SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AXIAL FORCE GENERATION

• US 20170335961A1
• Filed: 05/20/2016
• Published: 11/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hamrin, John
• Granted Patent: US 10,253,881 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 13/08 with balls or with rollers acting in a similar manner
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 13/14 for automatically varying the pressure mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/28 with external friction surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/503 in which two members co-operate by means of balls or rollers of uniform effective diameter, not mounted on shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/52 in which a member of uniform effective diameter mounted on a shaft may co-operate with different parts of another member
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/6649 characterised by the means for controlling the torque transmitting capability of the gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/067 mechanical actuating means

Abstract

A speed based axial force generation mechanism may generate axial force corresponding to a rotational speed of a speed based axial force generation system relative to a central axis. As the speed based axial force generation system rotates at increasing speeds, inertia causes a change in the configuration of a first rigid member and a second rigid member, resulting in a change in the axial force generated by the mechanism.

Claims

1. A speed based axial force generation mechanism formed in a ring, comprising:

a first rigid member and a second rigid member with a movable coupling, wherein the first rigid member and the second rigid member are in a first configuration when the axial force generation system is rotating about a central axis at a first rotational speed; and

wherein the first rigid member and the second rigid member change to a second configuration at a second rotational speed greater than the first rotational speed, wherein the first rigid member comprises a first end for contact with one of a first ring and first cam and the second ring comprises a first end for contact with one of a second ring and second cam.

2. The speed based axial force generation mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a third rigid member, wherein the third rigid member applies a first axial force when the rotational speed is less than a predetermined rotational speed and wherein the first and second rigid members apply a second axial force when the rotational speed is greater than a rotational speed.

3. The speed based axial force generation mechanism of claim 2, wherein one or more of the length of the first rigid member, the length of the second rigid member, the mass of the first rigid member, the mass of the second rigid member, a profile of the first rigid member, and a profile of the second rigid member is selected to apply the second axial force according to a predetermined axial force generation rate.

4. The speed based axial force generation mechanism of claim 3, wherein the second axial force generation rate increases as the centripetal force increases.

5. The speed based axial force generation mechanism of claim 3, wherein the second axial force generation rate is linear.

6. The speed based axial force generation mechanism of claim 1, wherein the second configuration comprises the first rigid member and the second rigid member forming an angle less than or equal to 180 degrees.

7. A system comprising:

a first annular ring;

a second annular ring; and

a speed based axial force generation mechanism interposed between the first annular ring and the second annular ring, wherein the speed based axial force generation mechanism is formed of a first rigid member and a second rigid member with a movable coupling, the first rigid member having a first end shaped for contact with the first annular ring and the second rigid member having a first end shaped for contact with the second annular ring, wherein the first rigid member and the second rigid member are in a first configuration when the speed based axial force generation mechanism is rotating about a central axis at a first rotational speed,

wherein the speed based axial force generation mechanism is in a second configuration when the speed based axial force generation mechanism rotates about the central axis at a second rotational speed greater than the first rotational speed, wherein an axial force is generated on the first annular ring and the second annular ring in the second configuration.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the second configuration comprises the first rigid member and the second rigid member forming an angle less than or equal to 180 degrees.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a third rigid member, wherein the third rigid member exerts a first axial force when the rotational speed is less than the first rotational speed and the speed based axial force generation mechanism exerts a second axial force when the speed based axial force generation mechanism rotates at the first rotational speed.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the first annular ring is integral with a traction ring.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the first annular ring is integral with a clamping mechanism.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising a third annular ring and a second speed based axial force generation mechanism interposed between the second annular ring and the third annular ring, wherein the first speed based axial force generation mechanism and the second speed based axial force generation mechanism are in series, wherein the first speed based axial force generation mechanism applies a first axial force over a first range of rotational speeds and the second speed based axial force generation mechanism applies a second axial force over a second range of rotational speeds.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein one or more of the length of the first rigid member, the length of the second rigid member, the mass of the first rigid member, the mass of the second rigid member, a profile of the first rigid member, and a profile of the second rigid member is selected to apply an axial force according to a predetermined rate.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the axial force generation rate increases as the rotational speed increases.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the axial force generation rate is linear.

16. The system of claim 7, wherein the second configuration comprises the first rigid member and the second rigid member forming an angle less than or equal to 180 degrees.

17. A axial force generating apparatus radially displaced from and configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis, the apparatus comprising:

a radially displaceable component, wherein a radial distance between a portion of the radially displaceable component and the longitudinal axis is at least partially dependent upon the speed of rotation of the axial force generating apparatus about the longitudinal axis;

a longitudinally displaceable member, wherein the radially displaceable component is configured to exert a force on the longitudinally displaceable member, and wherein a longitudinal component of the force exerted on the longitudinally displaceable member varies based at least partially upon the speed of rotation of the axial force generating apparatus about the longitudinal axis.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the radially displaceable component comprises a bearing disposed between the longitudinally displaceable member and a longitudinally fixed member, wherein facing surfaces of the longitudinally displaceable member and the longitudinally fixed member comprise sections which taper longitudinally towards one another with increased distance from the longitudinal axis.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the radially displaceable component comprises two members hingedly coupled to one another, wherein the radially displaceable component is disposed between the longitudinally displaceable member and a longitudinally fixed member, wherein one of the two hingedly coupled members abuts the longitudinally displaceable member and the other of the two hingedly coupled members abuts the longitudinally fixed member.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the longitudinally displaceable member is disposed within a longitudinally extending channel within the longitudinally fixed member.