Mechanism for transmitting power between a driving shaft and two assemblies to be driven

• US 5,271,295 A
• Filed: 05/19/1993
• Issued: 12/21/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle
• Original Assignee: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle
• Inventors: Marnot, Paul H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WITTELS, DANIEL NMN
• Application Number:
  US08/064,369
• Time in Patent Office: 216 Days
• Field of Search: 74/665 B, 74/665 E, 244/58, 244/60, 244/7 R
• US Class Current: 74/665.00B
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/14 Direct drive between power plant and rotor hub
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19056 Parallel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1907 Parallel and aligned

Abstract

To ensure the power transmission between a driving shaft (42) and two assemblies to be driven, such as the rotor or rotors and the ancillary systems of a gyroplane, a mechanism is proposed, which has a connection shaft (48) constantly engaged on the driving shaft and on device (54) for riving the ancillary systems. An actuator (80) controls a translation of the connection shaft between a first position in which a free wheel (44), interposed between the driving shaft (42) and a device (46) for driving the rotor or rotors, occupies a rotation engagement state and a second position, in which the free wheel occupies a rotation disengagement state. This particularly simple mechanism can be switched from one state to the other, even during the rotation of the driving shaft.

Claims

1. A mechanism for power between a driving shaft and first and second assemblies to be driven, said mechanism comprising

a free wheel interposed between the driving shaft and a first assembly driving means for transmitting rotary movement of the driving shaft to the first assembly driving means, the free wheel comprising

a free wheel driving member fixed to an end of the driving shaft and comprising an extension thereof, and

a free wheel driven member driving the first assembly driving means,

actuating means for shifting the free wheel from a rotation engagement state to a rotation disengagement state between the free wheel driving member and the free wheel driven member,

mechanical connection means between the driving shaft and a second assembly driving means, wherein the mechanical connection means comprises a connection shaft constantly drivingly connected with both the driving shaft and the second assembly driving means, said connection shaft carrying a control member for controlling the engagement state of the free wheel, and said connection shaft being able to slide along its axis in response to said actuating means between a first axial position in which the control member places the free wheel in the rotation engagement state, and a second axial position in which the control member places the free wheel in its rotation disengagement state.

2. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the free wheel further comprises rollers mounted in a cage interposed between the free wheel driving member and the free wheel driven member, the control member being linked in rotation with said cage such that the first and second axial positions of the connection shaft correspond, respectively, to a rotation of said cage between first and second discrete rotational positions respectively corresponding to said rotation engagement state and said rotation disengagement state of the free wheel.

3. The mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the connection shaft and the free wheel are arranged coaxially, the control member comprising at least one pin fixed to the connection shaft and extending therefrom in a radial direction, the pin being in sliding cooperation with a slot formed on an axial extension of the cage, the slot being oriented at an angle from the axis of the driving shaft, wherein the movement of the pin within the slot from one end thereof to another translates to the first and second rotational positions of the cage.

4. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the connection shaft is constantly drivingly connected on the driving shaft via a first system of splines and is constantly engaged on the second assembly driving means via a second system of splines.

5. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the actuating means comprises an actuator having a control rod which is connected to an extension of the connection shaft and which control rod is linked in translation with said extension by a rotary bearing.

6. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first assembly to be driven comprises at least one gyroplane rotor and the second assembly to be driven comprises at least one ancillary system of said gyroplane.

7. A mechanism for the transmission of power between a driving shaft and first and second assemblies to be driven, said mechanism comprising

a free wheel interposed between the driving shaft and a first driving means for transmitting rotary movement of the driving shaft to the first assembly driving means, the free wheel comprising

a free wheel driving member fixed to an end of the driving shaft and comprising an extension thereof,

a free wheel driven member driving the first assembly driving means, and

rollers mounted in a cage interposed between the free wheel driving member and the free wheel driven member,

actuating means for shifting the free wheel from a rotation engagement state to a rotation disengagement state between the free wheel driving member and the free wheel driven member,

mechanical connection means between the driving shaft and a second assembly driving means, wherein the mechanical connection means comprises a connection shaft constantly drivingly connected with both the driving shaft and the second assembly driving means, said connection shaft carrying a control member for controlling the engagement state of the free wheel, said connection shaft and the free wheel being coaxial, and said connection shaft being able to slide along its axis in response to said actuating means between a first axial position in which the control member places the free wheel in the rotation engagement state, and a second axial position in which the control member places the free wheel in its rotation disengagement state,

the control member being linked in rotation with said cage such that the first and second axial positions of the connection shaft correspond, respectively, to a rotation of said cage between first and second discrete rotational positions respectively corresponding to said rotation engagement state and said rotation disengagement state of the free wheel, wherein

the control member comprises at least one pin fixed to the connection shaft and extending therefrom in a radial direction, the pin being in sliding cooperation with a slot formed on an axial extension of the cage, the slot being oriented at an angle from the axis of the driving shaft, whereby the movement of the pin within the slot from one end thereof to another translates to the first and second rotational positions of the cage.