Conical clutch

A cone clutch comprising an inner cone and an outer cone, a shaft for supporting the cones, the inner cone being mounted for to and fro movement on the shaft, the inner cone being attached to and for rotation with the shaft, and actuating means for moving the inner cone into engagement with the outer cone and for moving the inner cone in the opposite direction for disengagement, the inner cone including a pair of oppositely disposed radially movable plates, each having an outer periphery which includes a ridged surface and the inner cone further including a fixed ridged surface, the ridges of the plates being disposed at different angles than fixed ridges, spring means for normally urging the plates radially outward so that the tops of the ridges of the first ridged surfaces project beyond the tops of the ridges of the fixed ridged surface, on operation, the outer cone being first engaged by the ridges of the engaging surfaces of the plates and then as each plate is substantially fully depressed against the action of the spring means, the outer cone being engaged by a combination of all engaging surfaces during the last stage of clutch engagement.

A cone clutch comprising an inner cone and an outer cone, a shaft for supporting the cones, the inner cone being mounted for axial movement along the shaft, the inner cone being mounted for rotation with the shaft, and actuating means for moving the inner cone into engagement with the outer cone and for moving the inner cone in the opposite direction for disengagement, the inner cone including a pair of oppositely disposed radially movable plates, each having an outer periphery which includes a first ridged surface having ridges disposed at predetermined angles, a second fixed ridged surface on the inner wall of the outer cone having ridges disposed at predetermined angles different from the angles of the first mentioned ridges, spring means for normally urging the plates radially outward so that the tops of the ridges of the first ridged surface project beyond the remaining surface of the inner cone, on operation, the ridged surface of the outer cone being first engaged lightly by the ridges of the first engaging surfaces, the engagement building up incrementally and then as the plate is substantially depressed against the action of the spring means the ridged surface of the outer cone slows down the increasing rate of clutch engagement.

A cone clutch comprising an inner cone and an outer cone, means for advancing the inner cone into engagement with the outer cone, the inner cone including a pair of oppositely disposed radially movable plates, each having an outer periphery which includes a ridged surface and the inner cone further including a fixed ridged surface, the ridges of the plates being at an angle within the range of 55.degree. to 65.degree., the ridges of the fixed ridged surface being at angles within the range of 70.degree. to 90.degree., spring means for normally urging the plates radially outward so that the tops of the ridges of the first ridged surfaces project beyond the tops of the ridges of the fixed ridged surface, on operation, the outer cone being first engaged by the ridges of the engaging surfaces of the plates and then as each plate is substantially fully depressed against the action of the spring means, the outer cone being engaged by a combination of all engaging surfaces during the last stage of clutch engagement.