Abstract: Balls to be moved radially outward by a centrifugal force are held in a clutch hub, and projections extending around the outer circumferences of the balls are united with a synchronizer ring. Those portions of the projections, which radially confront the balls, are formed with slopes for establishing an axial force to push the synchronizer ring away from the spline piece on the basis of the centrifugal force of the balls. Thus, the axial force for disengaging the synchronizer ring from a rotating member to be synchronized can be increased to prevent the chatter at a low number of revolution and to effectively eliminate the drag torque at a high number of revolution.

Abstract: A device for actuating a system such as a clutch or a gearbox associated with an engine, particularly a motor vehicle engine, and comprising control element (26-31) and an actuation member (38). According to the invention, the device furthermore includes:a first shaft (4) rotationally driven by the engine;a second shaft (6) integral with the actuation member;coupling member (10, 13, 15, 16, 33) for coupling the second shaft to the first shaft under the action of the control element;a member (16, 32, 33; 48, 53) for uncoupling the second shaft from the first shaft after the second shaft has rotated through a predetermined angle; anda return spring (35) for returning the second shaft to its initial position after it has been uncoupled from the first shaft.

Abstract: The flying wedge clutch assembly is a speed actuated coupling device that provides low speed axial load and torque transmission and disengages for increased shaft motion at higher speeds. The flying wedge clutch assembly is a compact and lightweight design, roughly equivalent to a conventional ball bearing assembly in a typical turbopump application. Advantageously, the flying wedge clutch assembly can be used in high speed rotating machines with radial hydrostatic bearings eliminating the speed and life limitations normally attributed to rolling element bearings.

Abstract: An electric wrench includes a motor, an electromagnetically controlled clutch comprising electromagnet members and temporary-magnetizable members, a centrifugal control switch to de-energize the electromagnet members when the drive shaft connected to the motor spins at a predetermined rate of rotation and to energize the electromagnet members when the drive shaft spins slower than the predetermined rate of rotation, and a centrifugal swinging device for actuating the centrifugal controlled switch.

Abstract: A centrifugally disengageable engine starter gear of the positive shift type that has a clutch to provide for driving and indexing of the starter gear, an internal mechanism keeps the clutch teeth in engagement during the indexing function, and a centrifugal separator separates the clutch teeth in an overrunning condition. The separator includes a plurality of flyweight members disposed in a like plurality of flyweight recesses provided in a driven member of the clutch. Radial displacement of the plurality of flyweight members axially displaces a thrust washer to separate the clutch teeth. A projection extending longitudinally from each web which separates the flyweight recesses prevents the flyweight members from disengaging from the flyweight recesses during an overrunning mode.

Abstract: A motor vehicle comprises a primary driven axle and a secondary driven axle which is adapted to be arbitrarily driven under the control of an electric control device. In order to ensure a more reliable handling of the vehicle during a braking, the electric control device comprises a switch, which is arranged to be automatically enabled in response to a rise of the speed of travel of the vehicle to a predetermined value and which in an enabled state is arranged to respond to a braking operation or a predetermined braking operation by a disabling of the drive train leading to the secondary driven axle and to maintain the drive train disabled, and an additional switch, which is manually operable to enable the drive train.

Abstract: An engagement coupling for a starter drive, in which driving and driven jaws (20, 21) engage each other through face gears, is provided with a blocking mechanism (51). The blocking mechanism (51) is located in the driven jaw (21) and consists of flyweights (57) and a blocking rod (55). The flyweights (57) cause the rod (55) to extend into a blocking position against a pinion assembly (11) when a predetermined engine speed has been reached and the jaws (20, 21) have been separated. Once the rod (55) has been extended and the rotational speed of the driven jaw (21)is maintained, the rod (55) blocks the driving jaw (20) from destructively engaging the driven jaw (21). The blocking condition remains effective until such time as the driven (21) jaw has slowed down, e.g. after the engine has been shut down.

Abstract: Centrifugally disengageable engine starter gearing selectively starting an engine having a starting gear. The engine starter gearing includes a power shaft, a sleeve slidably secured to the power shaft, a pinion gear slidably mounted to the power shaft and movable into engagement with the starting gear, a driven clutch member secured to the pinion gear and having an annular or circular recess with an inclined or conical surface therein, a driving clutch member mounted to the sleeve, mutually engageable clutch teeth on the driving and driven clutch members, a barrel housing having an open end and being at least partly fitted over the driving and driven clutch members, an abutment confining the driving and driven clutch members within the housing, a resilient member biasing the driving and driven clutch members into mutual engagement, and a radially inwardly extending shoulder on the driving clutch member adjacent the circular recess.

Abstract: A centrifugally disengageable engine starter gear of the positive shift type that has a clutch to provide for driving and indexing of the starter gear, an internal mechanism keeps the clutch teeth in engagement during the indexing function, and a centrifugal separator separates the clutch teeth in an overrunning condition. The separator includes radially movable centrifugal flyweight members circumferentially spaced in a circular recess that contains individually formed flyweight guides that cooperate therewith to prevent excessive circumferential displacement of the flyweights during their radial movement. The method of forming flyweight guides from the clutch housing is also disclosed.

Abstract: A clutch assembly to interconnect rotatable drive and driven members. A cylindrical clutch element is operatively connected to one of the rotating members, and a sleeve-like clutch element is attached to at least one other of the rotatable members. The sleeve-like clutch element is disposed in spaced, concentric relation about the cylindrical clutch element. A first helical spring having opposed ends is disposed concentrically about, and frictionally engages, the exterior surface of the cylindrical clutch element. A second helical spring having opposed ends is disposed concentrically within, and frictionally engages, the interior surface of the sleeve-like clutch element. The opposed ends of each helical spring serves as an energizing or a trailing end, depending upon the drive or driven function of the clutch element engaged thereby.

Abstract: A power transmission system having a resilient buffer to prevent generation and transmission of vibrations between gears below a predetermined rotational speed. A plate is mounted for relative circular movement on a driven gear and contains buffer springs to damp vibrations until positive engagement results. A clutch mechanism surrounds the buffer disk and uses a rotating ramp surface with centrifugally actuated caged members to separate the clutch from the gear above a predetermined speed.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a driving force transmitted from a vehicle engine, via an electromagnetic clutch, to a compressor for a vehicle air conditioning equipment being provided with at least a sensor detecting the revolving rate of the compressor, and a clutch controller for providing a signal to disengage the electromagnetic clutch when the revolving rate of the compressor detected by the sensor is reduced below a prescribed reference revolving rate.

Abstract: An automatic two-speed drive system for a vehicle having two drive wheels. A first drive wheel is connected to the drive source through a low-speed hub which is disengaged when the wheel reaches a pre-determined rotational speed. The second drive wheel is connectable to the drive source through a high-speed hub which becomes engaged when the drive source reaches a pre-determined rotational speed.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for forcing and holding apart the disks of a disengaged disk clutch of the type having disks supports with disks rotatably fixed thereto and axially moveable thereon. This apparatus includes centrifugal weights disposed between like disks, which weights are forced radially inwardly by the disks when in the clutched engaged positions, and which disks are moveable radially outwardly by centrifugal forces to press the like disks apart by a predetermined amount when the disks are in a clutched disengaged position. In preferred embodiments, the centrifugal weights are construed as ball members, with a plurality of such ball members disposed between the inner clutch disks and guided for movement by a bore in the inner disk support, while a further set of balls for the outer disk are provided, which are guided by bores through the outer disk, with radial outward limit stops being formed by the outer disk support.

Abstract: An overrunning clutch device including a thrust ring slidably fitted in the driven clutch member and held connected with the driving clutch member and a set of spherical centrifugal weights mounted on respective radially flexible resilient arms of a weight retainer, which is fixed to the driven clutch member integral with a drive pinion. The centrifugal weights are held in rolling contact with a tapered annular guide surface of the thrust ring and act to force the latter and hence the driving clutch member away from the driven clutch member under centrifugal force when their speed of rotation exceeds a predetermined level.

Abstract: An improved accessory drive which employs the crankshaft and camshaft of an internal combustion engine to operate, at different times, the accessory drive system for the engine; the camshaft rotating at exactly 50% of the speed of the crankshaft. A clutching system disconnects the crankshaft from the accessory drive system at a predetermined speed of rotation to allow the slower camshaft to assume activation of the accessory drive system.

Abstract: A quick release centrifugal clutch construction having a driven member rotatably mounted on a shaft and a drive member rotatable with the shaft and axially engageable with the driven member. The drive member includes a rotor mounted on the shaft for rotation with the shaft. A cartridge is axially slidably mounted on the shaft and has a frictional coupling surface for engagement with the driven member, and has a preloaded disc spring mounted thereon. A drive block also is axially slidably mounted on the rotor and is adapted to engage the cartridge to further load the disc spring and to drivingly connect the cartridge with the driven member. A plurality of individual pairs of links are mounted circumferentially spaced on the rotor and are movable in radial directions between retracted and extended positions. The inner ends of each of the link pairs are pivotally joined by a pivot pin with the outer link ends being pivotally connected to the drive block and rotor member respectively.

Abstract: A control circuit for controlling the shaft speed of a motor having clutch and brake devices comprises a speed detector for detecting the actual rotating speed of the motor and generating a first pulse signal having a period in inverse proportion to the actual rotating speed, a speed selector for setting the desired-speed of the shaft, a signal generator for generating a second pulse signal having a period in inverse proportion to the desired-speed from the speed selector, a first means for detecting the ratio of the period of the first signal to the period of the second signal, and a second means for controlling the operation of the clutch and brake devices in response to the detected ratio.

Abstract: A direct cranking starter drive for an internal combustion engine has a driven member drivably connected to the engine crank shaft and a driving unit drivably connected to the starting motor. A clutch between the driving unit and the driven member is engaged when the engine runs below a running speed for drivably connecting the driving unit to the driven member and is disengaged when the engine runs above the running speed for disconnecting the driving unit from the driven member. Bearings are provided for permitting relative rotation of the driving unit and driven member when the engine is running and the clutch is disengaged.

Abstract: An overrunning clutch is disclosed herein providing a structure whereby a drive and driven member are interconnected to provide a drive condition therebetween in one direction, of relative rotation thereof and an overrunning condition therebetween in the other direction of relative rotation thereof. A sprag assembly is shown in conjunction with the overrunning clutch and possesses a structure which provides for total disengagement of the sprags from the overrun portion of the clutch during the overrunning thereof.