Centrifugal pulley with movable flange supported by rollers on a square shaft

Claim 1

A centrifugal clutch assembly, comprising: a drive shaft; a first pulley flange mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith; a second pulley flange axially opposite said first pulley flange, said first and second pulley flanges having confronting conical faces which cooperate to form a V-belt groove; bearing means mounting said second pulley flange for movement toward and away from said first pulley flange, said bearing means including a race means coaxially secured to said shaft for rotation therewith, said race means having a plurality of outer surfaces forming longitudinal platforms extending parallel with the axis of said shaft, a bearing support connected with said second flange and overlying the respective said race means platform, and, antifriction bearings secured to and supporting each said bearing support in spaced relation with respect to the respective platform surface; a pressure plate extending between and secured to said bearing supports opposite said second pulley flange; spring means interposed between said race means and said pressure plate and normally biasing said second pulley flange away from said first pulley flange; housing means surrounding said bearing means and axially connected for rotation with said shaft, said housing means having a wall surface curving arcuately toward said second pulley flange and forming a caM surface; and, flyweights pivotally secured to said bearing supports and being contrifugally biased outwardly above predetermined angular rates of rotation of said drive shaft into contact with said cam surface for forcing said second pulley flange toward said first pulley flange.