US 4,555,003 AGranted

Split engine clutch

OwnerHoward L. Phillipsinventor

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Abstract

This relates to a synchronizing clutch for use in a split crankshaft engine of a type which includes a main crankshaft section and at least one auxiliary crankshaft section. An input section is fixedly coupled to a first end of the main crankshaft section and drives a clutch plate. First and second engagement plates are rotatably coupled on the input section and each include at least first and second apertures. The first aperture in the first engagement plate resides in a different orbit than that of the second aperture. A pin plate is fixedly coupled to an adjacent end of the auxiliary crankshaft section and is provided with first and second pins which correspond in orbit to that of the first and second apertures in the first engagement plate. Actuation means are provided for disengaging the clutch plate and substantially reducing the speed of the second engagement plate to permit insertion of the first and second pins into slots in the second engagement plate. After the clutch plate is again engaged, the first engagement plate is caused to rotate with respect to the second engagement plate thus permitting the first and second pins to fall into the first and second apertures respectively in the first engagement plate. In this manner, the auxiliary crankshaft section is coupled, in phase to the main crankshaft section.

Claims11

Dependent claims

In a split crankshaft engine of the type which includes a main crankshaft section and a least one auxiliary crankshaft section, a synchronizing clutch comprising:

an input section coupled to a first end of said main crankshaft section;
a clutch plate fixedly coupled to said input section;
a first engagement plate rotatably coupled on said input section;
a second engagement plate rotatably coupled on said input section and in frictional engagement with said first engagement plate;
a pin plate fixedly coupled to an adjacent end of said at least one auxiliary crankshaft section;
a first actuation means coupled to said input section which, when placed in a first condition, disengages said first engagement plate from said second engagement plate and substantially reduces the speed of said second engagement plate, and when placed in a second condition, causes said first engagement plate to engage said second engagement plate causing said second engagement plate to rotate producing a relative angular velocity between said first and second engagement plates;
and
second actuation means coupled to said pin plate which, when placed in a first condition disengages said pin plate from said first and second engagement plates so as to disengage said main crankshaft section and said auxiliary crankshaft section, when placed in a second condition, causes said pin plate to engage said second engagement plate, and when placed in a third condition, causes said pin plate to engage said first engagement plate to couple, in phase, said main and auxiliary crankshaft sections.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.