Abstract: A centrifugal clutch comprises a rotating input drive member, a rotatable output driven member, at least one drive plate mounted for rotation with the drive member, at least one clutch disc mounted for rotation with the driven member and being disposed adjacent the drive plate, a pressure plate mounted for rotation with the drive member and including at least one pair of seats, at least one pair of weighted balls disposed in the pair of seats in the pressure plate, and at least one pair of springs attached to the pressure plate. Each spring of the pair of springs contacts and retains one ball of the pair of balls seated in a respective pressure plate seat. The springs resist outward radial movement of the balls and axial movement toward the drive plate of the balls.

Abstract: A fan drive with high torque release embodying the concepts of the present invention is adapted to disengage the fan drive under high torque conditions. The fan drive includes an input shaft member and an output shaft member. A torque transfer device operatively connects the input shaft member with the output shaft member. A spring apply mechanism is provided for engaging the torque transfer device at low speeds and under low torque loading, and a centrifugal apply mechanism is provided for maintaining engagement of the torque transfer device under higher operating speeds and at properly anticipated torque loading. A release mechanism substantially disengages the torque transfer device upon the application of higher than desired torque loading conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a freewheeling device 11 in the case of which the outer freewheeling component 14 and the inner freewheeling component 17 are connected in the main torque transmitting direction by locking members 25 which engage apertures 24 of the inner freewheeling component 17 and recesses 26 of the outer freewheeling component 14 and which permit one of the freewheeling components 14 to be overtaken by the other freewheeling component 17 when a certain speed is exceeded. If the speed is below the specified speed, an additional switching element is released via a speed-dependent switching device 29, so that the switching element 30, under the influence of a spring 36, is transferred into a position where it supports the locking member 25 to prevent them from escaping radially inwardly, thereby cancelling the freewheeling function.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electromechanical control having a centrifugal structure comprising a shaft (22) driven in rotation by an electric motor (20) and defining an axis, at least two flyweights (38) capable of moving under the effect of a centrifugal force between a plate (34) and a disk (32), the plate (34) being able to be driven in rotation by the shaft, and a wedge device (12). According to the invention, the shaft (22) is mounted movably in axial translation to drive in translation the wedge device (12), and the plate (34) is axially fixed whereas the disk (32), which solidly fixed to an axial sleeve (30) forming, with the end (24) of the shaft (22), a lockable screw-nut assembly, is capable of axial translation and can be driven in rotation by the shaft (22), the radial position of the flyweights (38) determining the separation of the disk (32) and the plate (34). Application to the braking of vehicles.

Abstract: An adjustable centrifugal clutch is disclosed which allows compensation to be made for wear on mating frictional members. The centrifugal clutch comprises a rotating input housing, a rotatable output shaft, clutch rings, clutch disks, a pressure plate, centrifugal weights, and an adjustment collar for varying the distance between the centrifugal weights and the pressure plate. As friction wears away material from the clutch rings and the clutch disks disposed therebetween, the adjustment collar is advanced upwardly within the input housing thereby maintaining a constant engagement speed.

Abstract: A motor vehicle clutch is particularly suited for a mechanical multiple-speed automatic transmission. The clutch comprises a pair of alternatingly engageable clutch discs (5,7) mounted on a pair of concentric shafts (8,10). In addition to a centrifugal arrangement (29,30) for engagement when starting, the clutch comprises a hydraulic control system with a piston cylinder device (20) and two three-way magnetic valves (51,52), one (51) of which is capable of presure regulation and the other (52) has merely an on-off function.

Abstract: The compressor unit consists of a screw compressor (2) and a drive motor (1), which is connected for drive purposes to the screw compressor (2) by way of an engageable and disengageable clutch (3) and can be temporarily stopped in order to control the throughput of the screw compressor (2). To allow starting of the compressor unit without the drive motor (1) becoming thermally overloaded, the clutch inserted between the drive motor (1) and screw compressor (2) is in the form of a known centrifugal clutch (3), the driving clutch member (17) being connectable to the driven clutch member (18) by means of friction plates (23, 28). For automatic operation of the centrifugal clutch (3), a control chamber (21) is provided, the presser plate (36) of which is adjustable against the friction plates (23, 28) by means of centrifugal weights (34).

Abstract: A drive power transmission device includes: a first shaft for receiving drive power transmitted from a drive source; a second shaft having a coupling shaft portion at a front end thereof; a coupling housing comprising a cover body having a front portion operatively coupled to a rear end of the first shaft and a rear portion including a central bearing portion in which a distal end of the coupling shaft portion is rotatably supported, and a tubular member having a front open end in which an outer circumference of the cover body is fitted and a rear boss end having a central through hole in which a proximal portion of the coupling shaft portion is rotatably supported, the cover body, the boss end, the coupling shaft portion, and the tubular member jointly defining a cylindrical fluid chamber filled with a fluid; a viscous shear coupling mechanism disposed in the fluid chamber for transmitting the drive power from the first shaft through the fluid to the second shaft; and a centrifugal clutch mechanism disposed

Abstract: A limited slip differential of this invention is equipped with two centrifugal clutches that are interposed between a differential casing and side gears or pinion gears. The centrifugal clutches provide a direct drive between the casing and the side gears in high speed driving.

Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle clutch, particularly for a mechanical, multiple-speed automatic transmission. The clutch comprises in a conventional manner, a clutch disc which is non-rotatably joined to an input shaft to the transmission, said disc being pressable against an engine flywheel by a displaceable drive plate. According to the invention the clutch is provided with a second clutch disc, which is non-rotatably joined to a hollow shaft, which is concentrically mounted on the input shaft and can be pressed by the first drive plate against the second drive plate solidly joined to the flywheel.

Abstract: One or more slip friction clutches are interposed between two flywheels in the power train between the crankshaft of the engine and the input shaft of the change-speed transmission in a motor vehicle. The torque which is transmitted by at least one of the slip clutches is variable in the drive direction and/or in the coast direction.

Abstract: A clutch system comprising a clutch input member, a clutch output member, a primary friction clutch connected to said input member, a secondary friction clutch placed between said input and output members and operatively associated with said output member, a mechanism for disengaging said primary friction clutch, and thrust generating mechanism interconnecting said primary friction clutch and said secondary friction clutch for generating thrust to couple said secondary friction clutch when torque is transmitted by coupling of said primary friction clutch.

Abstract: A manually disengageable centrifugal clutch for motor vehicles has a clutch cover fixed to a flywheel, a pressure plate axially movable relative to the flywheel, and an intermediate disc. An intermediate plate defines, together with the pressure plate, a plurality of outwardly narrowing spaces for radially movable centrifugal weights and is spring biased towards the pressure plate. The intermediate plate is suspended on disengagement arms and is movable thereby away from the pressure plate. In one position at a certain distance from the pressure plate, the spaces for the centrifugal weights are widened so much that the weights cannot exert any pressure on the pressure plate. The clutch is thereby disengaged regardless of rotational speed, the disengaging force only depending on the spring force on the intermediate plate.

Abstract: A rotational speed number controlling device for automatic transmissions for changing speeds by automatically changing a plurality of centrifugal clutches in response to the number of revolutions of the engine wherein a sliding piece is connected to a rotary shaft to which the rotation of a low speed side centrifugal clutch is to be transmitted so as to be able to transmit rotations and to be slidable in the axial direction in response to the driving torque so that the number of engaging rotations of a high speed side centrifugal clutch may be varied by the sliding of the above mentioned sliding piece caused in response to the driving torque. For example, in the case of a quick acceleration at the time of the second speed running in an automatic three-speed transmission, the high speed side centrifugal clutch may not be immediately engaged but the second speed state may be maintained until a sufficient acceleration and then the high speed side centrifugal clutch may be engaged.

Abstract: A torque converter including a distortable rotatable center disc disposed between a pair of freely rotatable plate members. Roller elements are disposed between the center disc and the plate members. The roller elements are radially movable under the influence of centrifugal force for variably distorting the center disc in a wave-like fashion between deactuated and actuated conditions to rotate the plate members at a speed relative to the center disc in proportion to the amount of the distortion of the center disc.

Abstract: A device for automatically changing the speed ratio between a drive shaft and a driven shaft, including a pair of pulleys mounted on the drive and driven shafts and each having two opposing flanges of truncated cone shape, the pulleys being linked by a V-belt and one pulley being loaded with centrifugally displaceable weights for the speed-change operation.One of the flanges of each pulley is provided with a cover plate having a flat surface portion perpendicular to the rotational axis in face-to-face relation with a truncated-conical surface of the flange. Centrifugally displaceable weights in the form of rollers are located in contact with and between the flat surface portion and the truncated-conical surface portion displaceably radially outward for the speed-change operation.

Abstract: A clutch and variable ratio torque multiplier having an input shaft upon which a housing having a power output device is coaxially journaled A plurality of balls carried in a disc are rotatably driven by the input shaft and are free to move radially due to centrifugal force, with such rotational and radial movement of the balls taking place in an opposed pair of special axially biased races that are carried in the housing for rotation therewith. At idle RPM of the input shaft, the balls roll freely in the races and zero rotational output of the housing results, and as shaft RPM increases, centrifugal force moves the balls radially and frictional engagement of the balls and the races increases for rotatably driving the housing at ratios which vary with the input shaft RPM. As the ratio approaches 1:1, the races engage friction clutches to lock the housing to the shaft to prevent slippage at higher RPM.

Abstract: A pressure gas engine such as a compressed air turbine having a variable speed device for controlling the speed of a rotor and also having an overspeed safety device to prevent damage to the engine in the case of excess speed through malfunction. The overspeed safety device includes speed responsive elements that force the rotor against braking elements that are successively operated to brake the rotor to a complete stop in successive gentle braking actions and with the speed responsive elements including means for preventing resumed rotation of the rotor until the engine has been partially dismantled and the cause of the malfunction corrected.

Abstract: An automatic variable speed transmission, particularly for use in recreational vehicles, is disclosed. The transmission consists of a driving shaft and a driven shaft and a first centrifugal clutch hub rotatably carried by the driving shaft, and means are provided to rotate the first centrifugal clutch hub. A first centrifugal clutch assembly is secured to the first centrifugal clutch hub and is rotatable therewith, and a second centrifugal clutch hub is secured to the driving shaft and rotatable therewith and a first friction plate secured to the second centrifugal clutch hub is adapted to be engaged and driven by the first centrifugal clutch assembly upon the first centrifugal clutch assembly attaining a pre-selected speed of rotation. A driving shaft pinion is secured to the driving shaft and engages a first pinion of a first and second pinion group with rotatably carried by a gear casing and integral gear casing hub which is secured to the driven shaft.

Abstract: The disclosure herein is concerned with an automatic transmission in which rotation of an input shaft engages a first centrifugal clutch assembly which, in turn, drives reduction planetary gears and, as the input speed picks up, a second centrifugal clutch assembly comes into play whereby the entire system between the input and output shafts rotates as a unit. The clutch assembly consists of an extensible roller bearing provided with a series of circumferentially spaced openings in which are received roller weights arranged in pair and in contacting engagement with adjacent surfaces of pressure discs which, together with co-acting clutch discs, also form part of the clutch assembly.