Abstract: An electric motor control and variable speed drive includes a motor housing, a driven rotor connected to a disk flywheel and an intermittently driven shaft, and nonrotatably supporting a clutch disk and a brake disk. The clutch disk is couplable with a frictional surface on a magnetic armature disk. The brake disk is couplable with a frictional surface of a brake armature disk. Energization of respective clutch and brake windings effect respectively coupling of the clutch disk and of the brake disk to the respective aforementioned frictional surfaces. The clutch winding is disposed on the disk flywheel. The clutch disk and the brake disk are provided with frictional linings. The clutch disk is disposed between the magnetic armature disk and a friction surface of the disk flywheel. The brake disk is disposed between the brake armature disk and a friction surface on the bearing plate.

Abstract: A transmission lever operated switch is incorporated in the electric control circuit for an electric clutch employed in the drive of a tractor mounted mower whereby the electric circuit is deenergized whenever the transmission control lever is placed in its reverse position. The control circuit for the electric clutch includes a seat operated switch whereby the electric circuit will be deenergized whenever the seat is unoccupied. The electric circuit further includes an on-off switch which is interconnected with an ignition circuit switch for an internal combustion engine whereby when the ignition switch is closed, the on-off switch for the electric clutch circuit will be open. Thus, during starting of the engine, the mower blade drive will be inoperative due to the deenergization of the electric clutch control circuit. The electrical interlock control prevents operation of the mower blade during starting of the engine, when the operator's seat is unoccupied and/or when the transmission control is in reverse.

Abstract: The unit includes an electromagnet which may be energized to effect shifting of an armature from a clutching position in which the armature couples driving and driven elements to a braking position in which the armature engages a braking member to produce braking of the driven element. The braking member normally is locked against rotation so as to apply a braking torque to the armature and the driven element but may be selectively unlocked and permitted to rotate so as to enable the armature and the driven element to free-wheel.

Abstract: A stator is mounted in a housing, and a rotor is rotatable with reference to the stator and rotates with a motor shaft. A flywheel is mounted on and rotatable with the motor shaft. An output shaft is separate from the motor shaft and a stationary member is mounted in the housing and surrounds the output shaft with clearance. A coupling plate and a braking plate are both mounted on the output shaft for rotation therewith, being located axially adjacent the flywheel and the stationary member, respectively. A first electromagnet is associated with the coupling plate and when energized causes frictional engagement of the latter with the flywheel so that the coupling plate and thereby the output shaft are entrained in rotation by the flywheel. A second electromagnet is associated with the braking plate and when energized causes frictional engagement thereof with the stationary member so that the braking plate and the output shaft are braked by frictional engagement therewith.