Dec. 15, 1964, G. E.

JANSSEN 3,161,269
CAM OPERATED CLUTCH FOR FORACE WAGONS
Filed Dec. 3, 1962 3. Sheets-Sheet l

INVENTOR.
GAIL E. JANSSEN
BY

Z- a 27&eel
Arro Amve YS
Dec. 15, 1964 G. E. JANSSEN 3,161,269
CAM OPERATED CLUTCH FOR FORACE WAGONS
Filed Dec. 3, 1962 3. Sheets-Sheet 2

INVENTOR.
GAIL E. JANSSEN
BY
2. 7272ee s
arra ameYS
Dec. 15, 1964 G. E. JANSSEN 3,161,269
CAM OPERATED CLUTCH FOR FORAGE WAGONS
Filed Dec. 3, 1962 3. Sheets-Sheet 3

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INVENTOR.
6A/L E. JANSSEN
BY
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 United States Patent Office 3,161,269
Patiented Dec. 15, 1964

1. 2
3,161,269 action and because of its proximity to the open front end
CAM OPERATED CLUTCH FOR FORAGE of the wagon, it is an inherently dangerous part of the
WAGONS machine. Due to the nature of the unloading operation
Gail E. Janssen, West Bend, Wis., assignor to Geh Bros. it is often necessary for the operator to stand adjacent the
Manufacturing Co., West Bend, Wis., a corporation of 5 front end of the wagon and in order to clear an obstruc
Wiscoasian tion from the various moving parts it is quite a tempta
Filed Dec. 3, 1962, Ser. No. 241,971 tion for the operator to place his hand or arm in proxim
5 Claims. (C. 92-24) ity to them.
This invention relates generally to self-unloading forage 10 Notwithstanding the numerous warnings to the con
trary, some operators in attempting to clear or adjust the
wagons of the type which have driven beaters, conveyors, parts will place his hand in proximity to them and thus
or other moving parts which act to forcedly discharge the become entangled, which often results in serious bodily
material from the wagon. More particularly, the inven harm. When this occurs, it is extremely important to
tion relates to a safety device for declutching the drive to be able to immediately stop the pertinent parts of the
certain of these moving parts, so as to quickly stop the 5 machine.
inherently dangerous moving parts whenever necessary. The power for driving the various parts of the machine
Safety devices of this nature are in use today, and while above described is delivered by the power take-off shaft
they have operated with a certain degree of success, they 10 which is connected in the conventional manner with
do have certain shortcomings. For example, some of
them make it necessary to stop the prime mover entirely 20 a tractor
Of
(not shown).
course other suitable power sources may be used,
before the drive can again be re-engaged. This is time such as a dependent internal combustion engine, but in
consuming, particularly when it is appreciated that the any event power is furnished to the right angle gear box
declutching mechanism may often be accidentally tripped, 12. Gear box 12 has a rearwardly extending shaft 13
for example, by a bale of hay being thrown into the which, through the chain 14 and suitable sprockets 15
Wagon. 25 and E6, acts to drive the conveyor 5. As this belt is
Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to located in relatively safe place, there is no need to stop
provide a declutching device which can be instantly reset its operation by the declutching mechanism about to be
once it has been disengaged, and without the necessity of described. Therefore this endless belt continues to op
stopping the power source. A more limited aspect of erate and clear the trough 8, even though the beaters
the present invention relates to the specific structure for 30 may be temporarily stopped.
causing this interruption in the power transmission. Extending laterally from the gear box 12 is a first drive
The device provided by the present invention can be shaft
operated quickly and simply by one hand of the operator its free15end. having a clutch element 7 slidably splined on
This element includes a pair of axially ex
and from any one of a number of positions adjacent the tending teeth 19. A secondary power shaft 20 is in co
front end of the wagon, but at the same time the de 35 axial alignment with shaft 15 and is drivingly engageable
clutching device is not susceptible to accidental operation. and disengageable therewith by means to be described.
These and other objects and advantages of the present Shaft 20 extends through one wall of the wagon and
invention will appear later as this disclosure progresses, its protruding end is connected in driving relationship with
reference being had to the accompanying drawings in the beater 4 and the longitudinal conveyor C in the wagon
which: 40 bottom. More specifically, shaft 20 has a sprocket 20a
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a wagon embody (FIGURE 1) on its outer end which is connected by
ing the present invention, the view being taken generally the endless roller chain 20b to the beater 4 and conveyor
from the front end of the wagon; C through their respective sprockets 4a and CS.
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the declutching Shafts 15 and 20 may be disengaged in either one of
mechanism as shown in FIGURE 1, but on an enlarged two ways, as follows.
scale, and taken generally from the front, central portion Shaft 20 has a clutch element 21 fixed at its free end
of the wagon, and showing the clutch-engaged position; and in opposing relationship to clutch element 17. The
FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but show shaft 15 has a splined end pilot portion 8 which extends
ing the clutch in the disengaged position; into a counterbore 22 in the element 2 and is held
FIGURE 4 is an exploded, perspective view of certain 50 therein by a cap screw 23 threaded into the end of por
of the clutch and cam members; tion 18. Thus the shafts are held in coaxial alignment
FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal view through the clutch but can rotate relative to one another.
and cam members; and Element 21 has diametrically opposed and radially ex
FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view taken generally tending recesses 24 with which the teeth 19 are engage
along line 6-6 in FIGURE 5, but on an enlarged scale. 55 able.
Referring more particularly to the drawings, the An axial thrust absorbing collar 26 is secured to shaft
wagon includes the two sides 2 and 3 between which are 20 by a bolt means 27 extending therethrough.
rotatably mounted the beaters 4. These beaters are posi A spring S acts between the gear box 12 and element 17
tively driven and act to forcedly tear the material apart 60
to urge the latter into the engaged position.
and move it into the forward transverse conveyor 5. The The clutch may be actuated in a conventional manner
conveyor 5 is shown as being of the endless belt type by a shifting yoke 23 which engages the pins 29 extending
which conveys the material through the opening 6 in the laterally from a bracket 29a secured to element 17, the
end 7 of the transverse trough 8. It should be noted yoke being pivotally mounted on bolt means 28a in the
that the beater rotates rapidly and is aggressive in its upper end of the bifurcated bracket 30 of the machine
 3,161,269 4.
b.
frame. A handle 31 is pivotally mounted in the bracket the side of the wagon can also immediately disengage the
30 by bolt means 32. A connecting link 33 is pivotally beater simply by pushing downwardly on the rearwardly
connected between the upper end of the yoke, by bolt 34, sextending lever 76.
and the handle, by bolt means 35. A spring 36-mounted In order to again re-engage the clutch, it is only neces
on bolt means 35 has its ends secured to bolt means 32 Sary to manually swing the arm 58 forwardly to thereby
and 34, respectively, and acts to urge the handle to the |Femove the lever 55 from its holding engagement against
right (as viewed in FIGURES 2 and 3) and against a sto the lug on the stop cam.
bolt means 37. Resumé
The handle is usually used to start the drive to the wagon
parts at the beginning of the operation, or to interrupt the 0. With the present invention, the drive to the inherently
drive whenever desired. When the clutch is disengaged dangerous parts of the wagon can be immediately inter
by the means to be presently described, however, the rupted from any location adjacent the front end of the
handle swings partially to the right automatically, and in . wagon. The action of the declutching unit is positive
that case the spring 36 acts to continue urging the handle and immediate. In order to re-engage the drive, it is
to its overcenter position against the stop 37. I5,
only necessary to swing the arm forwardly, thus again
The second means for declutching the shafts in accord effecting drive to the entire wagon, and without stopping
ance with the present invention will now be described. the power source or cross conveyor.
A stop cam 40 of tubular form is rotatably mounted Various modes of carrying out the invention are con
on the periphery of the element 2 and can rotate rela templated as being within the scope of the following
tive thereto. Can 40 abuts against the thrust coilar 26 20
claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming
and has a pair of lugs. 41 secured at circumferentially the subjected matter which is regarded as the invention.
spaced locations on its periphery. Cam 40 also has in What I claim is:
clined surfaces. 42 and 43 along that side adjacent to clutch 1. A declutching device for a self-unloading wagon
element 7. - -
A throw-out cam 50 also of tubular form is mounted
-
25 of the type having rotatably driven parts, a power shaft
for rotation on and limited movement relative to the for driving said parts, and a clutch for said power shaft,
element 21. Cam 50 has a pair of axially opening re said clutch having a pair of disengageable elements, said
cesses 51 which are engageable by teeth 19. The can 59 device comprising a pair of tubular cams mounted on and
also has inclined edge surfaces 52 and 53 which are com around the outside of at least one of said elements and
plementary to and are abuttable against the respective. 30s having complementary cam surfaces, said cams being
inclined surfaces 42 and 43 of cam 40. rotatable with and enclosing said elements in normal
During normal driving operation, the cams are axially tdrive operation, one of said cams abutting against one
closed together, as shown in FIGURE 2, and rotate as of said elements for shifting the latter to a clutch disen
a unit along with the shafts 15 and 29. gaged position, means for stopping rotation of the other
As will now be described, means are provided for ca Is-. 3 s of said cams to thereby cause relative rotation between
ing cam 40 to cease rotating and thereby shift can 50 said cams and consequently shifting one cam and its
axially and axially shift the clutch element 17 out of . associated element to a clutch disengaging position.
driving engagement with element 2. In other words, 2. A declutching device for a self-unloading wagon.
relative rotation between the cams causes axial separation of the type having rotatably driven parts, a pair of co
due to their complementary inclined surfaces moving over. 40 axially aligned power shafts for driving said parts, and
a clutch between said power shafts and carried thereby,
one another. said clutch having a pair of disengageable elements, one.
Mounted directly beneath the stop cam 40 is a pivoted fixed to each of said shafts, one of said elements being
lever 55 mounted on its hub 56 in a bifurcated bracket axially shiftable out of driving engagement with the other
57. which in turn is secured to the wagon frame F. An
arm 58 is also welded to the hub and has a trip chain 59 element, said device comprising a pair of tubular cams.
secured to its free end. Also secured to the free end of mounted on and around the outside of at least one of
the arm is a return spring. 60 which biases the lever 55 said elements and having complementary and opposed.
to be swung upwardly against the lugs of the stop cam. can edges said cams being rotatable with and enclosing
As soon as a lug engages the end of the lever, the power said elements in normal driving operation, one of said
is interrupted due to immediate axial separation of the 50 cams abutting against one of said elements for axial
clutch cam elements 40 and 50, and the beater and longi shifting of the latter to a clutch disengaged position,
tudinal conveyor in the wagon also stop immediately. Ineans for stopping rotation of the other of said cams
The means for actuating the lever takes the form of a to thereby cause: relative movement between said cam
trip bar 70 which is swingably mounted by its arms 72 edges and consequently axial shifting of said one cam
and 73 in the side walls of the wagon. A third arm 74 and its associated element to a clutch disengaging position.
is welded intermediate the length of the trip bar and the 3. A declutching device...for a self-unloading wagon
other end of the chain 59 is fastened to the free end of having rotatably driven parts, a pair of co-axially aligned:
this arm. power shafts for driving said parts, a clutch between said,
Any slight rearward pushing on the trip bar acts to 60 shafts and having a disengageable element rotationally
swing the free end of arm 74 upwardly, carrying with it: fixed to each of said shafts, a pair of tubular cams
the lever 55, and it is only necessary to swing the trip bar mounted on and around the outside of at least one of
slightly to the rear to: thus effect disengagement of the Said elements and having complementary cam surfaces,
clutch. said cams being rotatable with and enclosing said elements
It will be noted that the arms of the trip bar extend in normal drive. operation, one of said, cams being in:
generally vertically and this is for the purpose of prevent 65 driving engagement with one of said elements and axially
ing accidental rearward swinging of the bar, as when be-, lug shiftable therewith to a clutch disengaged position, a stop.
ing struck by a bale of hay or the like which may be on the periphery of the other of said cams, and re.
thrown into the front end of the wagon. In other words, leasable lever means shiftably mounted on said wagon-and
abuttable against said lug to thereby stop rotation of said.
by having the swingable arms extend normally in a gen
erally vertical position, any bale or other object landing 70 other can and causing relative rotation between said cams
on top thereof will not cause rearward swinging of the and consequent axial shifting of said cam-and- its asso
bar. -- - iciated element to a clutch disengaging position.
4. A device as defined in claim 3 including a trip bar
In order to actuate the bar from the side of the wagon, Swingably
a rearwardly extending lever 76 is secured to the pivot. mounted on said Wagon, and a connecting,
shaft: 77 of arm 72. Thereby an operator standing at 75 nember between said bar and said lever, whereby shifting
 3,161,269
5 6
of said bar swings said lever into engagement with said elements, means for stopping rotation of said one cam
lug. to thereby cause relative rotation between said cams and
5. A declutching device for a self-unloading wagon consequent axial shifting of said other cam and its as
having a pair of co-axially aligned power shafts, a disen Sociated element to a clutch disengaging position.
gageable clutch element rotationally fixed to each of said References Cited in the file of this patent
shafts for rotation therewith, a pair of tubular cams
mounted on and around the outside of at least one of said UNITED STATES PATENTS
elements and having complementary cam surfaces, one 1,472,815 Schimek --------------- Nov. 6, 1923
of said cams being rotatably mounted on one of said ele 2,060, 175 Carleton -------------- Nov. 10, 1936
ments, the other of said cams being in driving engage 10 2,513,453 Conner ----------------- July 4, 1950
ment with the other of said element for shifting the latter 2,677,447 Johnson ---------------- May 4, 1954
to a clutch disengaged position, said cams enclosing said 3,106,998 Walker ---------------- Oct. 15, 1963