Importance

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Abstract

A drive member such as a gear of a pulley cooperates with a pair of clutch elements, each of which has a splined connection with a shaft. One clutch element is axially fixed; the other is shiftable through a small distance towards and from the fixed one. Each clutch element has a conical surface concentric to the shaft that tapers oppositely to the conical surface on the other. The drive member has an inner periphery of larger diameter than the shaft and has oppositely tapering conical surfaces that respectively mate with the conical surfaces on the clutch elements, which thus at all times maintain the drive member coaxial with the shaft and confine it against axial shifting. An actuator urges the shiftable clutch element towards the fixed one to engage the clutch elements with the drive member. A spring biases the clutch elements apart so that the mating conical surfaces can serve as bearings lubricated by oil delivered through the shaft.

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First Claim