US 12,253,125 B2
Centrifugal clutch mechanisms
David Baker, Easley, SC (US); and Frank Peters, Easley, SC (US)
Assigned to TECHTRONIC CORDLESS GP, Anderson, SC (US)
Filed by Techtronic Cordless GP, Anderson, SC (US)
Filed on Jul. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/351,098.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/425,774, filed on Nov. 16, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/393,543, filed on Jul. 29, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0035527 A1, Feb. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. F16D 43/16 (2006.01); A01D 34/68 (2006.01); A01D 101/00 (2006.01)
CPC F16D 43/16 (2013.01) [A01D 34/6812 (2013.01); A01D 2101/00 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A transmission comprising:
a first stage gear;
a second stage gear;
a centrifugal clutch mechanism that transfers energy from the first stage gear to the second stage gear, the centrifugal clutch mechanism comprising:
a clutch bell comprising an annular wall and a circular ring extending away from the annular wall towards the first stage gear to define an internal cavity, wherein the circular ring comprises an inward facing surface defining a drive surface; and
one or more centrifugal weights disposed in the internal cavity between the annular wall and the first stage gear, wherein the one or more centrifugal weights are slidingly engaged with the first stage gear, the one or more centrifugal weights being linearly slidable along a radial direction perpendicular to a center axis of the centrifugal clutch mechanism;
wherein the second stage gear is rotatably coupled to the clutch bell; and
wherein rotation of the first stage gear causes the one or more centrifugal weights to transition along the radial direction from a disengaged position in which the one or more centrifugal weights do not interface with the drive surface to an engaged position in which the one or more centrifugal weights interface with the drive surface to transfer rotational energy from the first stage gear to the second stage gear.