure means, said control pressure means including two fluid operated pressure producing means acting on said element, one of said pressure producing means including an orifice whereby the control pressure acting on said element will be varied depending on the position of said pivoted element.

Claim 14

A modulatable, hydraulically actuable friction plate type clutch having an input and an output member with interleaved friction clutch plates therebetween, and hydraulic means for clamping up said clutch plates to provide a modulated clutch, clutch apply pressure means for conducting clutch apply fluid pressure to said hydraulic means, in element pivotally mounted on one of said member, said clutch apply pressure means having a discharge for forming a valve with said element whereby said element can pivot and either close said apply pressure means and permit clutch clamp up or open said apply pressure means in varying degrees and dump said apply fluid pressure is varying amounts, and remotely controlled pressure means acting on said pivoted valve element to tend to pivot said element to close said apply pressure means, said control pressure means including two fluid operated pressure producing means acting on said element, one of said pressure producing means including an orifice whereby the control pressure acting on said element will be varied depending on the position of said pivoted element.

Claim 15

The clutch as set forth in claim 11 further characterized in that said element is pivoted on said one member about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said one member.

Claim 16

The clutch set forth in claim 11 including apply pressure balancing means acting on said element to counterbalance the effect of said clutch apply pressure means on said element whereby movement of said element is influenced only by said control pressure means.

Claim 17

The clutch set forth in claim 12 including apply pressure balancing means acting on said element to counterbalance the effect of said clutch apply pressure means on said element whereby movement of said element is influenced only by said control pressure means.

Claim 18

The hydraulic control system as set forth in claim 11 further characterized in that said element includes a weight means located radially outwardly of said pivot point of said element so as to be subject to rotational speed and to change in rotational speed of said member and thereby swing said element relative to said clutch apply pressure means.