Horton Manufacturing Company Inc.

Edward D Brooks

James V Hanks

A two-speed clutch is shown according to the preferred embodiment of the teachings of the present invention for the selective rotational relation of an input shaft with a first or second sheeve unit having different diameters. The first sheeve unit is rotatably mounted to the input shaft. The second sheeve unit is mounted to a housing in turn rotatably mounted to the input shaft. The clutch includes a friction disc which is located between and frictionally interrelates with the first sheeve unit or the housing. The housing includes a single, reciprocally mounted piston for moving the friction disc. Utilizing a two-speed clutch of the present invention eliminates the requirement of two separate and complete drive units as in prior techniques. Furthermore, since the housing performs multiple functions, i.e., rotatably mounts the second sheeve unit to the input, slidably mounts the piston, acts as the interface for the second sheeve unit with the friction disc, and other functions, the two-speed clutch of the present invention greatly reduces the number of parts and results in a simplicity of construction. Furthermore, the two-speed clutch of the present invention provides a relatively dust and other element free environment for the piston and splined interconnection of the interfacing friction disc with the input.

Two-speed clutch

A combination clutch-brake is shown including a housing having an output shaft rotatably mounted therein. A first hub having a first friction disc with a friction lining thereon and connected thereto is slideably mounted on the output shaft and rotatable therewith. A single annular piston is slideably mounted in a cylinder formed in the housing with a bearing interposed between the annular piston and the first hub allowing the hub to rotate radially within the annular piston. An annular spring housing having an annular backing portion with a friction lining connected thereto is fixedly mounted within and carried by the housing axially with respect to the piston. The spring housing has a series of spaced springs mounted thereon in urging contact with the piston whereby the friction lining of the spring housing backing portion contacts the first friction disc for braking of the output shaft when there is no fluid pressure in the cylinder. A second hub for connection with an input shaft and having a second friction disc thereon is rotatably mounted within the housing and engageable with a friction lining on the first friction disc when fluid pressure is introduced into the cylinder to thereby withdraw the first friction disc from the friction lining of the annular backing of the spring housing thereby debraking and clutching in the output shaft.

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Fridley, MN, United States of America

Edward D Brooks