Centrifugal clutch with centrifugal detent

Abstract

A centrifugal clutch construction having an outer driven member and an inner driving rotor assembly. The rotor assembly has a pair of spaced, radially extending, side plates mounted in fixed positions on a driving shaft, and a core fixed to the shaft between the side plates. The core is provided with diametrically opposite surfaces engaging and supporting associated pairs of clutch shoes when the shoes are in retracted position. A release plate is slidably mounted between each pair of clutch shoes, and the release plates and clutch shoes are retained in retracted position on the core by pairs of clamping balls. The balls are located mainly within holes formed in each pair of clutch shoes and portions of the balls project partially into openings formed in the side plates. Each pair of balls frictionally clamps a release plate therebetween when the clutch is in disengaged position. The release plates move radially outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force and overcome the clamping and friction forces of the retaining balls when the shaft reaches a predetermined speed. The balls then move laterally of the side plates inwardly toward each other into U-shaped slots formed in the release plates and out of engagement with the side plates, whereupon the clutch shoes snap into engagement with the outer driven member.