DE2205546

A jaw clutch wherein a shaft has two sets of external teeth and is movable axially between a first position in which the clutch is disengaged and at least one second position in which the shaft connects a torque-supplying element with a torque-receiving element. The shaft is movable in axial passages of the torque-supplying and torque-receiving elements and is in permanent mesh with one of these elements. The two elements have sets of internal teeth which mate with the corresponding teeth of the shaft in engaged condition of the clutch. The teeth of at least one set of each pair of mating sets of teeth are relatively short so that both ends of the shaft are free to swivel within certain limits. The mechanism for shifting the shaft axially employs a lever or a cylinder which is connected with the shaft by a coupling member one end of which is articulately connected to the shaft by a self-aligning bearing and the other end of which is articulately connected with the lever or cylinder by a spherical joint or by an elastic ring seal. When the clutch is disengaged, one end of the shaft is centered in one of the clutch elements or by the coupling member which is then provided with an external cylindrical surface extending into an internal cylindrical surface of the housing for the clutch.