Abstract: A clutch comprising a pair of spring loaded shoes and a drum, somewhat like brake shoes and a drum, applies and removes loads upon an automatic transmission. As the motor speed picks up, the shoes are flung outwardly under centrifugal force. When the speed is great enough, the shoes grip the drum and turn it. The drum drives the automatic transmission. Under runaway conditions, the drum is rotated by the load acting through the transmission. When the load drives the drum even faster than the motor rotates the shoes, slippage occurs in the clutch and the motor is relieved. This way the transmission may be shifted up or down at any speed. The clutch utilizes one or more shoes with a relative high coefficient of friction on one side and a lower coefficient of friction on the other side. A driving notch within the clutch directs the higher coefficient lining on the shoe to drive the drum and directs the other lower coefficient lining when the drum is rotating faster than the motor, such as in a runaway condition.

Abstract: A rotor for a centrifugal clutch which rotor is designed as an axially laminated packet and is provided with a central supporting element carrying at least two circular segmental centrifugal weights respectively having one end thereof connected to the supporting element by an elastic supporting member.

Abstract: A safety coupling for quickly disconnecting a cutting instrumentality from the power source of a hand-held power tool comprises a pawl on a rotating driving member engaging an abutment on a coaxial driven member. During normal operation a trip arm holds the pawl engaged. When the trip arm is tripped to release the pawl, a latch prevents reengagement of the pawl until reset.

Abstract: A centrifugal clutch is disclosed wherein the driving member is provided with multiple projections for engagement with each clutch shoe. The driving member projections are successively engageable with the shoe with increasing increments of speed to provide for progressively increasing torque transmitting capability up to the maximum torque load of the clutch.

Abstract: A non-friction coupling system having angularly adjusted first and second members pivotally connected to respective coaxial drive and driven shafts. The members engage one another as by a ball and socket joint for permitting rotation of each member with respect to the other member. An operator assembly is associated with one of the members for displacement thereof along the common rotational axis to vary an angle included between the shafts. The coupling system will be disengaged when the angularly adjusted members are coaxial, then having an included angle at 180.degree..

Abstract: A centrifugal clutch comprises a clutch drum and a one piece rotor of resilient material. The rotor has a central hub portion and two like weight portions on diametrically opposite sides of the hub. The weight portions are connected to the hub by integral curved spring portions which are relatively long so as to have a relatively low spring constant. The spring portions are of selected varying widths along their length so as to provide substantially equal fiber stress throughout the length of the spring portions when they flex under the action of centrifugal force on the weight portions to bring them into engagement with the inner surface of the drum and are subjected to driving force transmitted through the spring portions from the hub to the weight portions and hence to the drum.