Clutch arrangement

A clutch arrangement for co-axial shaft members including a drive or input shaft member and a driven or output shaft member, one of the shaft members being a tubular outer shaft the other shaft member being an inner shaft member positioned within the outer shaft member;

• the arrangement having an annular disc concentrically mounted on the outer shaft member for rotation therewith;
• a plate member mounted on the inner shaft member for rotation therewith and so as to extend at least diametrically of the inner shaft member in substantially parallel relation with the disc, the plate member having two openings therethrough in diametrically opposed relation and each axially in line with the disc;
• a respective axially extending, force applying arm located in each said opening of the plate member and each having an end thereof projecting from its opening beyond a face of the plate member remote from the disc;
• a frame member mounted on the inner shaft member adjacent an end of the outer shaft member, the frame member comprising a bar member located adjacent said remote face of the plate member and having radially extending arm positions, each arm portion of the bar member being integral with a said end of a respective force applying arm such that the bar member interconnects each of the force applying arms;
• and a plurality of pairs of friction pads angularly spaced circumferentially of the disc, the pads of each pair being operatively mounted adjacent respective faces of the disc and axially in line with a respective said force applying arm such that on application of an axial force to the frame member, each axially extending force applying arm is movable to directly engage one pad of its pair and to cause the other pad of its pair to react against an associated backing means so that the pads of each pair move relative to the disc from one to the other of two relative positions, in a first of which positions the pads of each pair grip the disc, and in the second of which positions the pads release the disc;
• the disc being rotatable with each of the plate members, the force applying arms and the frame member with the pads in their first position, and rotatable relative to each of the plate members, the force applying arms and the frame member with the pads in their second position;
• said plate member, at a side thereof remote from the disc, having a tubular member extending axially therefrom;
• the arrangement including as a sub-assembly thereof an actuator device having a cylinder defined by said tubular member and having a piston in said cylinder movable on supply of pressurized fluid to said device to engage and apply said axial force to said frame member.

A clutch arrangement for co-axial shaft members including a drive or input shaft member and a driven or output shaft member, one of the shaft members being a tubular outer shaft and the other shaft member being an inner shaft member positioned within the outer shaft member;

• the arrangement having an annular disc concentrically mounted on the outer shaft member for rotation therewith;
• a plate member mounted on the inner shaft member for rotation therewith and so as to extend at least diametrically of the inner shaft member in substantially parallel relation with the disc, the plate member having two openings therethrough in diametrically opposed relation and each axially in line with the disc;
• a respective axially extending force applying arm located in each said opening of the plate member and each having an end thereof projecting from its opening beyond a face of the plate member remote from the disc;
• a frame member mounted on the inner shaft member adjacent an end of the outer shaft member, the frame member comprising a bar member located adjacent said remote face of the plate member and having radially extending arm portions, each arm portion of the bar member being integral with a said end of a respective force applying arm such that the bar member interconnects each of the force applying arms;
• and a plurality of pairs of friction pads angularly spaced circumferentially of the disc, the pads of each pair being operatively mounted adjacent respective faces of the disc and axially in line with a respective said force applying arm such that on application of an axial force to the frame member, each axially extending force applying arm is movable to directly engage one pad of its pair and to cause the other pad of its pair to react against an associated backing means so that the pads of each pair move relative to the disc from one to the other of two relative positions, in a first of which positions the pads of each pair grip the disc, and in the second of which positions the pads release the disc;
• the disc being rotatable with each of the plate members, the force applying arms and the frame member with the pads in their first position, and rotatable relative to each of the plate members, the force applying arms and the frame member with the pads in their second position;
• said plate member, at the side thereof remote from the disc, having a tubular member extending axially therefrom, said bar member comprising frame member having its arm portions extending through opposed radial openings defined by the tubular member, said radial openings enabling movement of the bar member axially with respect to said shafts on application of said axial force to said frame member.