AN AUTOMATIC CLUTCH

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 133, 1 March 1929, Page 8

AN AUTOMATIC CLUTCH

A USEFUL INVENTION An automatic clutch, simple in its construction, has been invented. The following description gives a fair idea of its action and design:— The clutch is of the ordinary doubledisc type disengaged by pedal pressure through pivoted radial levers moving the pressure plate against the pressure of the springs, which are set round the circumference of the clutch. The automatic control consists of eight pivoted levers, the inner ends of which engage with other springs held in cups in the clutch cover plate, so that the outer ends of these levers are caused to bear against a flange on the pressure plate. Normally, the force exerted by these springs through their levers is great enough to cause the pressure plate to compress the ordinary clutch springs, so as to keep the clutch disengaged. but as the engine is speeded up. carrying with it the driving member of the clutch, bob weights on the automatic control levers move outwards by centrifugal force, compressing the controlling springs, and therefore allowing the pressure plate to be acted upon by the clutch springs, so engaging the clutch. It will be seen, therefore, that the construction of this automatic clutch is quite simple, and there is no complicated mechanism likely to give trouble. The advantages of the clutch are that it simplifies driving to some extent, and that it gives a free-wheel effect. As the engine is accelerated the clutch takes up the drive automatically, and as the engine Is allowed to decelerate when the car is being brought to rest the clutch disengages automatically when the speed of the engine falls below the set value. In thick traffic, therefore, it should be possible to engage a moderately low gear, and to control the car with one foot on the accelerator and the other on the brake.