Geared Freewheel Clutch System Help?

[Howlettman]

Good afternoon,

I'm developing a system where a geared system transfers force and rotation to a sprag clutch system which can freewheel in one direction.

To explain with more detail, an initial 120degree rotation would be geared using belts to turn a gear 3x (approx 9:1 proportion). The 3 revolution gear would be connected through a freewheel clutch, which in turn drives a weighted flywheel connected to a paddle system within a cylinder. The aim is for this motion is to drive the paddles and retain partial momentum while the user reverses the motion partially (to where the handle started), then applies another force through that 120degrees. The freewheel clutch is there to retain motion along with the flywheel.

Firstly, would this work?

Secondly, there's a technical challenge involved in reversing the effect of the motion, so the handle could have a equivalent force applied in the opposite direction (anti-clockwise for example). So the system then works in the opposite direction. The system would work the same, the problem exists at the freewheel clutch then, how is this reversible? At the moment i cannot figure this out.

Many thanks.

 

[MikeHalloran]

I think users would hate the input mechanism, repeatedly having to swing a crank to accelerate a flywheel, when it would be so much simpler to just allow full rotation of the input crank, like on a hand-powered bench grinder.

... which is also reversible, with none of the complexity of a bidirectional ratchet. About that: I think I've seen it done, but I don't remember where or how.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[MikeHalloran]

Oh. Either way, beware of stored energy and pinch points... or maybe you could use a non-spoked wheel instead of a crank and handle, so nobody could catch a sleeve in anything.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[hydtools]

This sounds like the machanism to create the draft on my antique forge. A lever pulls a strap attached to a weight-biased rewind crank that drives a large wheel thru a one-way clutch. The large wheel continues to spin and drive a belt that turns the fan. However, it is not bi-directional.

Ted