GB381094A - Improvements in and relating to vehicle clutches - Google Patents

Abstract

381,094. Clutches for vehicles. VOITH, W., VOITH, H., and VOITH, H., (trading as VOITH, J. M.), Heidenheim, Wurtemburg, Germany. March 21, 1932, No. 8416. Convention date, March 20, 1931. [Class 80 (ii).] Clutches for vehicles are of combined friction clutch and hydraulic flow clutch type in which the shut-off valve for the fluid clutch is integral with the movable friction clutch member, so that when the friction clutch is disengaged the fluid clutch device can be gradually shut off and as the friction clutch is moved to position for engagement the fluid clutch gradually takes up the drive and at the same time supplies fluid pressure to maintain friction clutch engagement. The actual engagement of the friction clutch is controlled and its disengagement effected by manual control of an auxiliary valve in a forced supply of fluid to the space between the friction clutch elements. A fluidclutch blade-wheel 3 of the F÷ttinger type is secured to the driving-flywheel 2, the driven blade wheel 4 being secured to the driven shaft 6. The shut-off valve 5 of the clutch is integral with the friction-clutch member 18 splined to the shaft 6 and controlled by the main clutch pedal, the co-operating clutch member 19 being secured to the flywheel 2. Fluid is pumped to nozzles 16, 17 supplying respectively the fluid clutch and the space between the clutch members, the latter having escape-orifices 22. A spring 11 tends to close the clutch 18, 19, but its strength is insufficient to produce engagement while fluid is pumped to the interclutch space. Similarly, the pedal cannot disengage the clutch against the pressure produced by the fluid clutch until fluid is supplied through the auxiliary valve to the interclutch space. With the friction clutch closed and the fluid clutch operating, the pedal is lowered for declutching and in its first movement opens the auxiliary valve, which supplies pressure to the interclutch space to enable the friction clutch to be opened and the valve 8 to be closed to stop the drive. On release of the clutch pedal, the spring 11 returns the clutch member 18 to proximity to the member 19, at the same time gradually bringing the fluid clutch into driving condition. Near the end of the pedal movement, the auxiliary clutch is closed and fluid escapes through the orifices 12, so that the friction clutch is closed by the action of the spring and the fluid-clutch pressure.