Abstract: A clutch/brake assembly for coupling and decoupling (and simultaneously braking the rotation of) a rotary implement to a drive shaft. The clutch portion of the assembly operates in one mode during low rotational speeds of the implement and at higher rotational speeds changes modes to become a centrifugal clutch. The clutch is also torque sensitive such that when the implement is subjected to high loads and low rotational speeds, the clutch is more tightly engaged to avoid clutch slippage. The brake portion of the assembly has some components common to the clutch assembly. The brake portion is self-energized and constructed to obtain braking assistance from centrifugal force such as at high rotational speeds of the implement and is torque sensitive so that at low rotational speeds and high braking force, the braking surfaces are maintained in tight engagement.

Abstract: A power transmission system for vehicles comprising a driving member connected to a crankshaft of an engine and a driven member connected to a driving wheel, the driving and driven members being connected together via a one-way clutch, a friction clutch and a direct-coupling clutch, which are disposed parallel to one another. The one-way clutch is adapted to transmit power only from the driving member to the driven member. The friction clutch is adapted to frictionally connect the driving and driven members together when it receives a rotary torque at not more than a predetermined level whereas it is slipped when the rotary torque has exceeded a predetermined level. The direct-coupling clutch is normally maintained in a connected state but it is put in a disconnected state when the speed of revolution of the engine has exceeded a predetermined level.

Abstract: A centrifugal clutch mechanism couples a first driven element to a drive element for rotary torque transmission at a first speed range from a rotary drive source to a load when the rotation of the drive source is lower than a predetermined reference speed. The centrifugal clutch mechanism includes a double-arm coupling lever pivoted to the drive element, a clutch pad or shoe pivoted to one end of the coupling lever and having a surface engagable with an inner surface of the first driven element, and a pair of centrifugal weights carried on the other end of the coupling lever. At least one flat spring is yieldably fastened to the weight or to a stop rigid on the drive element to be frictionally engaged by the stop or the weight, thereby resisting frictional oscillation of the clutch shoe on the coupling lever during a transition range between completely coupled and completely uncoupled mode of operation of the centrifugal clutch.

Abstract: A centrifugal clutch for power saws. The clutch includes a rotating driven centrifugal weight carrier, and a clutch drum which is concentric to the axis of rotation of the carrier. At least one centrifugal weight engages the clutch drum at predetermined speed of the carrier. The centrifugal weight is coupled with at least one return weight in such a manner that the return weight opposes the pressing force of the centrifugal weight when the speed increases over a certain level.

Abstract: A belt carriage is movable along a vehicle body mounted track to move an occupant restraint belt between an occupant restraint position and a stowed position permitting occupant ingress and egress. A plastic drive tape is attached to the carriage and has perforations which mesh with a toothed tape drive gear for driving the drive tape and carriage back and forth along the track. An electric motor and a speed reduction gear unit are connected to the tape drive gear by a clutch which couples with the drive gear only when the electric motor is energized so that whenever the electric motor is not energized the occupant may grip the belt carriage and manually move the belt carriage and the drive tape to move the restraint belt between the occupant restraint and stowed positions independently of the motor. The clutch is preferably a centrifugal clutch in which clutch pawls are thrown outwardly by centrifugal force to engage with the tape drive gear when the motor is energized.

Abstract: A centrifugal-force friction clutch with a torque transmission dependent on the speed of rotation has a hub-shaped input part, a drum-shaped part to be driven, a clutch output centrifugal weights acting upon the drum-shaped part. In a first speed stage the weights are held back to prevent torque transmission, in a second speed stage, the torque increases at least substantially proportionally to the increase in centrifugal force and friction, and in a third speed stage, less torque is transmitted than is proportional to the centrifugal force and friction. Radially displaceable friction shoes are fixed with respect to the output and are movable radially outwardly by the weights to transmit torque, and means are provided for resiliently holding back radially outward movement of the friction shoes. The weights are tiltable relative to the friction shoes and are radially displaceable by centrifugal force with the friction shoes.

Abstract: A two-speed clutch in which an input rotary drive is transmitted to an output rotary member to produce a high speed direct drive in which the output rotary member is driven at the same speed as the input member, or to produce a reduced output speed. The input member comprises an inner drum driven by centrifugally actuated clutch shoes in turn driven by an input shaft. A second set of clutch shoes is interposed between the inner drum and the output member consisting of an outer drum, which clutch shoes are designed to be centrifugally disengaged to produce a controlled slip between the inner and outer drums to reduce the output speed. In the high speed mode, the inner and outer drums are latched together to rotate at the same speed by a pivotally mounted latch mounted on the outer drum and an expanding spring element mounted to the inner drum, with engagement between the latch and expanding spring taking place at a predetermined rate of rotation of the inner drum to establish high speed drive.

Abstract: Two transmission members of a planetary gear transmission in a hub of a driven vehicle wheel are driven simultaneously at different speeds in a forward or backward direction. Driven forward movement of the slower transmission member is transmitted to the hub shell by an overrunning clutch. A second clutch connects the other transmission member to the hub shell when operated by a centrifugal governor at a certain rotary speed. A control device responds to backward rotation of the transmission members, as by back-pedaling, for overriding the governor and for operating the second clutch independently of the rotary speed.

Abstract: A two-speed clutch drive system for a multi-speed basket and agitator drive for washing machines, including primary and secondary clutches interposed in series between an input drive shaft and an output member, both mounted concentrically with respect to an inner drum. The primary clutch is a centrifugally-operated system to establish drive between the input shaft and the inner drum, while the secondary clutch establishes drive between the inner drum and the output member. The secondary clutch includes clutch shoes spring-operated to directly transmit the torque to the output during high speed operation. Low speed drive is established by engagement of pivotally mounted auxiliary weights with clutch shoes acting to reduce the engagement pressure with increasing speed, yielding a reduced speed drive through the system by slippage of the secondary clutch.

Abstract: Centrifugally activated members adapted to project outwardly by centrifugal forces when the rotational speed of a shaft to be braked reaches a predetermined level are brought into contact with a brake shoe to impart a rotational force thereto. When rotated, the brake shoe moves axially of the shaft to be braked so as to force a brake wheel, mounted on the shaft to be braked, against a brake disk, thereby applying the brake to the shaft to be braked.

Abstract: A centrifugal clutch is disclosed characterized by the use of an electromagnet to disengage a driven output load from a driving input member. In the clutch assembly, a rotatable output load is disposed about a rotatable drive shaft that carries centrifugal-responsive friction shoes. The shoes contain a magnetic pole an under centrifugal force move radially outwardly during rotation of the shaft to engage frictionally the output load for common rotation. A stationary electromagnetic coil disposed between the shaft and friction shoes attracts the shoes upon energization away from the output load to interrupt the frictional drive connection.

Abstract: A completely enclosed combination clutch and brake mechanism permanently mounted at the bottom of a vertical shaft internal combustion engine of the type used to power rotary lawn mowers, is interposed between the crankshaft of the engine and a coaxial blade shaft projecting down from the bottom of the enclosed clutch and brake mechanism to have the cutting blade of the mower fixed thereto. A rotatable driving member fixed to the engine crankshaft and a rotatable driven member fixed to the blade shaft are drivingly coupled by radially outwardly movable clutch elements carried by the driven member and frictionally engaged with a radially inwardly facing circular surface on the driving member. Such frictional engagement results from the application to the clutch elements of both spring force and centrifugal force.

Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque converter transmission for multiplying torque delivered from a driving member to a driven member comprising a bladed impeller connected to the driving member, a bladed turbine connected to the driven member and a stator located between the flow exit section of the turbine and the flow entrance section of the impeller, said impeller comprising a main impeller blade section and an auxiliary impeller blade section, the latter being located radially outward with respect to the former, and a centrifugally operated clutch structure for connecting together for rotation in unison the auxiliary impeller blade section and the main impeller blade section at high impeller speeds and for disengaging them when the impeller speed is less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A bicycle engine provided with a transmission roller on the end of a forwardly extending driving shaft for contacting the front wheel tire is attached to the front of the handle bar via an engine frame attached to the front wheel fork. A clutch provided between the engine and the driving wheel starts the engine by transmitting the rotation of the wheel caused by pedaling and also prevents the transmission of engine rotation when the engine is kept idle.

Abstract: A pair of slotted, sector-shaped centrifugal weights 7, 8 are radially slidable on posts 5, 6 upstanding from a disk 4 mounted on the drive shaft 2 of a reversible electric motor 1. A cup member 11 carrying a pinion gear 13 is rotatably journalled on the shaft, and includes a cylindrical wall 11a surrounding the weights. A reduction gear mechanism 12 transmits the rotation of the pinion gear to a pivotally mounted sector gear 16, to which a linearly movable actuating rod 17 is connected. Alternatively, a plurality of sector-shaped weights 27 may be accomodated in similar shaped cavities between a pair of radially partitioned discs 24a, 24b.

Abstract: A friction shoe assembly for a speed-responsive clutch adapted for use in a hydrodynamic device to couple turbine and impeller members including a disc secured to the turbine member having a series of cam surfaces thereon formed in apertures in the discs. The friction shoe assemblies are mounted in the apertures in engagement with the cam surfaces. The friction shoe assemblies engage with the impeller at a predetermined speed of rotation of the turbine member, and the cam means induces a wedging engagement of the shoes with the impeller member. The shoe assemblies include a spring mounted roller secured thereto to provide a torque limit for the clutch and include a streamlined shoe body manufactured of sheet metal providing a streamlined configuration toward the oncoming oil stream.

Abstract: A speed-responsive engaging mechanism adapted for use in a hydrodynamic device to couple turbine and impeller members including a disc secured to the turbine member having a series of convexly curved cam surfaces thereon formed in apertures in the discs with a series of friction shoe assemblies mounted in the apertures in engagement with the cam surfaces. The friction shoe assemblies engage with the impeller at a predetermined speed of rotation of the turbine member, and the curved cam surface induces a wedging engagement of the shoes with the impeller member. Spring means are provided to retain the shoe assemblies in the apertures, and a roller mechanism is provided in each shoe assembly to provide relatively frictionless relative movement between the cam surfaces and the shoe assemblies. Each shoe in the assembly is made of a sintered metal material and has a spring retaining structure cast in the shoe.

Abstract: A speed-responsive engaging mechanism adapted for use in a hydrodynamic device to couple turbine and impeller members including a disc secured to the turbine member having a series of cam surfaces thereon formed in apertures in the discs with a series of friction shoe assemblies mounted in the apertures in engagement with the cam surfaces. The friction shoe assemblies engage with the impeller at a predetermined speed of rotation of the turbine member, and the cam means induces a wedging engagement of the shoes with the impeller member. Spring means are provided to retain the shoe assemblies in the apertures, and a roller mechanism is provided in each shoe assembly to provide relatively frictionless relative movement between the cam surfaces and the shoe assemblies. Means are provided in the apertures which in cooperation with the spring means, tilt the shoe assemblies to eliminate the viscous drag effect.

Abstract: A speed-responsive engaging mechanism adapted for use in a hydrodynamic device to couple turbine and impeller members including a disc secured to the turbine member having a series of cam surfaces thereon formed in apertures in the discs with a series of friction shoe assemblies mounted in the apertures in engagement with the cam surfaces. The friction shoe assemblies engage with the impeller at a predetermined speed of rotation of the turbine member, and the cam members induce a wedging engagement of the shoes with the impeller member. The cam members are flexible to limit the amount of torque which can be developed by the wedging action.

Abstract: A speed-responsive engaging mechanism adapted for use in a hydrodynamic device to couple turbine and impeller members including a disc secured to the turbine member having a series of cam surfaces thereon formed in apertures in the discs with a series of friction shoe assemblies mounted in the apertures in engagement with the cam surfaces. The friction shoe assemblies engage with the impeller at a predetermined speed of rotation of the turbine member, and the cam means induces a wedging engagement of the shoes with the impeller member. Spring means are provided to retain the shoe assemblies in the apertures, and a roller mechanism may be provided in each shoe assembly to provide relatively frictionless relative movement between the cam surfaces and the shoe assemblies. Means are provided between the roller and cam to limit the amount of torque which can be developed by the wedging action of the cam and roller mechanism.

Abstract: A lock-up clutch for a torque converter wherein the clutch is engaged with the impeller by centrifugal force. The clutch is drive connected to the turbine through a primary drive spring, disposed in a circumferential direction, so that relative angular movement initiated by engine torsional vibrations occur between the clutch and turbine. A secondary clutch engagement control spring is connected in a generally radial direction between the clutch and turbine. The secondary spring provides a clutch holdoff force at low clutch speeds and a clutch engagement intensifier force after engagement. A friction member is disposed between the clutch and the turbine to dampen the engine torsional vibrations.

Abstract: Clutch apparatus having a drum having an inner annular clutching face adapted to be secured to the crank shaft of an engine for rotation therewith. A hollow drive shaft centered within the drum carries a plurality of radially movable clutch shoes which are normally urged inwards to a disengaged position by means of an annular tension spring and are moved radially outwards against the tension spring by means by a linearly movable conical wedge which is grooved to accept round-ended stems extending from each of the clutch shoes and which is normally spring-urged into engagement with the shoe stems to move the shoes into clutching engagement with the drum against the action of the coil spring. The conical wedge is operatively connected to a piston which rides in the hollow drive shaft into which a pressurized fluid is injected to operate the piston and move the wedge out of engagement with the shoe stems to enable the tension spring to move the shoes radially inwards out of engagement with the clutch drum.

Abstract: A speed-responsive engaging mechanism, adapted for use in a hydrodynamic device to couple the turbine and impeller members, including a disc secured to the turbine member having a series of cam surfaces formed in apertures in the periphery thereof with a series of engaging devices or friction shoes in said pockets. The friction shoes engage with the impeller member at a predetermined speed of rotation of the turbine element. The cam means will induce a wedging engagement of the shoes upon further increase of speed. A spring is carried by each shoe urging them toward a disengaged position and retaining the shoes in the apertures.

Abstract: A fail-safe, velocity-discriminating centrifugal clutch having a biased, ion-transmitting pawl element displaceable at speeds at or above a predetermined threshold value to an engagement position with a driven ratchet assembly. Under conditions of missing or malassembled parts, clutch operation is in the fail-safe mode with no transmission of rotary motion. In the engaged position, no centrifugal force generated by the pawl element is applied to the ratchet assembly. This feature, plus the radial contact between the pawl element and the ratchet assembly, allows operation between misaligned input and output shafts, even at high rotational speeds.

Abstract: A centrifugal clutch having an internal drum surface on a driven member with friction shoe members displaceable on a driving member to and from said drum surface but normally drawn away therefrom by resilient means and each having an opening with a cam shaft extending therethrough, each cam shaft being rotatable in elongated openings in said driving member and having a lever extending towards said drum surface and another lever pivotally mounted on said clutch and positioned for engaging said first levers when desired to pivot said first levers from said drum surface and allow said resilient means to move said shoe members from said drum surface even when said driving member is rotating at a speed that normally would cause said shoe members, due to centrifugal force, to engage said drum surface.

Abstract: A safety release arrangement for a centrifugal clutch having clutch shoes moving radially outwards under centrifugal force to engage a clutch drum. Each clutch shoe is divided into two mutually radially movable parts which during normal operation are locked together by a locking member and move as a unit. When the locking member is actuated by a safety release device the radially inward lying primary clutch shoe part is released with respect to the radially outward lying drum-engaging secondary clutch shoe part and can move radially outwards. By various arrangement the primary shoe is caused to draw the secondary clutch shoe radially inwards out of engagement with the clutch drum.

Abstract: A motor chain saw with a driving sprocket wheel adapted to be driven by a motor through the intervention of a centrifugal clutch, or the like. A safety clutch is arranged in the driving connection between the motor shaft and the driving sprocket and disengageable by a release mechanism. The safety clutch includes at least one disengageable follower member for interconnecting the two pertaining clutch members while being coaxially arranged with the centrifugal clutch and being located adjacent thereto. The safety clutch is arranged on that side of said centrifugal clutch which faces toward the driving sprocket while being located in the driving connection between the centrifugal clutch and the driving sprocket.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a centrifugal clutch comprising a rotatable driver, a clutch drum carried for co-axial rotation relative to the driver, a clutch shoe carried by the driver for common rotation therewith and for movement between a position engaging the clutch drum so as to effect common rotary movement of the driver and the clutch drum and a second position spaced from the clutch drum, a loading shoe, a pivotal connection between the clutch shoe and the loading shoe to afford relative movement therebetween, a trigger movably mounted on one of the loading shoe and the clutch shoe for movement between a first position engaged between the clutch shoe and the loading shoe so as to transmit centrifugal force from the loading shoe to the clutch shoe and a second position of non-engagement between the clutch shoe and the loading shoe, and interengaging surfaces on the loading shoe and on the driver operable when the trigger is in the second position for pivoting the loading shoe in response to radially outward mov

Abstract: A clutch construction comprising inner and outer relatively rotatable members, and a flexible friction band interposed between said members. A plurality of separate elements are interposed circumferentially between the band and the inner member in abutting engagement with one another and otherwise being independent of each other. Force applying means is provided and is operable in response to rotation of one of said members to act on said elements and urge them radially outwardly and circumferentially to maintain said elements in abutting engagement not withstanding said radially outward movement thereof. After engagement, and upon overrunning by the other member or upon reduction in the speed of rotation of the one member, disengaging means on the one member acts on the band to disengage the drive.

Abstract: An electric motor and an in-line speed-responsive clutch are arranged so as to provide dual drive for selectively driving a refrigerant compressor by either an internal combustion engine or by the electric motor. The rotor of the electric motor is journalled for relative rotation on the output shaft of the engine, and the motor rotor can be driven through the clutch when the output speed of the engine output shaft exceeds a predetermined minimum. By having both power sources adapted to drive the compressor with the motor rotor journalled on the engine output shaft and by employing a single clutch, economy of parts, relative ease in assembly, and a more compact arrangement may be achieved.

Abstract: A speed-limiting accessory drive system and apparatus therefor for the transmission of torque and diversion and dissipation of excess energy from a prime mover, such as liquid-cooled internal combustion engine, to a cluster of accessories associated therewith utilizing a speed-responsive mechanism wherein the mechanism is comprised of two drum-shaped driving and driven members which simultaneously provide bearing journalling support and frictional engagement one with the other. One form of the invention utilizes a centrifugally partially disengaging speed-responsive mechanism so that regardless of the driving members speed above a predetermined control speed, the driven member is substantially maintained at that control speed thereby driving the accessories at a desired maximum speed.