Patent · US Expired

Variable-speed pulley and clutch

US4102214A · kind A · utility

22Cited by
6References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 18, 1976
Grant dateJul 25, 1978
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 18, 1996

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16H55/563
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A centrifugal clutch and variable-speed pulley has a movable pulley flange mounted for both axial and rotational movement relative to a fixed flange. The fixed flange hub has a cylindrical primary bearing at the opposite side of the pulley groove from the flange and has a hub extension of reduced diameter which provides an elongated outboard bearing surface. The movable flange is on a hub sleeve which has an elongated internal bearing liner engaging the primary bearing and has an outboard bearing riding on the hub extension surface. The hubs have counterbores defining a spring chamber about the hub extension, where a spring acts to urge the flanges apart. Thrust faces on the hubs, radially outward of the spring, come together to limit flange closing movement. Plastic disk-shaped centrifugal weights mounted in angularly spaced channels on the back of the movable flange are normally under preload against a reaction cone on the hub extension, to limit opening movement of the flanges and to provide initial frictional torque drive between the movable flange and the cone. Centrifugal force drives the weights outward along the cone to urge the flanges together. A threaded joint between th…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.