Patent US3746062A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4286701A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4286701A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Amplifying clutch
Assignee: PacSci Motion Control Inc
•
Filing: 1979-12-26
•
Granted: 1981-09-01
•
Expires: 1999-12-26
Abstract
Abstract Torque is transmitted from the input member of a clutch to a primary shoe when the primary shoe is pressed into frictional engagement with the input member by compression springs. When initially turned by the input member, the primary shoe moves a series of balls angularly along inclined ramps to cause a secondary shoe to shift into frictional engagement with the input member and transmit torque to the output member of the clutch. A brake acts through the shoes to retard the output member when the clutch is disengaged.
Inventors
- 👤 J. G. Fraser MacDonald
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:17
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D13/00; F16D13/04; F16D67/00; F16D67/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
315 words
A clutch comprising rotatably mounted input and output members, a rotatably mounted first shoe supported to move axially relative to said input member and to turn angularly through a limited distance relative to said output member, coacting friction surfaces on said input member and said first shoe, said friction surfaces engaging one another and causing said first shoe to turn with said input member when said first shoe is moved axially toward said input member, said friction surfaces effectively releasing one another and enabling said input member to turn relative to said first shoe when said first shoe is moved axially away from said input member, selectively operable means for causing said first shoe to move axially toward and away from said input member, a rotatably mounted second shoe supported to move axially relative to said input and output members and coupled to rotate substantially in unison with said output member, coacting friction surfaces on said input member and said second shoe, said latter friction surfaces engaging one another and causing said second shoe to be turned by said input member when said second shoe is moved axially toward said input member, said latter friction surfaces effectively releasing one another and enabling said input member to turn relative to said second shoe when said second shoe is moved axially away from said input member, said clutch being characterized by means located between and engageable with said second shoe and said output member and coupled to said first shoe so as to be moved angularly through a limited distance by said first shoe and relative to said second shoe and said output member when said first shoe is initially turned by said input member, said last-mentioned means being effective upon being moved angularly through said distance to force said second shoe axially toward said input member without producing an axial reaction force against said first shoe.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
315 words
A clutch comprising rotatably mounted input and output members, a rotatably mounted first shoe supported to move axially relative to said input member and to turn angularly through a limited distance relative to said output member, coacting friction surfaces on said input member and said first shoe, said friction surfaces engaging one another and causing said first shoe to turn with said input member when said first shoe is moved axially toward said input member, said friction surfaces effectively releasing one another and enabling said input member to turn relative to said first shoe when said first shoe is moved axially away from said input member, selectively operable means for causing said first shoe to move axially toward and away from said input member, a rotatably mounted second shoe supported to move axially relative to said input and output members and coupled to rotate substantially in unison with said output member, coacting friction surfaces on said input member and said second shoe, said latter friction surfaces engaging one another and causing said second shoe to be turned by said input member when said second shoe is moved axially toward said input member, said latter friction surfaces effectively releasing one another and enabling said input member to turn relative to said second shoe when said second shoe is moved axially away from said input member, said clutch being characterized by means located between and engageable with said second shoe and said output member and coupled to said first shoe so as to be moved angularly through a limited distance by said first shoe and relative to said second shoe and said output member when said first shoe is initially turned by said input member, said last-mentioned means being effective upon being moved angularly through said distance to force said second shoe axially toward said input member without producing an axial reaction force against said first shoe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
164 words
A clutch as defined in claim 1 in which said last-mentioned means comprise a series of angularly spaced balls, a first set of angularly spaced races formed in said output member and receiving said balls, a second set of angularly spaced races formed in said second shoe and also receiving said balls, the length of said races being greater than the diameter of said balls to enable the balls to travel angularly in the races, the races of one of said sets being ramped to cause said balls to force said second shoe toward said input member as said balls travel angularly in one direction in said races, said first shoe having a cage located between said output member and said second shoe, and said cage having means for captivating said balls to turn with said first shoe and for causing said balls to travel angularly in said one direction in said races when said first shoe is initially turned by said input member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A clutch as defined in claim 2 in which said captivating means comprise a series of angularly spaced holes formed in said cage and receiving said balls with clearance permitting said balls to move axially in said holes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
A clutch as defined in claim 1 further including jaws on said second shoe and projecting into notches in said output member with a tight fit to couple said second shoe and said output member for rotation in unison while permitting axial sliding of said second shoe relative to said output member, said jaws projecting into notches in said first shoe with a loose fit to permit limited rotation of said first shoe relative to said second shoe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A clutch as defined in claim 1 in which one pair of coacting friction surfaces is defined by mating conical surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A clutch as defined in claim 1 in which one pair of coacting friction surfaces is defined by mating planar surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A clutch as defined in claim 1 in which one pair of coacting friction surfaces is defined by mating conical surfaces, the other pair of coacting friction surfaces being defined by mating planar surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A clutch as defined in claim 7 in which the mating conical surfaces define the coacting friction surfaces on said input member and said first shoe while the mating planar surfaces define the coacting friction surfaces on said input member and said second shoe.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
A clutch as defined in claim 1 in which said selectively operable means include a series of springs which urge said first shoe axially toward said input member, said selectively operable means further including an element urged to a normal position in engagement with said first shoe and movable manually to an actuated position out of engagement with said first shoe, said element overcoming the force of said springs and holding the friction surface of said first shoe out of effective engagement with the coacting friction surface of said input member when said element is in said normal position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A clutch as defined in claim 9 further including coacting friction surfaces on said element and said first shoe and retarding rotation of said first shoe when said element is in said normal position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2812047A
Cited
US2816636A
Cited
US3000479A
Cited
US2985992A
Cited
US3744609A
Cited
US3978947A
Cited
US3915268A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-08-31 | 1985-03-02 | 1985-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-08-31 | 1989-03-02 | 1989-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-08-31 | 1993-03-02 | 1993-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |