HIGH SPEED SHAFT DISCONNECT UTILIZING A FUSIBLE ELEMENT

• US 3,675,444 A
• Filed: 11/03/1970
• Issued: 07/11/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward R. Whipple
• Original Assignee: Edward R. Whipple
• Inventors: Whipple, Edward R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sprague, Kenneth W.
• Application Number:
  US05/086,430
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 64/13,28R
• US Class Current: 464/160
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 9/02 by thermal means, e.g. melting member

Abstract

A disconnect arrangement for high speed generators such as those utilized in aircraft electrical systems includes a spring loaded face clutch which has the individual clutch members coupled to the driving and driven shafts. A fusible, low temperature element is positioned between one of the shafts and one of the clutch members to force the clutch members into engagement against the spring force. A friction arm is actuated in response to any one of a number of malfunctions to bring it into contact with a heat conducting member which bears against the fusible element. The heat generated by the friction between the arm and the member melts the disc allowing the spring to separate the clutch members and thereby disconnecting the generator shaft from the driving source.

Claims

1. A non-resettable disconnect device for releasably connecting driving and driven shafts including:

a. a spring loaded clutch means having 1. a pair of mating clutch members coupled respectively to the driving and driven shafts and 2. spring means positioned between said clutch member for separating said clutch members b. means for releasably maintaining said clutch in engagement for transmission of torque from the driving to the driven shaft including a fusible means positioned to exert force on one of said clutch members to maintain the clutch in engagement against the action of said spring means, and c. means to disconnect the driving and driven shaft in response to a malfunction by disengaging said clutch including means to generate heat and melt said fusible means in response to said malfunction to remove the force exerted against said clutch member and provide sufficient clearance to permit separation of the clutch members by the force exerted by the spring means.

2. The disconnect device according to claim 1 wherein said clutch means comprises a toothed face clutch.

3. The disconnect device according to claim 1 wherein said means to generate heat and melt said fusible means includes generating friction means actuated in response to a malfunction.

4. The disconnect device according to claim 1 wherein said means to maintain the clutch in engagement includes a fusible disc, a heat conducting element in contact with said disc and a friction member positioned adjacent to the heat conducting member and which is brought into rubbing contact therewith in response to a malfunction to generate heat, whereby the heat generated melts the disc to permit disengagement of the clutch members by the force exerted by the spring member.

5. The disconnect device according to claim 4 in which said fusible disc is made of tin.

6. The disconnect device according to claim 4 wherein said friction member is positioned to be out of contact with said heat conducting member, latching means to restrain said friction member and means to release said latching member in response to a malfunction to bring said member into rubbing contact with said heat coNducting member.

7. The disconnect device according to claim 2 including a hollow coupling shaft surrounding the driving shaft and fastened to said driving shaft at one end, a flange portion at the other end of said coupling shaft, means to fasten one of said clutch members to said flange portion, a splined hub on the other clutch member for mounting the other clutch member on and engaging the driven shaft, fusible disc means surrounding said shaft and positioned against the hub to maintain the clutch engaged under normal conditions.

8. The disconnect device according to claim 7 wherein each of said clutch members includes a plurality of mating, angled teeth positioned circumferentially around the clutch.