AUTOMATIC TWO-WAY CENTRIFUGAL CLUTCH FOR MOTOR DRIVEN APPARATUS

• Main Author: LUERKEN, ADOLF
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 24.11.1981
• Subjects: BLASTING; BRAKES; CLUTCHES; COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

AUTOMATIC TWO-WAY CENTRIFUGAL CLUTCH FOR MOTOR DRIVEN APPARATUS ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An automatic two-way centrifugal clutch having a pair of clutch members mounted for pivotal movement on a rotating drive member is disclosed. Each clutch member has a first state in which driven surfaces are in contact with a clutch drum interior friction drive surface; a second state in which the clutch members are out of contact with the drum frictional drive surface; and a third state in which clutch driving surfaces are in driving contact with the frictional drive surface. At least two spring members are connected between the clutch members, the springs urging, when the speed of rotation of the drive member is below a first selected speed, the clutch driven surfaces against the frictional drive surface. When the rotational speed of the rotating drive member is greater than the first selected speed, centrifugal force overcomes the spring force and urges the clutch members, which are mounted symmetrically with respect to the rotation axis, to pivot to a position wherein the clutch driven surfaces are out of engagement with the frictional drive surface. If the rotation speed is greater than a second selected speed, the centrifugal force urges the clutch driving surfaces into driving contact with the friction drive surface. By an appropriate choice of springs and spring position, a significant and distinct idle range, which is substantially independent of the device manufacturing tolerance, is defined.