Bidirectional, torque-limiting, no-back clutch mechanism
First Claim
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1. A bidirectional, torque-limiting, drive and brake mechanism comprising:
- (a) a housing having a fixed braking surface;
(b) an input drive means supported for rotation by said housing and connected to a source of bidirectional power to rotate the input drive means;
(c) an output drive means supported for rotation by said housing;
(d) a helically wound spring in said housing and constructed and arranged to be in normal interference fit with said braking surface;
(e) torque limiting means interconnecting in one operative position said input and output drive means for transmitting rotation from the input drive means to the output drive means and in another operative position interrupting such transmission of rotation when a predetermined torque load is reached; and
(f) a switching sleeve disposed in said housing and connected to said torque limiting means for conjoined rotation with the latter and having a spring engaging means for engaging opposite ends of the spring and effect release of the spring from said braking surface and thereby permit transmission of rotation from the input drive means to the output drive means and, upon a predetermined torque load and when said transmission of rotation between the input and output drive means ceases, allows said spring to reengage the braking surface and thereby prevent rotation of the input drive means and the output drive means.
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Abstract
The bidirectional, torque-limiting, drive and brake mechanism has an input and output drive shafts and a helical spring which is normally in interference fit with the mechanism housing and, in the torque transmitting mode of operation, is disengaged to permit torque transmission by a direct mechanical coupling between the input and output drive shafts. The torque-limiting component, which functions to interrupt transmission of rotation from the input drive shaft to the output drive shaft upon a predetermined torque load, is adjustable to a selected predetermined torque load in the field.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A bidirectional, torque-limiting, drive and brake mechanism comprising:
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(a) a housing having a fixed braking surface; (b) an input drive means supported for rotation by said housing and connected to a source of bidirectional power to rotate the input drive means; (c) an output drive means supported for rotation by said housing; (d) a helically wound spring in said housing and constructed and arranged to be in normal interference fit with said braking surface; (e) torque limiting means interconnecting in one operative position said input and output drive means for transmitting rotation from the input drive means to the output drive means and in another operative position interrupting such transmission of rotation when a predetermined torque load is reached; and (f) a switching sleeve disposed in said housing and connected to said torque limiting means for conjoined rotation with the latter and having a spring engaging means for engaging opposite ends of the spring and effect release of the spring from said braking surface and thereby permit transmission of rotation from the input drive means to the output drive means and, upon a predetermined torque load and when said transmission of rotation between the input and output drive means ceases, allows said spring to reengage the braking surface and thereby prevent rotation of the input drive means and the output drive means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A bidirectional torque-limiting, drive and brake mechanism comprising
(a) a housing having a braking surface; -
(b) an input drive means connected to a source of bidirectional rotary power and an output drive means supported for rotation in said housing; (c) a helically wound spring in said housing and surrounding said input and output drive means and in normal interference fit with the braking surface of said housing; (d) torque limiting means, including a first and a second part, disposed between said input drive means and said output drive means for transmission in one operative position of torque from the input drive means to the output drive means and, in another operative position, interruption of such torque transmission when a predetermined torque load is reached; (e) said first part of said torque limiting means being connected to said input drive means for conjoined rotation with the latter and having a first abutment means for transmitting torque to the output drive means in the same direction as the direction of rotation of said input drive means; (f) a switching sleeve surrounding and substantially coaxial with the input and output drive means and within and substantially coextensive with said spring; and (g) said switching sleeve being rotatively connected to said second part of said torque limiting means for conjoined rotations with said second part and having a second abutment means engaging the opposite end of the spring and connecting said spring to the output drive means and to cause the spring to contract and disengage from said braking surface and thereby release said first abutment for rotation of said output drive means and, upon a predetermined torque load, allowing said second abutment to permit the spring to expand and reengage the braking surface and thereby prevent rotation of the input and output drive means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification