Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
A safety claw clutch, comprising coaxial driving and driven clutch elements at least one of which is movable axially toward and away from the other of said clutch elements; means for yieldably biasing said one clutch element toward said other clutch element; and means for rotating said driving clutch element in a predetermined direction, said clutch elements having adjacent end faces provided with annuli of alternating claws and recesses and the claws of said driving clutch element normally extending into the recesses of said driven clutch element and vice versa so that said driving clutch element normally rotates said driven clutch element in said direction, said end faces of said clutch elements having first surfaces constituting the bottom surfaces of the respective recesses and making a first acute angle with a plane which is normal to the common axis of said clutch elements and the claws of said driving and driven clutch elements respectively having front and rear surfaces each making with said plane a second acute angle, each of said front and rear surfaces being adjacent to a first surface of the respective end face and each of said front surfaces abutting against one of said rear surfaces when said driving clutch element rotates said driven clutch element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
A safety claw clutch, comprising coaxial driving and driven clutch elements at least one of which is movable axially toward and away from the other of said clutch elements; means for yieldably biasing said one clutch element toward said other clutch element; and means for rotating said driving clutch element in a predetermined direction, said clutch elements having adjacent end faces provided with annuli of alternating claws and recesses and the claws of said driving clutch element normally extending into the recesses of said driven clutch element and vice versa so that said driving clutch element normally rotates said driven clutch element in said direction, said end faces of said clutch elements having first surfaces constituting the bottom surfaces of the respective recesses and making a first acute angle with a plane which is normal to the common axis of said clutch elements and the claws of said driving and driven clutch elements respectively having front and rear surfaces each making with said plane a second acute angle, each of said front and rear surfaces being adjacent to a first surface of the respective end face and each of said front surfaces abutting against one of said rear surfaces when said driving clutch element rotates said driven clutch element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
A clutch as defined in claim 1, wherein said claws have top surfaces which are parallel to the first surfaces of the respective end faces, the claws of said driving clutch element and the claws of said driven clutch element respectively having rear and front surfaces the height of which exceeds the height of the front surfaces of claws of said driving clutch element and the height of the rear surfaces of claws of said driven clutch element, as considered in the direction of said axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A clutch as defined in claim 2, wherein said first surfaces of the end face of said driving clutch element and the front surfaces of claws of said driving clutch element slope upwardly counter to said direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A clutch as defined in claim 2, wherein one end of the rear surface of each claw of said driving clutch element and one end of the front surface of each claw of said driven clutch element is located in said plane when said driving clutch element rotates said driven clutch element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A clutch as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said clutch elements comprises two claws.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A clutch as defined in claim 2, wherein the rear surfaces of claws of said driving clutch element and the front surfaces of claws of said driven clutch element are substantially parallel to said axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A clutch as defined in claim 1, wherein said first acute angle is smaller than said second acute angle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A clutch as defined in claim 7, wherein said second acute angle is a multiple of said first acute angle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A clutch as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said clutch elements forms part of a gear.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A clutch as defined in claim 1, wherein said one clutch element is said driven clutch element and further comprising a common shaft for said clutch elements, said clutch elements being rotatable on said shaft.