Link device of controllable variable length

• US 20070068303A1
• Filed: 08/09/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Aircraft Engine Company
• Original Assignee: Snecma (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Bouru, Michel
• Granted Patent: US 7,802,964 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/469
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 17/20 Devices dealing with sensing elements or final actuators or transmitting means between them, e.g. power-assisted sensing elements alone F01D17/02; final actuators alone F01D17/10
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/563 specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 7/06 Adjustable connecting-rods
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18056 Rotary to or from reciprocating or oscillating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20 Control lever and linkage systems

Abstract

The invention concerns a controllable variable length link device. It comprises a first half-link (12) having a first end (12a) for connection to a driving system (16) and a second end (12b), a second half-link (14) having a first end (14a) for connection to a driven system (18) and a second end (14b), a rotary displacement member (20) including a rotator shaft (22) and a rotary head (24, 26) cooperating with said second ends (12b, 14b) of said links to bring about opposite movement of said half-links, bearing means (34, 36) in which said rotator shaft (22) is mounted, respective means (38, 40) for guiding said two half-links (12, 14) in translation in at least two parallel directions, said drive means being mechanically connected to said bearing means; and means for driving said shaft (22) in rotation in both directions in accordance with a predetermined law.

Claims

1. A controllable variable length link device comprising:

a first half-link having a first end for connection to a driving system and a second end,

a second half-link having a first end for connection to a driven system and a second end,

a rotary displacement member including a rotator shaft and a rotary head cooperating with said second ends of said links to bring about opposite movement of said half-links,

bearing means in which said rotator shaft is mounted,

respective means for guiding said two half-links in translation in at least two parallel directions, said drive guide being mechanically connected to said bearing means; and

means for driving said shaft in rotation in both directions in accordance with a predetermined law.

2. A link device according to claim 1, wherein said guide means each comprise a portion of a half-link close to its second end having a cylindrical external surface with generatrices parallel to the axis of said half-link and a guide member mechanically connected to said bearing means having a passage conjugate with said cylindrical surface.

3. A link device according to claim 2, further comprising a casing in which said bearing means and said two guide members are formed.

4. A link device according to claim 1, wherein said rotary head of said rotary member is a yoke comprising two arms extending radially relative to said shaft, each arm being connected to the second end of one half-link.

5. A link device according to claim 4, wherein said passages in said guide members are aligned.

6. A link device according to claim 1, wherein each half-link has near its second end a rack portion and said head of said rotary member is a pinion meshing with said racks.

7. A link device according to claim 6, wherein said passages in said guide members have parallel axes.

8. A link device according to claim 6, wherein said guide means for guiding the end of each half-link further comprise two rings forming cams in which said half-links are slidably mounted, said rings being disposed on respective opposite sides of said rack portion.

9. A link device according to claim 8, wherein said guide means further comprise means for immobilizing said rings against rotation and against movement in translation.

10. A link device according to claim 1, wherein said rotation means comprise a motor whose output shaft is mechanically connected to said shaft of said rotary member.

11. A link device according to claim 1, wherein said rotation means comprise an arm orthogonal to said drive shaft and one end of which is fastened to said drive shaft and the other end of which is slidably mounted in a bearing attached to a pivot fixed relative to a casing.

12. A link device according to claim 1, wherein said rotation means comprise an arm orthogonal to said drive shaft and a first end of which is fastened to said shaft and the other end of which is fastened to a roller constrained to move in a fixed slot.

13. A variable pitch guide vane control device comprising a link device comprising:

a first half-link having a first end for connection to a driving system and a second end,

a second half-link having a first end for connection to a driven system and a second end,

a rotary displacement member including a rotator shaft and a rotary head cooperating with said second ends of said links to bring about opposite movement of said half-links,

bearing means in which said rotator shaft is mounted,

respective means for guiding said two half-links in translation in at least two parallel directions, said drive guide being mechanically connected to said bearing means; and

means for driving said shaft in rotation in both directions in accordance with a predetermined law.

14. A turbomachine compressor comprising a link device comprising:

a first half-link having a first end for connection to a driving system and a second end,

a second half-link having a first end for connection to a driven system and a second end,

a rotary displacement member including a rotator shaft and a rotary head cooperating with said second ends of said links to bring about opposite movement of said half-links,

bearing means in which said rotator shaft is mounted,

respective means for guiding said two half-links in translation in at least two parallel directions, said drive guide being mechanically connected to said bearing means; and

means for driving said shaft in rotation in both directions in accordance with a predetermined law.

15. A turbomachine comprising a link device comprising:

a first half-link having a first end for connection to a driving system and a second end,

a second half-link having a first end for connection to a driven system and a second end,

a rotary displacement member including a rotator shaft and a rotary head cooperating with said second ends of said links to bring about opposite movement of said half-links,

bearing means in which said rotator shaft is mounted,

respective means for guiding said two half-links in translation in at least two parallel directions, said drive guide being mechanically connected to said bearing means; and

means for driving said shaft in rotation in both directions in accordance with a predetermined law.