Title: Fail safe centrifugal clutch

Abstract: A fail-safe, velocity-discriminating centrifugal clutch having a biased, ion-transmitting pawl element displaceable at speeds at or above a predetermined threshold value to an engagement position with a driven ratchet assembly. Under conditions of missing or malassembled parts, clutch operation is in the fail-safe mode with no transmission of rotary motion. In the engaged position, no centrifugal force generated by the pawl element is applied to the ratchet assembly. This feature, plus the radial contact between the pawl element and the ratchet assembly, allows operation between misaligned input and output shafts, even at high rotational speeds.

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Inventors: O'Steen, James K. (Olney, MD, US)

Application Number: 600660
Filing Date: 1975-07-31
Publication_date: 1977-01-18
Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy (Washington, DC)
Primary Class(es): 192/105BB 192/71, 192/103B, 192/105CF
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

2219883	Oct, 1940	Amtsberg	192/103.
2267334	Dec, 1941	Keller	192/105.
2635476	Apr, 1953	Bucy et al.	192/105.

Other Refs: 849,356

Aug, 1939	FR

Primary Examiner: Wyche, Benjamin W.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Sciascia; R. S., Branning; A. L., Yee; F. K.