Torque-responsive clutch with confined rollers
AssigneeAaen Performance Parts, Inc.
InventorOlav Aaen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A torque-responsive clutch has an output shaft and an output pulley mounted with respect to the shaft. The output pulley includes a first sheave fixed with respect to the shaft and a second sheave axially movable with respect to the shaft. A helix is mounted with respect to the shaft. In the improvement, a roller container is mounted for driven engagement with the shaft and such container has an interior surface with a plurality of helix-contacting devices, e.g., rollers, mounted adjacent thereto. The helix extends into the container and contacts the devices. In other aspects of the improved clutch, the roller container and the second sheave define a chamber and the helix-contacting devices are confined in such chamber.
Claims17
In a torque-responsive clutch having an output shaft and an output pulley mounted with respect to the shaft, the output pulley including a first sheave fixed with respect to the shaft and a second sheave axially movable with respect to the shaft, and wherein the clutch further includes a helix having at least one finger member, the helix mounted with respect to the shaft, the improvement wherein:
- a roller container is mounted for driven engagement with the shaft, the roller container having a substantially closed end surface;
- the container has an interior surface with a plurality of helix-contacting devices mounted adjacent thereto;
- the helix extends into the container and contacts the devices;
- and
- the finger members and the helix-contacting devices are enclosed in the container.
In a torque-responsive clutch with an output shaft and an output pulley mounted with respect to the shaft, the output pulley including a first sheave fixed with respect to the shaft and a second sheave axially movable with respect to the shaft, and wherein the clutch further includes a helix having at least one finger member, the helix mounted with respect to the shaft, the improvement wherein:
- a roller container is mounted for driven engagement with the shaft, the roller container having a substantially closed end surface;
- the container has an edge toward the first sheave;
- the second sheave has a hub away from the first sheave;
- the edge and the hub are in close proximity to one another, thereby forming a chamber defined by the container and the second sheave;
- and
- the finger members and a plurality of helix-contacting devices are enclosed in the chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.