Clutch seal with fluid operated check valve

• US 3,880,266 A
• Filed: 11/20/1973
• Issued: 04/29/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eisuke Sugahara
• Original Assignee: Eisuke Sugahara
• Inventors: Sugahara, Eisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Wyche, Benjamin W.
• Application Number:
  US05/417,656
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 192/85R,85A,85AT,88A,88B,86,85AA 137/580
• US Class Current: 192/85.13
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/046 and causing purely radial movement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86268 With running joint between movable parts of system

Abstract

A fluid actuated clutch apparatus is mounted on a rotating body, such as a driving shaft of a prime mover, to selectively transmit rotation to a driven body, such as a shaft. The apparatus comprises a rotary structure or member of annular shape rigidly attached to the rotating body. A stationary structure or member of annular shape is placed about the rotary annular structure such that a chamber is formed therebetween. Fluid actuated sealing means are mounted in the stationary structure to selectively effect a seal between the rotary and stationary structures. Once the seal is effected, the fluid is directed through passages within the rotary structure to activate an inflatable friction device and transmit rotative motion to the driven body.

Claims

1. A fluid actuated clutch assembly comprising:

a. a rotary structure of substantially annular shape secured to a shaft for rotating therewith, said rotary structure having a groove formed on its radially outer periphery, b. a stationary structure of substantially annular shape received within the annular groove of said rotary structure at a spacing therefrom for allowing relative rotation of said rotary structure and for forming a space in between, c. two substantially annular sealing pistons mounted in said stationary structure and slidable in the longitudinal direction of said shaft of rotation, said sealing pistons being biased away from the inner side walls of said annular groove and movable, upon application of a fluid pressure thereto, against the biasing force for bringing their extending ends into sealing contact with said inner side walls of said groove in the rotating structure to form a closed chamber in said space, d. an inflatable friction element affixed to the rotating structure, e. a passage formed in said rotary structure communicating the interior of said friction element with said closed chamber, f. a one-way valve mounted in said rotary structure radially inside at least one of said sealing pistons and connecting said chamber with said passage, said one-way valve having its valve member biased into a first position for blocking communication between said chamber and said passage, g. an actuating piston mounted in said rotary structure substantially in alignment with said one-way valve and slidable in said longitudinal direction, said actuating piston being biased away from said one-way valve, h. a substantially annular discharging piston mounted in said stationary structure in a manner to have one side facing said actuating piston, said discharging piston being slidable in said longitudinal direction and biased away from one of said inner side walls, said discharging piston being movable, upon application of a fluid pressure thereto, against the biasing force for bringing said one side thereof into abutting engagement with the actuating piston to move said piston and said valve member against the biasing forces into a second position in which the communication between said chamber and said passage is allowed, and i. means for selectively supplying the working fluid to said closed chamber and a working fluid both to said sealing pistons and to said discharging piston in accordance with a predetermined sequence.

2. AN APPARATUS ACCORDING TO CLAIM 1, WHEREIN BOTH THE SEALING ENDS OF SAID SEALING PISTONS AND THE ENGAGING SIDES OF SAID ACTUATING PISTON AND SAID DISCHARGING PISTON ARE MADE OF A SINTERED CARBON IMPREGNATED WITH A SYNTHETIC RESIN.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said actuating piston has an annular sealing element at its sealing end.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said annular sealing element is made of a sintered carbon which is impregnated with a synthetic resin.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising pressure detecting means mounted on said rotary structure for detecting a level of the pressure within said inflatable friction element.

6. An apparatus of claim 5, wherein the pressure detecting means comprises a longitudinally movable detecting element protruding toward said stationary structure, the position of said detecting element varying with the pressure within the inflatable friction element;

means mounted on said stationary structure to detect the movement of the detecting element and to control the supply of fluid to said chamber and to said sealing pistons in response to the position of said detecting element.