Centrifugal clutch

Details Centrifugal clutch Centrifugal clutch

2002-02-21

2003-08-26

Marmor, Charles A. (Department: 3681)

192 clutches and power-stop control

Clutches

Plural clutch-assemblage

C192S1050CD, C192S055100, C192S048300

Reexamination Certificate

active

06609600

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a centrifugal clutch allowing smooth, convenient shifting of gear.
2. Description of the Related Art
A centrifugal clutch is generally used in a beach car or other vehicles.
FIG. 5
of the drawings illustrates a conventional centrifugal clutch comprising a driving wheel
1
′, an operative disc
2
′, a transmission disc
3
′, and a follower shaft
4
′. The driving wheel
1
′ is driven by an engine (not shown) via a belt
11
′. The driving wheel
1
′ includes a central hole
12
′ for receiving a bearing
13
′ through which the follower shaft
4
′ extends. A side of the driving wheel
1
′ includes an engaging portion
14
′ to which a nut
15
′ is threadedly engaged.
The operative disc
2
′ includes a central hole
21
′ through which the follower shaft
4
′ extends, thereby securely engaging with the driving wheel
1
′ to move therewith. The operative disc
2
′ further includes plural pivotal blocks
22
′ on an outer periphery thereof. Each pivotal block
22
′ has an end pivoted to the operative disc
2
′ and a friction plate
23
′ on an outer side thereof. Each pivotal block
22
′ is attached to the operative disc
2
′ by a spring
24
′. In a normal state, each pivotal block
22
′ is received in the operative disc
2
′ under the action of the associated spring
24
′.
The transmission disc
3
′ is mounted to the outer periphery of the operative disc
2
′ and includes an engaging portion
31
′ for frictional engagement with the pivotal blocks
22
′ to move therewith. The transmission disc
3
′ further includes a central hole
32
′ for engaging with the follower shaft
4
′ to move therewith.
The follower shaft
4
′ extends through the driving wheel
1
′, the operative disc
2
′, and the transmission disc
3
′. An end of the follower shaft
4
′ includes teeth
41
′ and a threaded portion
42
′. The teeth
41
′ of the follower shaft
4
′ mesh with teeth
33
′ in the central hole
32
′ of the transmission disc
3
′, and a nut
43
′ is engaged with the threaded portion
42
′ for positioning purpose. A coupling device
5
′ is mounted to the follower shaft
4
′ and includes a coupling block
51
′ and a gear
52
′ that is connected to a gear train (not shown) in a gearbox (not shown) of a vehicle. The coupling block
51
′ includes plural protrusions
511
′ on a side thereof. The gear
52
′ includes plural recesses
521
′ for releasable engagement with the protrusions
511
′, thereby allowing joint movement of the gear
52
′ and the coupling block
51
′.
In an idle state, the engine drives the driving wheel
1
′ to run at the idling speed, which, in turn, causes rotation of the operative disc
2
′, but the follower shaft
4
′ is not turned. When the operator shifts from the idle state to a gear, as illustrated in
FIG. 6
, the engagement between the protrusions
511
′ of the coupling block
51
′ and the recesses
521
′ of the gear
52
′ would not be smooth when they are not aligned with each other.
Referring to
FIG. 7
, when the operator accelerates to turn the operative disc
2
′ at a high speed, each pivotal block
22
′ pivots outward as a result of centrifugal force. Thus, the friction plates
23
′ engage with the engaging portion
31
′ of the transmission disc
3
′ to thereby move jointly. The transmission disc
3
′ turns to drive the follower shaft
4
′ at a high speed, thereby moving the vehicle. When gear shifting is proceeded at this high speed, the protrusions
511
′ of the coupling block
51
′ would impact the gear
52
′. Damage is caused accordingly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a centrifugal clutch allowing smooth, convenient shifting of gear.
A centrifugal clutch in accordance with the present invention comprises a driving wheel, an operative disc connected to the driving wheel to move therewith, a transmission disc mounted to an outer periphery of the operative disc, a follower shaft, a friction mechanism, and a coupling device for releasable coupling with a gear train of a gearbox.
The driving wheel includes an engaging portion on a side thereof, the engaging portion including a friction portion. The operative disc includes plural pivotal blocks on the outer periphery thereof. Each pivotal block includes an end that is pivoted to the operative disc and has a friction plate on an outer side thereof. The transmission disc includes an engaging portion for frictional engagement with the pivotal blocks to move therewith. The follower shaft extends through the driving wheel, the operative disc, and the transmission disc. The follower shaft is securely engaged with a central portion of the transmission disc to turn therewith. The operative disc is turned together with the driving wheel. Each pivotal block is moved to a position for frictional engagement with the transmission disc when the operative disc turns at a high speed, thereby driving the transmission disc and the follower shaft to turn. The friction mechanism is fixed to the transmission disc and in frictional engagement with the friction portion of the driving wheel.
When the driving wheel turns at an idling speed, the friction portion drives the friction mechanism, the transmission disc, and the follower shaft to turn slowly with a constant torque, thereby allowing easy gear shifting through the coupling device.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2038450 (1936-04-01), Roesch
patent: 2663396 (1953-12-01), Wagner
patent: 2709372 (1955-05-01), Melone
patent: 4106605 (1978-08-01), Winchell
patent: 4294342 (1981-10-01), St. John
patent: 5597060 (1997-01-01), Huddleston et al.
patent: 6165096 (2000-12-01), Seith

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