Pneumatic pressure automatic braking mechanism

• US 5,439,346 A
• Filed: 09/16/1993
• Issued: 08/08/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Air Turbine Technology Incorporated (Veolia Environnement SA)
• Original Assignee: Air Turbine Technology Incorporated (Veolia Environnement SA)
• Inventors: McCollough, Edward C., Bowser, Gregory A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LARSON, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US08/122,375
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 415/18, 415/26, 415/82, 415/123, 415/904
• US Class Current: 415/18
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 15/065 with pressure-velocity transformation exclusively in rotor

Abstract

A braking mechanism for a rotary apparatus having a housing adapted to receive a pressurized fluid and a rotor rotatably mounted in the housing. The braking mechanism enables the rotor to rotate in the housing in response to the receipt of the pressurized fluid and inhibits the rotor from rotating in the absence of the receipt of the pressurized fluid.

Claims

1. A rotary apparatus comprising:

a housing adapted to receive a pressurized fluid and to discharge the received pressurized fluid so as to create an exhaust pressure;

a rotor mounted in said housing and being rotatable therein in response to the receipt of said pressurized fluid; and

braking means, responsive to the absence of said exhaust pressure, for preventing said rotor from rotating.

2. A rotary apparatus comprising:

a housing adapted to receive a pressurized fluid and to discharge the received pressurized fluid so as to create an exhaust pressure;

a rotor rotatably mounted in said housing; and

braking means for enabling said rotor to rotate in said housing in response to said exhaust pressure and for inhibiting said rotor from rotating in the absence of said exhaust pressure.

3. The rotary apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said pressurized fluid is compressed air.

4. The rotary apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said braking means includes a brake pad which, in response to said absence of said exhaust pressure, contacts said rotor so as to prevent said rotor from rotating and which, in response to said exhaust pressure, does not contact said rotor so as to enable said rotor to rotate.

5. The rotary apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said braking means includes a spring and a brake pad coupled thereto, said spring being compressed in response to said exhaust pressure so as to cause said brake pad to be moved so as not to contact said rotor thereby enabling said rotor to rotate and said spring being extended in the absence of said exhaust pressure so as to cause said brake pad to be moved so as to contact said rotor thereby inhibiting said rotor from rotating.

6. A rotary apparatus comprising:

a housing having an internal cavity and being adapted to receive a pressurized fluid into said internal cavity;

a rotor rotatably mounted in said internal cavity;

means for creating a predetermined exhaust pressure in said internal cavity upon the receipt of said pressurized fluid; and

braking means, responsive to said predetermined exhaust pressure, for enabling said rotor to rotate in said internal cavity and, in the absence of said predetermined exhaust pressure, for inhibiting said rotor from rotating.

7. The rotary apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said pressurized fluid is compressed air.

8. The rotary apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said braking means includes a brake pad which, in response to said absence of said predetermined exhaust pressure, contacts said rotor so as to prevent said rotor from rotating and which, in response to said predetermined exhaust pressure, does not contact said rotor so as to enable said rotor to rotate.

9. The rotary apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said braking means includes a spring and a brake pad coupled thereto, said spring being compressed in response to said predetermined exhaust pressure so as to cause said brake pad to be moved so as not to contact said rotor thereby enabling said rotor to rotate and said spring being extended in the absence of said predetermined exhaust pressure so as to cause said brake pad to be moved so as to contact said rotor thereby inhibiting said rotor from rotating.

10. The rotary apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said means for creating includes a plate member having a predetermined number of holes each having a respective predetermined diameter.

11. A rotary apparatus comprising:

a housing adapted to receive a pressurized fluid and to discharge the received pressurized fluid so as to create an exhaust pressure;

a rotor rotatably mounted in said housing; and

braking means for automatically enabling said rotor to rotate in said housing in response to said exhaust pressure and for automatically inhibiting said rotor from rotating in the absence of said exhaust pressure.

12. The rotary apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said pressurized fluid is compressed air.

13. In a reaction turbine-type motor having a housing adapted to receive a pressurized fluid and to discharge the received pressurized fluid so as to create an exhaust pressure, and a rotor mounted in said housing and being rotatable therein in response to the receipt of said pressurized fluid, the improvement comprising:

braking means, responsive to the absence of said exhaust pressure, for automatically preventing said rotor from rotating.