Lawn mower brake and clutch device

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a combined clutch and brake comprising a drive assembly including a driving member rotatable about an axis and a driving disk fixedly extending on the driving member for common rotation therewith and against axial movement therebetween, a driven assembly mounted on the drive assembly for relative rotation therebetween and against axial movement of the driven assembly, a ring member located in encircling relation to the driving member between the disk and the driven assembly and including an upper surface having an annular friction pad including a radially inner portion in facing relation to the disk and a radially outer portion, a spring biasing the ring axially towards the disk for driving engagement by the disk with the inner portion of the friction pad, a brake member fixed against rotary movement and movable axially between a retracted position and a braking position engaged with the outer portion of the friction pad so as to disengage the ring from the disk against the action of the spring and so as to prevent rotation of the ring, and a coupling connecting the ring and the driven assembly for common rotation thereof and for relative axial movement therebetween, which coupling comprising one or more studs extending from the ring in parallel relation to the rotary axis in the direction away from the disk, and in radially outward relation from the spring and a corresponding one or more fingers extending fixedly from the driven assembly and including apertures receiving the studs to afford common rotary movement therewith and relative axial movement therebetween.

We claim: 
     
       1. A rotary lawn mower comprising a blade housing supported for travel over the ground, a prime mover mounted on said blade housing, a cutter blade, and a combined clutch and brake located between said prime mover and said cutter blade and comprising a drive asembly including a driving member driven by said prime mover for rotation about an axis, and a driving disk fixedly extending on said driving member for common rotation therewith and against axial movement therebetween, a driven assembly connected to said cutter blade, means mounting said driven assembly from said drive assembly for relative rotation therebetween and against axial movement therebetween, a ring member located in encircling relation to said driving member between said disk and said driven assembly and including a friction surface having a radially inner portion in facing relation to said disk and a radially outer portion having an outer perifery, means biasing said ring axially towards said disk for driving engagement by said disk with said inner portion of said friction surface, brake means fixed against rotary movement and movable axially between a retracted position and a braking position enagaged with said outer portion of said friction surface so as to disengage said ring from said disk against the action of said biasing means and so as to prevent rotation of said ring, one or more studs extending from said ring in parallel relation to the rotary axis in the direction away from said disk, and in radially outward relation from said biasing means and in radial inward relation from said outer perifery of said ring member, and a corresponding one or more fingers extending fixedly from said driven assembly and including apertures receiving said studs to afford common rotary movement therewith and relative axial movement therebetween. 
     
     
       2. A combined clutch and brake comprising a drive assembly including a driving member rotatable about an axis, and a driving disk fixedly extending on said driving member for common rotation therewith and against axial movement therebetween, a driven assembly, means mounting said driven assembly from said drive assembly for relative rotation therebetween and against axial movement therebetween, a ring member located in encircling relation to said driving member between said disk and said driven assembly and including a friction surface having a radially inner portion in facing relation to said disk and a radially outer portion with an outer perifery, means biasing said ring axially towards said disk for driving engagement by said disk with said inner portion of said friction surface, brake means fixed against rotary movement and movable axially between a retracted position and braking position engaged with said outer portion of said friction surface so as to disengage said ring from said disk against the action of said biasing means and so as to prevent rotation of said ring, one or more studs extending from said ring in parallel relation to the rotary axis in the direction away from said disk, and in radially outward relation from said biasing means and in radial inward relation from said outer perifery of said ring member, and a corresponding one or more fingers extending fixedly from said driven assembly and including apertures receiving said studs to afford common rotary movement therewith and relative axial movement therebetween. .Iadd. 
     
     
       3.  A rotary lawn mower comprising a blade housing supported for travel over the ground, a prime mover mounted on said blade housing, a cutter blade, and a combined clutch and brake located between said prime mover and said cutter blade and comprising a drive assembly including a drive shaft driven by said prime mover for rotation about an axis, and a driving disk fixedly extending on said drive shaft for common rotation therewith and against axial movement therebetween, a driven member connected to said cutter blade, means mounting said driven member from said drive shaft for relative rotation therebetween and against axial movement therebetween, a ring member located in encircling relation to said drive shaft between said disk and said driven member and including a friction surface having a radially inner portion in facing relation to said disk and a radially outer portion having an outer periphery, means biasing said ring member axially towards said disk for driving engagement by said disk with said inner portion of said friction surface, brake means fixed against rotary movement and movable axially between a retracted position and a braking position engaged with said outer portion of said friction surface so as to disengage said ring member from said disk against the action of said biasing means and so as to prevent rotation of said ring member, one or more studs extending from one of said members in parallel relation to the rotary axis in the direction away from said disk, and in radially outward relation from said biasing means and in radial inward relation from said outer periphery of said ring member, and a corresponding one or more apertures in the other of said members receiving said studs to afford common rotary movement therewith and relative axial movement therebetween. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 
     
     
       4.  A combined clutch and brake comprising a drive assembly including a drive shaft rotatable about an axis, and a driving disk fixedly extending on said drive shaft for common rotation therewith and against axial movement therebetween, a driven member, means mounting said driven member from said drive shaft for relative rotation therebetween and against axial movement therebetween, a ring member located in encircling relation to said drive shaft between said disk and said driven member and including a friction surface having a radially inner portion in facing relation to said disk and a radially outer portion with an outer periphery, means biasing said ring member axially towards said disk for driving engagement by said disk with said inner portion of said friction surface, brake means fixed against rotary movement and movable axially between a retracted position and a braking position engaged with said outer portion of said friction surface so as to disengage said ring member from said disk against the action of said biasing means and so as to prevent rotation of said ring member, one or more studs extending fom one of said members in parallel relation to the rotary axis in the direction away from said disk and in radially outward relation from said biasing means and in radial inward relation from said outer periphery of said ring member, and a corresponding one or more apertures in the other of said members receiving said studs to afford common rotary movement therewith and relative axial movement therebetween. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 
     
     
       5.  A rotary lawn mower comprising a blade housing supported for travel over the ground, a prime mover mounted on said blade housing, a cutter blade, and a combined clutch and brake located between said prime mover and said cutter blade and comprising a drive assembly including a drive shaft driven by said prime mover for rotation about an axis, and a driving disk fixedly extending on said drive shaft for common rotation therewith and against axial movement therebetween, a driven member connected to said cutter blade, means mounting said driven member from said drive shaft for relative rotation therebetween and against axial movement therebetween, a ring member located in encircling relation to said drive shaft between said disk and said driven member and including a friction surface having a radially inner portion in facing relation to said disk and a radially outer portion having an outer periphery, means biasing said ring member axially towards said disk for driving engagement by said disk with said inner portion of said friction surface, brake means fixed against rotary movement and movable axially between a retracted position and braking position engaged with said outer portion of said friction surface so as to disengage said ring member from said disk against the action of said biasing means and so as to prevent rotation of said ring member, and means located in radially outward relation from said biasing means and in radially inward relation from said outer periphery of said ring member and connecting said members for common rotary movement and for relative axially movement therebetween. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 
     
     
       6.  A combined clutch and brake comprising a drive assembly including a drive shaft rotatable about an axis, and a driving disk fixedly extending on said drive shaft for common rotation therewith and against axial movement therebetween, a driven member, means mounting said driven member from said drive shaft for relative rotation therebetween and against axial movement therebetween, a ring member located in encircling relation to said drive shaft between said disk and said driven member and including a friction surface having a radially inner portion in facing relation to said disk and a radially outer portion with an outer periphery, means biasing said ring member axially towards said disk for driving engagement by said disk with said inner portion of said friction surface, brake means fixed against rotary movement and movable axially between a retracted position and a braking position engaged with said outer portion of said friction surface so as to disengage said ring member from said disk against the action of said biasing means and so as to prevent rotation of said ring member, and means located in radially outward relation from said biasing means and in radially inward relation from said outer periphery of said ring member and connecting said members for common rotary movement and for relative axially movement therebetween. .Iaddend.