Nov. 9, 1943. A. G. SCHNEIDER ET Al.

2,333,680
. TRANSMISSION -

Filed Maron 19, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 1

' Nov. 9, 1943. vA. G. SCHNEIDER ET AL. 2,333,680
TRANSMI SS ION

Filed March 19, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

4.
.
_..A >
 Nov. 9, 1943
, *j .2,333,680

Nrrao STATES A PATENT f,cnn-ic`l~1v

2.333,68!)Y
'rnANsMrssroN l ` .

Adolf
Schneider,
G. Schneider,
Hamilton,
Muncie,
Ohio, assignors,
Ind., and by
Heinric
mesne '
assignments, to Schneider Brothers Company, a '
copartnership composed of Heinrich Schneider
and Viva Schneider, bothl of Hamilton, Ohio, -
and Adolf G. Schneider and Erna Schneider,
both oi Muncie, Ind.
Application March 19, 193s, serial No. 196,874 " `
20 Claims. (ci. 1oz-3.2) Y . y f \ n

This invention relates to improvements in Similar reference numerals "are appliedV to cor
transmissions, and is more particularly con responding parts throughoutV the> views. ,
cerned with automatic centrifugal clutches Referring, ISt _Flg. 1 We >have illustrated
especially designed and adapted for use with our inventionas applied to adifferentialplane- '
transmissions incorporating lFc'ittinger type 5 tary turbine transmission'havin'g"incombination
torque converters. l a Fttinger type torque converter 20 and a plane
One of the main difficulties with hydraulic tary gear vset`2l for transmitting `drive between
transmissions is that when the car is standing the crank-shaftz22 of Yan internal combustion en
with the enginey idling, there is appreciable hy gine, or anyotherfprime mover, and an inter
draulic drag which tends to cause creepage of vl0 mediate drive lshaft24 adapted to transmit drive
the .car and also interfere with the easy shifting to the driven'shaft- 52, as will soon appear. `A
of gears. A friction clutch could be interposed pilot bearing 2B supports the >frontend of. the
between the engine and hydraulic drive to avoid drive shaft in line withv thecrank-shaft 22.
this difficulty, but it would be a step backward 1 2B is vthe sun gearl turning withtheuhousing
in the art. It is therefore one of the principal 15 and pump impeller 28,of the'> converter 20. l'A
objects of our invention to provide an entirely spider'orcage v29 fixed on the end of theshaft
automatic centrifugal clutch for the purpose 24 supportsQginterrneshed.'v pairs >of'v planetary
mentioned, designed to engage. the Vinstant a pinions lill-3i of . which tliepinion's 30 Vvmesh
predetermined engine speed is reached, whereby with the >sun gearZB .andthe pinioiis, 30,1nesh
to drive the driving member of the converter 20 withA` the ring gear 3112._ 'I_'he latter' is rotat
which in >turn transmits drive to the car, smooth aloly'` mounted ' onl Ythe 4flywheel v, 33 V- on" plates
gradual pick-up being assured entirely by fluid 3B and 35 suitably secured to the flywheel,
slippage in the converter instead of mechanical as by >bolts 36, `andir_f,accordance.with our
slippage in the centrifugal clutch. Y invention, an automatic centrifugal clutch 31
One oi the objects of our invention consists 25 is. provided for kquickly releasably gripping the '
in providing in a single unit of simple, compact, lring gear 32> at> its. periphery' .S8-,to turnwith
and economical construction automatic centrif the iiywheel.` - The c1utch`j3'lv. ismore ` fully de
ugal and freewheeling clutches, the centrifugal , scribed hereinafter> and isf..clearly]illustratedY in
clutch means.v serving to disconnect the engine Fig. 2f Now. lthe torque converter 20 comprises
automatically when idling and the freewheeling 30 in addition _to the housing 21 and .pump im
clutch means being arranged to overrun during peller 23, a turbine wheel .39 and a _reaction
normai drive but engagingwhen the vehicle is member 0.1_The't'urbine wheel 39, is keyed `to
going down hill, so as to use the engine as a i the driving shaft 24,_as at ll, to transmit drive
brake. thereto. The'` reaction member t0 is normally
Another object consists in the provision of a 35 stationary, but is rotatably supported at :i2 on
centrifugal clutch of simple and practical de the tubular bearing extension 43 preferably
sign in which a weight member is movable out formed integral with the stationary enclosing
wardly under centrifugal force against the ac bell-housing 44. An anti-friction bearing 45 is
tion of a return spring and cooperates with roller> f also carried on the tubular extension 43 for sup
means to effect positive engagement of surfaces 40 _port of one end of the housing 21 of the con
of relatively small area under high pressure, vverter 20, while the inside of said tubular ex-'
with minimum slippage. . tension constitutes a bearing for the rear end
The invention is illustrated in the accompany of the drive shaft 24, as indicated at 4B and 41.
ing drawings, wherein- ' The reaction member 40 has a hub t8 sur
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a 45 rounding freewheelng rollers 49 which cooperate
transmission made in accordance with our in with a cam formation 50 on the periphery of
vention; the aforesaid tubular extension 43 and with the
Fige. 2, 3, and 4 are cross-sections on the cor usual springs 5I to hold the reaction member
respondingly numbered lines of Fig. 1; 40 against turning in one direction, although
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view cor 50 allowing free rotation in the opposite direction.
responding to a portion of Fig. 2, showing a From the description thus far, the operation
modified or alternative construction of centrif may be traced at least to this extent: Assuming
ugal clutch, and that the crank-shaft 22 is turning slowly with
Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of another centrif respect to the stationary shaft 424, as, for exam
ugal clutch construction similar to Fig 5. 55 ple, when the car is standing at a curb with the
 2 2,333,680
engine idling, under these circumstances the cen bine torque is at a maximum when the drive
trifugal clutch 3l, as we shall point out later, shaft 24 is at f standstill. If the speed of the
is disengaged, thus relieving the engine of the engine is increased, the total torque imposed upon
hydraulic drag that would otherwise be imposed the shaft 24 increases until it overcomes its re
thereon. It is well known how this drag caused> sistance and the shaft begins to turn. As resist
uneven running at idling speed and a tendency ance to turning of the shaft is reduced, its speed
for the car to creep, which sometimes necessi increases and the speed of the sun gear 26 is i
tated holding it with the foot brake or emer -accordingly reduced, assuming that the crank
gency brake. It also was objectionable because shaft 22 is turning at a constant speed._ Under
of its interference with easy shifting of gears 10 these conditions, the pump impeller 28reduces
where such were provided, as, for example, for its oil delivery and pressure, and hence the torque
forward, neutraland reverse. To get the car exerted on the drive shaft 24 by the turbine
under way, the driver simply depresses the ac Wheel 39 is reduced. When the resistance' to
celerator pedal and as the engine speeds up, the turning of the drive shaft 24 is reduced to a
centrifugal clutch 31 engages at a. predetermined minimum, its speed approaches a maximum and
speed so as to transmit drive to the ring gear the speed of the sun gear 26 and pump impeller
32. In that way, drive is transmitted through 28 approaches a minimum, and consequently the
the planetary gearing 2| to the hydraulic con power transmitted to the drive shaft 24 through
verter 20 and thence to the drive shaft 24, which the secondary drive becomes a minimum. In
transmits drive to the driven shaft 52 through other words, with the present transmission the
drive gearing 53 in a gear box 54 rigid with the torque and speed of the secondary drive changes
housing 44. The sun gear 26 and pump impeller automatically in4 response to the resistance to
28, by virtue of the planetary pinions 30-3I, are turning offered by the shaft 24. The secondary
driven in the same direction as the crank-shaft drive gives a torque increase varying with the
22 but at a higher speed >according to the gear varying torque and speed conditions of the en
ratio of ring gear 32 to sun gear 26. The plane gine and load. The floating sun gear and pump
tary gearing 2| may be considered the primary impeller act as an automatic torque and speed
drive and the torque converter 2D the secondary control in the transmission, running at high
drive. The primary drive exerts a substantially speed when the drive shaft 24 requires high
direct torque reaction upon the drive shaft 24 by 30 torque. In passing, attention may at this time
reason of the thrust imposed upon the planetary be called also to the automatic centrifugal clutch
gears 3-3I in the turning of the ring gear 32 55 provided in connection with the planetary
and the driving of the sun gear 26. There is an ' gearing 2| for positively locking the drive shaft
additional torque reaction imposed upon the 24 with the ring gear 32 for direct drive inde
drive shaft 24 by the turbine wheel 39 of the 35 pendent of the planetary gearing. This clutch
secondary drive, because of the circulation of comprises locking dogs or pawls 19 slidable in
uid by the blades of the pump impeller 28 radial bores 80 in the spider 29 and normally
through the blades of the turbine 39 and blades urged inwardly under the action of springs 8|
of the reaction member 40 in the counter-clock supported in'the bores of the pawls themselves
wise direction indicated by the arrows. The fact 40 and having abutment with cross-pins 82 carried
that the impeller 28 turns in the same direction on the spider and entered through longitudinal
with the driving and driven shafts, avoids the slots provided in the pawls. These pawls are
necessity for any reversal in the direction of fluid movable outwardly against the action of the.
flow by the blades of the reaction member 40, springs to engage in slots 83 provided in a bush
such as would be required if there were single 4 ing 84 keyed or otherwise suitably secured in
pinions between the sun. gear 26 and ring gear' the ring gear 32, the outer ends 85of the pawls
l 32. By driving the impeller with the sun gear being struck on arcsconcentric with respect to
at speeds higher than the prime mover engine the axis of rotation of the bushing 84 so that
speed and in the same direction as the turbine they can engage in the slots 83 only when the
impeller, we are enabled to reduce the size of ring gear 32 turns slower than the shaft 24. So
the turbine drive considerably and still obtain a long as the bushing 84 turns faster than the
decided increase in torque and elciency. The shaft 241 in the direction of the arrow a in Fig. E,
stationary reaction member 40 is, of course, re the bushing rides on- the inclined surfaces 85 and
sponsible for torque increase. When the im causes the pawls 'I9 to be forced inwardly, away
peller 28 turns at a higher speed than the tur from locking engagement with the bushing. The
bine 39, the centrifugal force acting on the oil clutch 55, in other words, can engage only when
or other fluidused, causes the same to circulate the drive shaft 24 attains a certain speed, but is
in the direction indicated by the arrows. When so constructed that it will not engage if the ring
the impeller and turbine rotate at approximately gear 32 turns at ai higher speed than the shaft
the same speed, the turbine drive functions sub
stantially as a coupling. 'Ihe free Wheeling 24. This, therefore, permits one to take advan
clutch 48-50 permits the reaction member 40
tage of the high starting torque obtainable
under these conditions to float so as not to offer through the turbine drive 20, and then when the
resistance to the flow of the fluid. There is, how car has attained .the desired speed, the driver
ever, very little fluid movement at or close to' 65 can release foot pressure on the accelerator pedal
direct drive. Under direct drive conditions the so that the ring gear 32 will slow down and allow
planetary pinions 30-3l rotate as a unit so that the centrifugal clutch 55 to engage, to establish
gear noise and wear are substantially eliminated'. direct drive. Contrariwise, when the speed of
Under high torque operating conditions, the the drive shaft 24 is reduced, the clutch 55, as
pump impeller 28 turning with the high speed of 70 will later appear, automatically disengages, and, i
the sun gear 25, delivers a large amount of uid when the car is brought to a stop, the other cen
directly upon the turbine blades to exert the l trifugal clutch 31 also disengages, the disengage
desired high torque on the drive shaft 24, and ment of clutch 31 occurring when the engine
this torque is added to the reaction torque ex~ speed drops to a value below the lowest driving
erted by the planetary pinions fifi-3|. The tui' 75 speed.
 i 2,333,680 3
Centrifugal clutch. 37 (Fig. 2) against the ring gear 32 to transmit drive thereto.
The springs 13 allow a slight movement of the
In our earlier application, Serial No. 94,744, rollers 69 from a retracted position at one end of
now Patent No. 2,224,884, issued December 1'1, the slots 1|] to an operative position at the other
1940, we disclosed a centrifugal clutch for auto end of the slots. In the constructions of
matically disconnecting the engine when idling, Figs. 2 and 5, the cam projections 62 and the
also a freewheeling clutch adapted to overrun rollers 69 cooperating with the flat surfaces
whenever the engine turned faster than the driven 63 on the centrifugal weights 51 and 51', re
shaft, but take hold when said shaft turned faster spectively, are offset so slightly with relation
than the engine, as, for> example, when the vehicle 10 to the pivots 56 and 56', `respectively, that
is going down hill, so as to permit using the the centrifugal weights have proportionately
engine as a brake, and also permit starting the greater leverage and the pressure of engagement
engine by pushing or pulling the vehicle. In Fig. is proportionately greatly increased. To increase
2 we disclose a simple, compact and economical the power capacity of the clutch, the shoes for
construction, combining in a single unit the 15 transmitting drive to the ring may be of V
centrifugal and freewheeling clutches. The cen section, as at 12. in Fig. 6, and engage in V
trifugal clutch, it should be understood, does not grooves in the periphery of the ring gear 32'. The
serve the purpose of the conventional friction engagement of the clutches is so quick and under
clutch in an automotive transmission, but is of such high pressure that there is no appreciable
a grab or quick engagement type, provided merely 20 wear on the friction shoes, as We have found by
to eliminate drag on the engine in idling and extensive tests.
avoid the tendency for the car to move when it In both of the constructions disclosed (Figs. 2
should stand still. The usual slip in accelerating and 5) three freewheeling cams 14 are mounted
the car takes place in the torque converter 26 and in slots 15 to cooperate with rollers 16 and springs
not in the clutch 31. The latter is constructed to 26 11 to transmit drive from the ring gear 32 to the
engage suddenly at a predetermined engine speed flywheel of the engine whenever the shaft 26 .
to transmit drive to the impeller 2B of the torque turns faster than the engine. It will be noticed
converter, and also releases the same way as soon that the inside faces 18 of the cams 14 are in
as the engine slows down to idling speed. clined in the opposite direction from the faces 61
The side plates 34 and 35 carry pins 56 on which 30 of the shoes 6| (Fig. 2).
centrifugal weights 51 are pivoted to swing out It should be clear that either of the centrifugal
wardly under centrifugalvforce toward the rim 6B clutch constructions just described may be used `
of the flywheel against the action of compression l with various transmissions, the same having
springs 59 seating in holes 66, provided therefor in characteristics which adapt them touse with
the rim 66. Shoes 6i have cam projections 62 35 particular advantage in connection with torque
intermediate their ends, slightly offset in a converters or hydraulic clutches. It is well known
counter-clockwise direction in relation to the pins that one of the main difliculties with automatic
66, as indicated by the radial lines :r-:r and y--il hydraulic transmissions is that-when the vehicle >
in Fig. 2, for engagement with flat surfaces 63 on is standing with the engine> idling there visgiri- .~
the pivoted ends of the weights 61 and are slid 40 variably enough hydraulic drag to tendtocause
able in substantially radial slots 6F. in the annular creeping and to interfere with the easy shifting
wall 65 on the plate 35. When the weights 61 of gears that may be provided as a part-of .the l.:
swing outwardly, the shoes 6| are pushed in transmissions. With -the present centrifugal
wardly and cause free-wheeling rollers 66 to en clutch constructions, one of these clutches inter
gage and transmit drive to the ring gear 32. The 45 posed between the engine and the torque con-y
small arrow a in Fig. 2 indicates the direction of verter or hydraulic clutch is arranged to come
rotation, and when the engine is running above into engagement only when the_idling speed is
idling speed, the ring gear32 will, of course, be exceeded so that there is absolutely no power
driven because the shoes 6I are moved inward far transmitted from the engine during idling. The
enough for the inclined inner faces 61 thereof to 50 centrifugal weights of the clutch function the in
cooperate with the rollers 66 and thereby trans stant a predetermined speed above idling speed is i
mit dr'ive to the ring gear 32. At idling speed attained and it is only then that the primary side l
the shoes 6I are clear of the rollers 66 so that of the torque converter or hydraulic clutch turns
the ring gear 32 will remain stationary and free with the engine. Obviously the wear and tear on .
of the engine, the small spring 6B under these 55 the clutch surfaces is determined by the amount
conditions keeping the rollers 66 in forward posi of energy lost in this synchronization, and since
tion in disengaged relation to the shoes 6I and there is nothing but the primary side of the
ring gear 32. torque converter 20 and the ring gear 32 to bring
Fig. 5 shows a modified clutch construction 31' up to engine speed, the energy, which is pro
in which the weights 51' are similar to the weights . portional to the amount of rotating mass, will
61 and are pivoted. in a similar way, but each be small, and the wear and tear vpn the clutch
weight has, directly under but likewise in slightly surfaces will be correspondingly slight. In other
offset relation to its pivoted end, as indicated words, it is only because it is used in combination
by the radial lines `:r-:r: and y--y, a roller 69 with the hydraulic torque converter that such a
similar to a freewheeling roller, set in a slot 16 in 65 quick engagement or grab type clutch can be used
a shoe 1 i'which in turn is arranged to force a fric having much less friction surface than would be
tion shoe 12 against the ring gear 32. The springs required if it had to absorb the slippage which
'13 hold the rollers 69 slightly offset in a counter the torque converter is designed to absorb. The
clockwise direction in relation to the pivots 56 so fact'that the torque converter absorbs the slip
as not to transmit drive when the engine is turn 70 page, not only makes it feasible to provide a
ing at idling speed. However, when the weights quick engagement or grab type centrifugal clutch
51' swing outwardly in speeding up of the engine, 31 or 31 in front of the torque converter 20, but
the rollers 69 are moved in a clockwise direction also enables the use of quick engagement type
against the action of the springs 13, and the clutches in two and three step gear boxes behind
shoes 12 are pressed with considerable `force 75 the torque converter. '
 4 2,833,680
It should also be clear that while we have annularly with respect to the periphery of thev
shown the centrifugal clutch interposed on the driven element. ,
primary side .of the torque converter 20, clutches 5. In a friction clutch, the combination of rel
of this type may be incorporated elsewhere in atively rotatable driving and driven elements, le
other transmissions, still taking advantage of the ver members pivoted on the' driving element to
novel characteristics mentioned above. swing outwardly under centrifugal force, spring
It is believed the foregoing description conveys means tending to move said lever members in
a .good understanding of our invention. The ap wardly to retracted position, friction shoes dis
pended claims have been drawn with a view to posed in slots provided in the driving element in
covering all legitimate modifications and adap 10 circumferentially spaced relation relative to the
tations. periphery of the driven element; said shoes being
We claim: engageable with the periphery of said driven ele
1. In a friction clutch, the combination of rel ment to transmit drive thereto, pressure blocks
atively rotatable driving and driven elements, le disposed in the slots with the shoes and adapted
ver members pivoted on the driving element to 15 to exert pressure on the latter toward frictional
swing outwardly under centrifugal force, spring engagement thereof with the periphery of the driv
means tending to move said lever members in en element, and rollers mounted in the 'pressure
wardly to retracted position, freewheeling rollers blocks under the pivoted ends of the aforesaid le
disposed in circumferentially spaced slots pro vers and spring pressed normally to a retracted
"vided in the driving element engaging the pe 20 position spaced circumferentially with respect to
riphery of the driven element and normally radial lines from the axis of rotation of _the
spring pressed in one direction to declutched po clutch through the pivots of said levers but adapt
sition, and cam blocks movable in said slots hav ed to be moved against the counteracting spring
ing surfaces inclined with . respect to the pe pressure toward said radial lines when the levers
riphery of the driven element, said cam surfaces 25 swing outwardly under centrifugal force, where
engaging the rollers and retaining the same in by to force the shoes into tight driving engage
operative relationship to the driven element, said ment with the periphery of the driven element.
blocks being normally in one position permitting 6. A clutch as set forth in claim 5, wherein the
turning of the driving element relative to the driv inter-engaging surfaces on the periphery of the
en element, but being adapted to be moved in 30 driven element and the friction shoes are con
` wardly toward the driven element by the pivoted formed .with respect to one another to provide
ends of said levers so as to cause a binding action interfltting V-shaped projections and grooves an
of the rollers between thecam blocks and the pe- ` nularly with respect to the periphery of the driven
riphery of the driven element when the levers element.
swing outwardly under centrifugal force, whereby 35 '7. A centrifugal clutch comprising, in combina
to transmit drive to the driven element. tion, relatively rotatable driving and driven ele-
2. In a friction clutch, the combination .of rel ments, one or more centrifugal weight members
atively rotatable driving and driven elements, le pivotally mounted on the driving element to swing
ver members pivoted on the driving element to outwardly under centrifugal force, spring means
swing outwardly under centrifugal force, spring 40 normally tending to move said weight members
means tending to move said lever members in inwardly to retracted position, a freewheeling
wardly to retracted position, friction shoe means roller associated with each oi' said centrifugal
disposed in slots provided in the driving element Weight members and moving with the driving ele
in circumferentially spaced relation relative to ment and engaging the periphery of the driven
the periphery of the driven element, said fric element, spring means normally urging said rollers
tion shoe `means being engageable with the pe in one direction to declutched position, and a
riphery of said driven element to transmit drive pressure block associated with each of saidrollers,
thereto, and rollers mounted in said friction shoe moving with the driving element and engaging the
means under the pivoted portions of the afore rollers to retain the same in operative relation
said levers and spring pressed normally to a re 50 ship to the driven element, the pivoted portion
tracted position spaced circumferentially with of each of said weight members and the asso
respect to radial lines from the axis of rotation ciated pressure block having abutting surfaces,
of the clutch through the pivots of said levers> the abutment being on a line in slightly spaced
but adapted to be moved against the counter relation to a radius from the axis of revolution
acting spring pressure toward said radial lines 55 of the driving and driven elements through the
when the levers swing outwardly _under centrifu pivot point of the weight member. .
gal force, whereby to force the vfriction shoe 8. A centrifugal clutch comprising, in com
means into tight driving engagement with the bination, relatively rotatable driving and driven
periphery of the driven element. elements, one or more centrifugal weight mem
3. A clutch as set forth in claim 2, including a 60 bers pivotally mounted on the driving element to
freewheeling roller disposed in each of one or swing outwardly under centrifugal force, spring
more slots provided in the driving element, and means normally tending to move said weight
a cam block having a cam surface inclined rela members inwardly to retracted position, one or
tive to the periphery of the driven element and more friction shoes moving with the driving ele
adapted to cause binding action of each of the 85 mentv and engaging the driven element to tra'ns
rollers between the blocks and the periphery of mit drive thereto, and a roller cooperating with ,
the driven element when the driven element com each of said shoes and the related weight member
mences to turn faster than the driving element, to hold the shoe in operative relation to the driven
said rollers being normally spring pressed toward element, each of said rollers being normally spring
clutched position. 70 pressed in one direction toward retracted position
4. A clutch as set forth in claim 2, wherein the and the pivoted portion of each of said levers
inter-engaging surfaces on the periphery of the having a fiat surface provided on the inner side
driven element and the friction shoe means are thereof for engagement with the associated roller,
conformed with respect to one another to pro the rollers being normally disposed in slightly
vide interiitting V-shaped projections and grooves 75 spaced relation to radial lines from the axis oi
 2,383,680 , 5

rotation of the driving and driven elements elements, one or more centrifugal weight mem
through the pivot points of saidl weight members. bers pivotally mounted on the driving element/ln
9. A clutch as set forth in claim 8. wherein the radially spaced relation to the axis of rotation
inter-engaging surfaces on the periphery of the thereof to swing outwardly under centrifugal
driven element and the friction shoes are con force, each having a working surface substan
formed with respect to one another to provide in-l tially normal to a radius from the axis of rota
tertting V-shaped projections and grooves an tion through the pivot point, which surface is
nularly with respect to the periphery of the driven inclined at an acute angle to the radius -when
element. A ' the weight member swings outwardly under cen
10. For use with relatively rotatable driving and 10 trifugal force, spring means normally tending to
driven elements, and a hydraulic turbo ring drive move said Weight members inwardly to retracted
for transmitting drive from the driving element to position, a shoe member and a roller member
the driven element adapted to absorb substantially associated with each of said weight members and
all of the slippage between saidelements during moving with the driving element relative to the
driving, a centrifugal friction clutch for complet 15 periphery of the driven element, one of said shoe
ing the driving connection in series with the and roller members being arranged to be engaged
turbo ring drive substantially without slippage, by the working surface of the weight member
comprising one or more centrifugal weight mem when the latter swings outwardly under centri
bers pivotally mounted on the driving element in fugal force to produce a quick gripping clutch
radially spaced relation to the axis of rotation 20 action between the driving and driven elements,
thereof to swing outwardly under centrifugal and spring means normally urging said rollers in
force, each having a working surface substan one direction to retracted position.
tially normal to a radius from the axis of ro 14. A centrifugal clutch comprising, in com
tation through the pivot point, which surface is binatlon, relatively rotatable driving and driven
inclined at an acute angle to the radius when the 25 elements, one or more centrifugal weight mem
`weight member swings outwardly under centrifu bers pivotally mounted on the driving element
gal force, spring means normally tending to move in radially spaced relation to the axis of rotation
said Weight members inwardly to retracted posi thereof to swing outwardly under centrifugal
tion, and clutch means operatively engaging the force, each having a working surface substan
working surface of each Weight member to pro tially normal to a radius from the axis of rota~
vide with said weight members a quick gripping tion through the pivot point, which surface is
clutch to connect the driving and driven elements inclined at an acute angle to the radius when
vsubstantially without slippage. the weight member swings outwardly under cen
l1. A centrifugal clutch comprising, in combi trifugal force, spring means normally tending to
nation, relatively rotatable driving and driven 35 move said weight members inwardly to retracted
elements, one or more centrifugal weight mem position, a shoe member and a roller member as
bers plvotally mounted on the driving element in sociated with each of said weight members and
radially spaced relation to the axis of rotation moving with the driving element relative to the
thereof to swing outwardly under centrifugal periphery of the driven element, one of said shoe
force, each having a Working surface substan 40 and roller members being arranged to be engaged
tially normal to a radius from the axis of rota by the working surface of the weight member
tion through the pivot point, which surface is when the latter swings outwardly under centri
inclined at an acute angle to the radius when fugal force to produce a quick gripping clutch
the weight member swings outwardly under cen action between the driving and driven elements,
trifugal force, spring means normally tending to 45 one or more other rollers and cooperating cam
move said weight members inwardly to retracted blocks moving with the driving element relative
position, and a roller cooperating with the work to the periphery of the driven element, said cam
ing surface of each weight member to form a blocks having cam surfaces for engagement with
quick gripping clutch to connect the driving and
50 said rollers so inclined with respect to the periph
driven elements. ery of the driven element that the rollers cause
12. A centrifugal clutch comprising, in com a binding action between the cam blocks and
bination, relatively rotatable driving and driven the periphery of the driven element only when the
elements, one or more centrifugal Weight mem driven element turns faster than the driving ele
bers pivotally mounted on the driving element in ment, said rollers being spring pressed normally
radially spaced relation to the axis of rotation 55 toward clutched position.
thereof to swing outwardly under centrifugal 15. A clutch as set forth in claim l, including
force, each having a Working surface substan a freewheeling roller disposed in each of one
tially normal to a radius from the axis of rota or more slots provided `in the driving element,
tion through the pivot point, which surface is and a cam block having a cam surface inclined
`inclined at an acute angle to the radius when 60 relative to the periphery of the driven element
the weight member swings outwardly under cen and adapted to cause binding action of each of
trifugal force, spring means normally tending to the rollers between the blocks and the periphery
move said Weight members inwardly to retracted of the driven element when the driven element
position, a shoe member and a roller member 65 commences to turn faster than the driving ele
associated with each of said weight members and ment, said rollers being normally Spring pressed
moving with the driving element relative to the toward clutched position.
periphery of the driven element, one of said shoe 16. A friction clutch as set -forth in claim 5,
and roller members being arranged to be engaged including a freewheeling roller disposed in each
by the working surface of the Weight member 70 of one or more slots provided in the driving ele
when the latter swings outwardly under centri ment, and a cam block having a cam surface
fugal force to produce a quick gripping clutch inclined relative to the periphery of the driven
action between the driving and driven elements. element and adapted to cause binding action of
13. A centrifugal clutch comprising, in com each of the rollers between the blocks and the
bination, relatively rotatable driving and driven 75 periphery of the driven element when the driven
 6 aasaeeo
element commences to turn faster than the driv engageable with the periphery oi said driven ele
ing element, said rollers being normally spring ment to transmit drive thereto. pressure blocks
pressed toward clutched position. disposed in the slots with the shoes and adapted
17. In a friction clutch, the combination of to exert pressure on the letter toward frictions!
relatively rotatable driving and driven elements. engagement thereoi'vwith the periphery or the
lever members pivoted on the driving element to driven element, and rollers mounted on the pres
swing outwardly under centrifugal force, spring sure blocks under the pivoted ends of the afore
means tending to move said lever members in said levers for actuation of said pressure blocks
wardly to retracted position, friction shoes dis when the levers swing outwardly under centri
posed in slots provided in the driving element 10 fugal force, whereby to force the shoes into tight
in circumferentlally spaced relation relative to driving engagement with the periphery of the
the periphery of the driven element, said shoes driven element.
being engageable with the periphery of said 19. A clutch as set forth in claim 18, wherein
driven element to transmit dnve thereto, pres the inter-engaging surfaces on the periphery of
sure blocks disposed in the slots with the shoes the driven element and the friction shoes are
and adapted to exert pressureon the latter to conformed with respect to one another to provide
ward frictional engagement thereof with the pe interfltting V-shaped projections and grooves an
riphery of the driven element, means projecting nularly with respect to the periphery of the
from the pressure blocks under the pivoted ends driven element. ,
of the aforesaid levers for actuation of the pres 20 20. A centrifugal clutch comprising, in com
sure blocks when the levers swing outwardly bination, relatively rotatable driving and driven
under centrifugal force,whereby to force the elements, one or more centrifugal weight mem
shoes into tight driving engagement with the pe bers pivotally mounted on the driving element in
riphery o1' the driven element, 'and a freewheel radially spaced relation to the axis of rotation
ing roller disposed in each of one or more slots 25 thereof to swing outwardly under centrifugal
provided in the driving element, and a cam block force, each having a. vworking surface substan
having a cam surface inclined relative `to the tially normal to a radius from the axis of rota
periphery of the driven element and adapted to tion through the pivot point, which surface is in
cause binding action of each of the rollers be clined at an acute angle to the radius when the
tween the blocks and the periphery of the driven 30 weight member swings outwardly under centrifu
element when the driven element commences to gal force, spring means normally tending to
turn faster than the driving element, said roll move said weight members inwardly to retracted
ers being normally spring pressed toward clutched position, clutch means turning with the driving
position. `
element and associated with each of said centri
18. In a friction clutch, the combination of fugal Weight members to transmit drive to the
relatively rotatable driving and driven elements, driven element, and a roller between each of said
lever members pivoted on the driving element to clutch means and the working surface ofthe
swing outwardly under centrifugal force, spring associated centrifugal weight member to provide
means tending to move said lever members in a quick gripping clutch action when the centri
wardly to retracted position, friction shoes dis 40 fugal weight .member moves outwardly under
posed in slots provided in the driving element in centrifugal force.
circumferentially spaced relation relative to the ADOLF G. SCHNEIDER. \
periphery of the driven element, said shoes being HEINRICH SCHNEIDER.