Clutch and brake apparatus operable by compressible fluid, especially pneumatically

A clutch and brake apparatus operable by compressible fluid, comprising a housing having wall means that at least in part define a clutch chamber and includes axially opposite first and second end walls, an output shaft, an input shaft, means mounted by the housing for mounting the shafts for rotation about coextensive rotary axes, the input and output shafts having adjacent first ends, a clutch flange mounted to the input shaft adjacent end to rotate therewith, a clutch plate mounted to the output shaft adjacent end to rotate the output shaft, the clutch plate and flange each having a radial inner and radial outer portion, the clutch flange and plate extending within the clutch chamber to provide a first operating chamber axially between the flange and plate and a second operating chamber, the plate being axially between the first and second chambers, and axially between the clutch flange and the second end wall, control means for creating a pressure differential between the first and second operating chambers to selectively operate the clutch plate to a braking condition and to a driving condition, each of the end walls having a radial inner and a radial outer portion, at least two of the clutch plate, clutch flange and one of the end walls radial outer portions having a depression, and a friction liner mounted in each depression, the axial dimension of the clutch chamber radial outer portion being less than the combined axial thickness of the clutch plate and clutch flange radially inward of the depressions, and the friction liners, each of the clutch plate and clutch flange radial inner portion having a radial outer part and a radial inner part, the clutch plate radial outer part being of a greater axial thickness than that of the clutch plate radial inner part, each of the clutch flange and clutch plate having a hub member mounted on the input shaft and output shaft respectively, the hub members being mounted in fixed axial positions on the respective shaft and being located radially between the clutch plate radial inner part and the output shaft and the clutch flange radial inner part and the input shaft respectively, the clutch plate radial inner part being of an axial thickness to permit elastic deformation when there is a pressure differential between the operating chambers.

A clutch and brake apparatus operable by compressible fluid, comprising a housing having wall means that at least in part define a clutch chamber and includes axially opposite first and second end walls, an output shaft, an input shaft, means mounted by the housing for mounting the shafts for rotation about coextensive rotary axes, the input and output shafts having adjacent first ends, a clutch flange mounted to the input shaft adjacent end to rotate therewith, a clutch plate mounted to the output shaft adjacent end to rotate the output shaft, the clutch plate and flange each having a radial inner and radial outer portion, the clutch flange and plate extending within the clutch chamber to provide a first operating chamber axially between the flange and plate and a second operating chamber, the plate being axially between the first and second chambers, and axially between the clutch flange and the second end wall, control means for creating a pressure differential between the first and second operating chambers to selectively operate the clutch plate to a braking condition and to a driving condition, each of the end walls having a radial inner and a radial outer portion, at least two of the clutch plate, clutch flange and one of the end walls radial outer portions having a depression, and a friction liner mounted in each depression, the axial dimension of the clutch chamber radial outer portion being less than the combined axial thickness of the clutch plate and clutch flange radially inward of the depressions, and the friction liners, each of the clutch flange and clutch plate having a hub member mounted on the input and output shafts respectively, the hub members being radially inwardly of the flange and plate radial inner portions respectively, the housing having wall parts radially outwardly of the flange and plate hub members to define a first and a second bore respectively that opens to the clutch chamber, a seal in each of the first and second bore radially between the respective wall portion and the hub member to in part define the clutch chamber, the clutch plate and clutch flange being mounted on the respective shaft in fixed axial relationship relative to the shafts, the means for mounting the shafts comprising first and second bearing means for mounting the shafts for axial displacement and means for retaining the shafts in selected axially adjusted position relative to the housing, the means for retaining the shafts comprising a setting nut on each shaft that is adjustable relative to the respective shaft and abutable against the respective first bearing means, first spring means acting between the clutch plate and the second bearing means that is on the output shaft to bias the last mentioned second bearing means away from the clutch plate, and second spring means acting between the clutch flange and the second earing means that is on the input shaft to bear against the last mentioned second bearing means to bias the second bearing means on the input shaft away from the clutch flange, the housing having abutment portions against which the second bearing means abuts to limit the movement of the second bearing means on the respective shaft away from the other.