Drive clutch with multi-staged displacement rate 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 moveable sheave rotatable with the drive shaft of an engine comprising a multi-staged speed responsive or displacement system. The speed responsive system initially applies a first displacement rate to the moveable sheave as it moves toward the fixed sheave and applies a second displacement rate to the moveable sheave when the drive clutch assembly reaches a predetermined rotational speed.
Claims19
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 shaft for attaching said drive clutch assembly to the drive shaft;
- a fixed sheave attached adjacent one end of said center shaft for common rotation therewith;
- a moveable sheave axially slidable along said center shaft relative to a retracted position spaced from said fixed sheave;
- speed responsive means for displacing said moveable sheave toward said fixed sheave, said speed responsive means displacing said moveable sheave in an amount and to an extent to control the load transfer to said driven clutch by said moveable sheave and said fixed sheave through said endless belt;
- and
- biasing means for urging said moveable sheave toward said retracted position;
- said speed responsive means initially applying a first displacement rate as said moveable sheave moves toward said fixed sheave, said speed responsive means applying a second displacement rate when said drive clutch assembly reaches a predetermined rotational speed.
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 fixed sheave attached to one end of said shaft for common rotation therewith;
- a moveable sheave axially moveable over said shaft relative to a retracted position spaced from said fixed sheave;
- resistance means for urging said moveable sheave toward said retracted position;
- and
- displacement means for displacing said moveable sheave toward said fixed sheave, said displacement means displacing said moveable sheave in an amount and to an extent to control the torque transferred by said drive clutch assembly, said displacement means comprises:
- first displacement means;
- and
- second displacement means;
- said first displacement means initially working simultaneously with said second displacement means to apply a first stage displacement rate, said first displacement means automatically working alone when said second displacement means reaches a predetermined position to apply a second stage displacement rate.
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 moveable sheave axially slidable along said center column from a retracted position axially spaced from said sheave, and biasing means for urging said moveable sheave toward said retracted position, the improvement comprising:
- speed responsive means for displacing said moveable sheave toward said sheave in accordance with an increase in the speed of the drive shaft;
- said speed responsive means initially applying a first displacement rate to move said moveable sheave toward said fixed sheave, said speed responsive means applying a second displacement rate when said drive clutch assembly reaches a predetermined rotational speed.
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 moveable sheave axially slidable along said center column from a retracted position and initially axially spaced from said sheave, and displacement means for displacing said moveable sheave toward said sheave, the method comprising:
- applying a first displacement rate with said displacement means to said moveable sheave;
- and
- applying a second displacement rate with said displacement means automatically when said drive clutch assembly reaches a predetermined rotational speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.