Speed responsive centrifugal clutch with a serial circumferential arrangement of shoe assemblies and dampers

摘要

A speed responsive clutch assembly includes a generally disc-shaped clutch plate fixedly mounted on a rotating shaft on the driven side of the clutch assembly and a reaction ring supported by the clutch plate so as to be rotatable relative to the clutch plate over a predetermined angle. The clutch assembly also includes a plurality of shoe assemblies which are mounted on the reaction ring so as to be movable radially outward until they come into frictional contact with a casing, which is connected to a driving source, thereby establishing a coupled condition as the centrifugal force acting on the shoe assemblies increases. The assembly also includes a plurality of damper members interposed between the clutch plate and the reaction ring so that the rotational force can be transmitted between the clutch plate and the reaction ring through the damper members. Those shoe assemblies and damper members are arranged substantially along the same circumference.