Torque limiter

• US 5,170,676 A
• Filed: 03/13/1991
• Issued: 12/15/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Matouka, Michael F., Hammersmith, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herrmann, Allan D.
• Application Number:
  US07/668,538
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 74/405, 74/411, 74/446, 74/447, 192/56 R, 192/150, 464/30, 464/37, 464/45
• US Class Current: 74/411
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/4266 having an electro-mechanically actuated expansion unit, e.g. solenoid, electric motor, piezo stack
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/4863 closed systems B60T8/4845, B60T8/489 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 7/021 with radially applied torque-limiting friction surfaces F16D7/022 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19633 Yieldability in gear trains

Abstract

A torque limiter suitable for use in a gear train is provided having at least one gear connected with a first driven member and another gear being connected with a motive source for transmitting torque from the motive source to the first driven member. One of the gears has an inner hub and an outer ring with spring means preventing relative motion between the hub and the ring unless a predetermined torque value is exceeded whereby the hub has angular rotation with respect to the ring.

Claims

1. A torque limiter for a power train functionally juxtaposed between a driven member and a motive source, the torque limiter comprising:

an inner hub element and an outer ring element, said hub element and said ring element having aligned annular grooves one of said elements having a generally radial tab, and said torque limiter having a generally circular spring means captured between said hub element and said ring element in said hub element and said ring element annular grooves locking said hub element with said ring element, and said spring means being compliantly biased to engage and join itself to said other element than said element with said tab, said radial tab making contact with said spring means for transmitting torque between said ring and said hub, and said spring means preventing relative motion between said hub and said ring unless a predetermined torque value is experienced whereby said hub has angular rotation with respect to said ring, and said spring means has sliding frictional engagement and constant contact with said other element and is engaged with moving in a circumferentially aligned manner with said element having said tab.

2. A torque limiter as described in claim 1 wherein said spring means is generally circular when fitted between said hub and said ring and wherein said hub has a radial tab making contact with said spring means for transmitting torque between said ring and said hub.

3. A torque limiter as described in claim 2 wherein said spring means in its free state is generally cardioid in shape.

4. A torque limiter as described in claim 1 wherein said spring means fits within an annular groove of said hub and said ring.

5. A torque limiter for a gear train functionally juxtaposed between a driven member and a motive source, said gear train having at least first and second gears, said first gear being connected with said driven member and said second gear being connected with said motive source to said driven member, said torque limiter comprising:

a first gear inner hub and an outer ring with aligned concentric annular grooves, said hub having a generally radial tab, and within said annular grooves is a spring fitted therein locking said hub to said ring, said spring torsionally connecting said hub to said outer ring and having ends for contact with said tab, said spring having a friction surface in constant contact with said annular groove to said ring, said spring preventing relative motion between said hub and said ring unless a predetermined torque value is exceeded whereby said spring has constant contact sliding friction with said annular groove of said ring and said hub has angular motion with respect to said ring.

6. A torque limiter for a powertrain functionally juxtaposed between a driven member and a motive source, the torque limiter comprising:

an inner hub and an outer ring, said hub having a generally radial tab and geometrically spaced lobes with valleys in between, and said torque limiter having a circular shaped spring means, said spring means being radially wave-typed shaped with radial peaks, said spring means radial peaks being captured between said hub lobes and said ring, said spring means being compliantly biased to engage and join itself to said ring by compression of said spring means between said hub valleys and said ring for transmission of torque between said hub and said ring and, said radial tab making contact with said spring means to position the same for transmitting torque between said ring and said hub, and said spring means preventing relative motion between said hub and said ring unless a predetermined torque value is experienced whereby said hub has angular rotation with respect to said ring, and said spring means has sliding frictional engagement and constant contact with said ring when said spring is moving in a circumferentially aligned manner with said hub.