Abstract: An automatic clutch disposed between driving and driven members comprises, on the driving side, a drive clutch movable only axially relative to other parts and normally biased in the declutching direction, an outer cam located on the side where the drive clutch is biased and moved, the cam being adapted to move in the same way as the drive clutch, with a spring disposed between the outer cam and the drive clutch to bias them away from each other, and a stationary inner cam adapted to be connected to or disconnected from the outer cam according as the clutch disengages or engages, the inner cam having projections. A holdout ring has projections to be engaged with the projections of the inner cam and adapted to keep the outer and inner cams out of connection when the driving side stops, the holdout ring being fitted over the outer cam under such frictional conditions that, only when the ring has engaged the inner cam, it can circumferentially slide relative to the outer cam.

Abstract: An automatic clutch comprises, on the driving side, a drive clutch movable only axially relative to the associated drive members and normally biased in the declutching direction, a stationary inner cam located on the side toward which the drive clutch is biased and moved, the inner cam being connected to or disconnected from the drive clutch accordingly as the clutch disengages or engages, and a holdout ring having projections to be engaged with lands of the inner cam and adapted to keep the drive clutch and the inner cam out of connection when the driving side stops, the holdout ring being fitted over the drive clutch under such frictional conditions that, only when the ring has engaged the inner cam, it can circumferentially slide relative to the drive clutch. The automatic clutch further comprises, on the driven side, a driven clutch movable only axially relative to the associated driven members and normally biased in the clutching direction.