Drive clutch with variable rate biasing means and a method for controlling a drive clutch
OwnerJoseph J. Bertoinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A drive clutch assembly having a fixed sheave and a movable sheave rotatable with the drive shaft of an engine comprising a variable rate biasing or resistance system for urging a movable sheave toward a retracted position, the biasing system initially applies a first predetermined resistance to the movable sheave as it moves toward the fixed sheave and applies a second predetermined resistance to the movable sheave when the movable sheave reaches a predetermined axial position.
Claims36
A vehicle having a driven clutch connected by an endless belt to a drive clutch assembly mounted on a drive shaft of an engine, said drive clutch assembly comprising:
- a center column for attaching said drive clutch assembly to the drive shaft;
- a sheave affixed adjacent one end of said center column for common rotation therewith;
- a movable sheave axially movable along said center column relative to a retracted position spaced from said fixed sheave;
- a speed responsive means for displacing said movable sheave toward said fixed sheave, said speed responsive means displacing said movable sheave in an amount and to an extent to control the load transfer to said driven clutch by said movable sheave and said sheave through said endless belt;
- a variable rate biasing means for urging said movable sheave toward said retracted position;
- and
- an end plate attached to said movable sheave, said end plate axially movable relative to said center column;
- said variable rate biasing means initially applying a first predetermined resistance as said movable sheave moves toward said fixed sheave, said variable rate biasing means applying a second predetermined resistance when said movable sheave reaches a predetermined axial position.
A vehicle having a driven clutch connected by an endless belt to a drive clutch assembly mounted on a drive shaft of an engine, said drive clutch assembly comprising:
- a shaft for attaching said drive clutch assembly to the drive shaft;
- a sheave attached adjacent to one end of said shaft for common rotation therewith;
- a movable sheave axially movable over said shaft relative to a retracted position spaced from said fixed sheave;
- a displacement means for displacing said movable sheave toward said fixed sheave, said displacement means displacing said movable sheave in an amount and to an extent to control the torque transferred to said driven clutch by said drive clutch assembly through said endless belt;
- and
- a variable rate resistance means for urging said movable sheave toward said retracted position;
- said variable rate resistance means comprises:
- a first resistance means having a first end;
- and
- a second resistance means having a first end;
- said first resistance means being mounted coaxially with said second resistance means;
- said first end of said first resistance means extending past said first end of said second resistance means;
- said first resistance means initially being compressed alone as said movable sheave moves toward said fixed sheave;
- said first resistance means and said second resistance means being compressed simultaneously when said movable sheave reaches a predetermined axial position.
A vehicle having a driven clutch connected by an endless belt to a drive clutch assembly mounted on a drive shaft of an engine, said drive clutch assembly comprising:
- a shaft for attaching said drive clutch assembly to the drive shaft;
- a sheave attached adjacent to one end of said shaft for common rotation therewith;
- a movable sheave axially movable over said shaft relative to a retracted position spaced from said fixed sheave;
- a displacement means for displacing said movable sheave toward said fixed sheave, said displacement means displacing said movable sheave in an amount and to an extent to control the torque transferred to said driven clutch by said drive clutch assembly through said endless belt;
- a variable rate resistance means for urging said movable sheave toward said retracted position;
- and
- an end cap attached to said movable sheave and being axially movable relative to said center column;
- said variable rate resistance means comprises:
- a first resistance means mounted between said displacement means and said end cap;
- a collar mounted on an end of said shaft opposite said fixed sheave;
- and
- a second resistance means mounted between said end cap and said collar;
- said variable rate resistance means initially applying a first predetermined resistance as said movable sheave moves toward said fixed sheave, said variable rate resistance means applying a second predetermined resistance when said movable sheaves reaches a predetermined axial position.
An improved drive clutch assembly of the type having a center column for attaching said drive clutch assembly to a motor or engine drive shaft, a sheave affixed on said center column for common rotation therewith, a movable sheave axially slidable along said center column from a retracted position axially spaced from said sheave, speed responsive means for displacing said movable sheave toward said sheave in accordance with an increase in the speed of the drive shaft, an end plate attached to said movable sheave and axially movable parallel to said center column, and a bushing stop adjustably fixed relative to said sheave and having a shoulder surface, the improvement comprising:
- a variable rate biasing means for urging said movable sheave toward a retracted position;
- said variable rate biasing means initially applying a first predetermined resistance as said movable sheave moves toward said fixed sheave, said variable rate biasing means applying a second predetermined resistance when said movable sheave reaches a predetermined axial position.
A kit for improving the performance of a drive clutch assembly of the type having a center column for attaching said drive clutch assembly to a drive shaft, a first sheave mounted on said center column for common rotation at a fixed distance from said engine therewith, an axially movable second sheave slidable along said center column from a retracted position spaced from said first sheave, speed responsive means for displacing said movable second sheave toward said first sheave in accordance with an increase in the speed of the drive shaft and for displacing said movable sheave in an amount and to an extent to control the load transfer to sheaves driven by said axially movable sheave and said first sheave by an endless belt, and an end plate attached to said movable sheave and being axially movable along said center column, said kit comprising:
- a first biasing means having a first end and a second end for urging said axially movable second sheave toward a retracted position;
- a second biasing means having a first end and a second end for urging said axially movable second sheave toward a retracted position;
- said first biasing means being a stiffer biasing means than said second biasing means;
- and
- a flanged bushing for placing between said second end of said first biasing means and said first end of said second biasing means.
A method for controlling the torque transferred to a driven clutch by a drive clutch assembly of the type having a center column for attaching said drive clutch assembly to a motor or engine drive shaft, a sheave affixed on said center column for common rotation therewith, a movable sheave axially slidable along said center column from a retracted position and axially spaced from said sheave, displacement means for displacing said movable sheave toward said sheave, and an end plate attached to said movable sheave and axially movable parallel to said center column, the method comprising:
- applying a first predetermined resistance as said movable sheave moves toward said fixed sheave;
- and
- applying a second predetermined resistance when said movable sheave reaches a predetermined axial position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.