US 4,055,241 AGranted

Centrifugal clutch mechanism

OwnerDwight E. Trippinventor

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Abstract

A centrifugal clutch mechanism according to the present invention includes a pair of spaced clutch shoes, one being a power shoe and the other being an energizing shoe, that are movably supported by a rotor element that is rotated by a drive source. A clutch housing having an internal cylindrical surface for mating engagement with the clutch shoes is connected to a rotatable driven element and is rotatable along with the rotor element responsive to forces transferred to the clutch housing from the clutch shoes. Clutch energization or expansion is induced by a centrifugally movable modulating arm having a cam roller that has operative engagement with a cam surface provided on the energizing shoe. Centrifugally induced movement of the modulating arm is controlled by a slippage control spring and by an anti-self-energizing spring. A drive block supported by the rotor element transfers forces to the power shoe in a predetermined vectored relationship which may be modified by the angular relationship of the drive block engagement with the drive shoe.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A centrifugal clutch mechanism for mechanical transfer of energy from a rotatable drive source to a rotatable driven element, said clutch mechanism comprising:

a rotor element adapted to be directly rotated by said drive source;
a power shoe being movably supported by said rotor element and being rotatable therewith;
adjustable drive means being fixed to said rotor element and releasably engaging said power shoe and imparting a preselected force vector from said rotor element to said power shoe;
an energizing shoe also being movably supported by said rotor element and being rotatable with said rotor element, said energizing shoe being in spaced opposed relation with said power shoe;
adjustable positioning means engaging opposed extremities of said power shoe and said energizing shoe and maintaining a predetermined spacing therebetween;
a shoe movement control means being movably supported for rotation along with said rotor element, said movement control means being movable by centrifugal force as said rotor element rotates, said shoe movement control means imparting expansion movement to said energizing shoe responsive to movement of said movement control means;
adjustable means retarding movement of said shoe movement control means and
clutch housing means to which said rotatable driven element is nonrotatably connected, said clutch housing means defining a cylindrical internal clutch surface for engagement by said power shoe and energizing shoe.

5 more elements

A centrifugal clutch mechanism for mechanical transfer of energy from a rotatable drive source to a rotatable driven element, said clutch mechanism comprising:

a rotor element adapted to be directly rotated by said drive source;
a power shoe being movably supported by said rotor element and being rotatable therewith;
drive means being fixed to said rotor element and releasably engaging said power shoe and imparting a preselected force vector from said rotor element to said power shoe;
an energizing shoe being movably supported by said rotor element and being rotatable with said rotor element, said energizing shoe being in spaced opposed relation with said power shoe;
adjustable positioning means being interposed between opposed extremities of said power and energizing shoes and maintaining a predetermined spacing between said opposed extremities;
elongated modulating arm means being pivotally connected at one extremity thereof to said rotor element;
a reaction cam being provided at one extremity of said energizing shoe;
a cam follower element being provided on said modulating arm means and engaging said reaction cam, upon centrifugal force energized movement of said modulating arm means said cam follower element reacting with said reaction cam and forcing said energizing shoe toward the energizing position thereof;
adjustable means inducing an opposing force to said modulating arm to resist centrifugal force energized movement of said modulating arm;
and
clutch housing means to which said rotatable driven element is nonrotatably connected, said clutch housing means defining a cylindrical integral clutch surface for engagement by said power shoe and said energizing shoe.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.