Braking or clutch assembly for rotating shafts
AssigneeGoodrich Actuation Systems Limited
InventorJeremy Kracke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A braking assembly is disclosed comprising a shaft, a brake cage being rotatable with the shaft, an earth ring extending circumferentially around the brake cage, at least one engagement member coupled to the shaft, and a braking mechanism configured for selectively applying a force to the brake cage for slowing or preventing rotational movement of the brake cage such that the shaft rotates relative to the brake cage, and wherein the braking assembly is configured such that when the shaft rotates relative to the brake cage, said at least one engagement member is urged to engage the earth ring such that rotation of the shaft is inhibited or prevented. The earth ring may be replaced with an output shaft such that the assembly operates as a clutch assembly.
Claims14
A selective shaft engaging assembly comprising:
- a first shaft;
- a brake cage being rotatable with the first shaft;
- a surrounding member extending circumferentially around the brake cage;
- at least one engagement member coupled to the first shaft;
- and
- a braking mechanism configured for selectively applying a force to the brake cage for slowing or preventing rotational movement of the brake cage such that the first shaft rotates relative to the brake cage;
- wherein the assembly is configured such that when the first shaft rotates relative to the brake cage, said at least one engagement member is urged towards the surrounding member;
- wherein the brake cage comprises, or is coupled to, a brake plate or brake surface, and the assembly comprises a moveable member that is selectively movable into or out of contact with the brake plate or brake surface for providing a braking force on the brake plate or brake surface and hence to the brake cage;
- wherein the assembly comprises at least one biasing member coupling the first shaft to the brake cage such that rotation of the first shaft drives rotation of the brake cage;
- and
- wherein the at least one biasing member is configured to bias the circumferential position of the brake cage relative to the first shaft such that the engagement member is located on the surface of the first shaft at a first, radially inward position such that rotation of the first shaft is not prevented.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.