Automatic locking clutch

An automatic clutch disposed for selective engagement of a first member with a second member upon rotation of the first member, said clutch comprising first clutch means secured to the first member for rotation therewith and movement relative thereto, said first clutch means defining a first set of clutch teeth, second clutch means secured to the second member for rotation therewith, said second clutch means defining a second set of clutch teeth, said first and second sets of clutch teeth being adapted for meshing engagement in drive and coast modes when in alignment, means biasing said first clutch means for movement away from said second clutch means such that said first and second sets of clutch teeth are out of alignment, a cam rotatable upon rotation of said first clutch means, and means tending to retard rotation of said cam, said first clutch means being movable toward said second clutch means in response to retarded rotation of said cam such that said first set of clutch teeth are in alignment with said second set of clutch teeth, said rotation retarding means being constructed and arranged such that its rotation retarding tendency is relieved after said movement of said first clutch means.

A clutch for automatically engaging and disengaging first and second members rotatable relative to a housing, said clutch comprising first and second clutch members respectively rotatable with said first and second rotatable members, said first and second clutch members being adapted for engagement in drive and coast modes, a rotatable cam, said cam defining a rise surface and a dwell surface, a rotatable stop member, means contiguous to said housing and movable relative thereto for developing drag, said drag means being movable by said cam to thereby develop relatively high drag and movable by said stop member to thereby develop relatively low drag, means biasing said first and second clutch members away from engagement, and a cam follower rotatable with the first rotatable member and coupled with said first clutch member, rotation of the first rotatable member causing said cam to rotate thereby moving said drag means and causing said cam follower to move up said rise surface onto said dwell surface such that said first and second clutch members are biased toward engagement, said stop member being engageable by said cam follower for rotation thereof when said cam follower is on said dwell surface, rotation of said stop member moving said drag means.

A clutch for automatically engaging and disengaging rotatable drive and driven members wherein the drive member is supported for rotation relative to a stationary member, said clutch comprising first clutch means rotatable with and movable relative to the drive member, second clutch means rotatable with the driven member, said first and second clutch means being engageable when in alignment, annular cam means concentric with the drive member, said cam means defining a plurality of rise and dwell surfaces, said cam means also defining first and second slots, annular stop means concentric with said cam means, said stop means defining a plurality of projections extending beyond said dwell surfaces of said cam means, said stop means also defining a notch, cam follower means rotatable with and movable relative to the drive member, said cam follower means disposed to ride said rise and dwell surfaces of said cam means for camming movement of said first clutch means toward alignment with said second clutch means, first spring means biasing said first clutch means away from alignment with said second clutch means, and second spring means wrapped contiguous to the stationary member, said second spring means having first and second end portions extending respectively through said first and second slots and into said notch.

Apparatus comprising a rotatable member, a rotatable cam, a rotatable stop, a cam follower rotatable upon rotation of said member, said cam follower being movable between first and second positions, and means biasing said cam follower toward its first position, relative rotation between said cam and cam follower effecting movement of said cam follower toward its second position, drag inducing means movable to high and low drag inducing modes, said cam follower when in its first position rotating said cam upon rotation of said member, said cam upon rotation thereof moving said drag inducing means to its high drag inducing mode thereby effecting said relative rotation between said cam and cam follower, said cam follower when in its second position rotating said stop upon rotation of said member, said stop upon rotation thereof moving said drag inducing means to its low drag inducing mode and rotating said cam with said cam follower.

An automatic clutch comprising first and second rotatable members, first and second clutch elements respectively rotatable with said first and second members, said elements being engageable in drive and coast modes when in alignment, said first element being slidable relative to said first member between a first position out of alignment with said second element and a second position in alignment with said second element, first means responsive to rotative force above a pre-determined threshold applied to said first member in one direction for sliding said first element to said second position and for maintaining said first element in said second position irrespective of the mode in which said elements are engaged, and second means effective when said elements are not engaged and said first member is not subject to said rotative force for sliding said first element to said first position.

Apparatus comprising first and second rotatable members engageable when in alignment, said first member being movable between a first position out of alignment with said second member and a second position in alignment with said second member, means biasing said first member for movement toward its first position, and actuating means operative for biasing said first member for movement toward its second position and for negating the biasing effect of said resilient means until said first member is in its second position.

Apparatus comprising means defining a notch, a rotatable member, a rotatable cam defining a rise surface and a dwell surface, means tending to retard rotation of said cam, a cam follower rotatable with and movable relative to said member, and means biasing said cam follower toward said notch, initial rotation of said member being effective to drive said cam follower out of said notch onto said rise surface, subsequent rotation of said member being effective to rotate said cam and drive said cam follower off of said rise surface onto said dwell surface.