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US 12,281,679 B2Granted
Centrifugal force enabled clutch and aircraft
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorYuriy Gmirya
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clutch having an inner ring, an outer ring, a plurality of sprags positioned between the inner ring and the outer ring, and a spring biasing each of the plurality of sprags towards the outer ring. Each of the plurality of sprags are movable between a disengaged position spaced from the inner ring and an engaged position contacting both the inner ring and the outer ring to rotationally unitize the inner ring and the outer ring.
Claims14
A clutch comprising:
- an inner ring;
- an outer ring;
- a plurality of sprags positioned between the inner ring and the outer ring;
- and
- a spring biasing each of the plurality of sprags towards the outer ring;
- wherein, according to the rotation of the outer ring and the bias of the spring, each of the plurality of sprags are movable between a disengaged position in which the sprags are spaced from the inner ring and the outer ring does not rotate with the inner ring, and an engaged position in which the sprags overcome the bias of the spring and the sprags contact both the inner ring and the outer ring such that the inner ring and the outer ring are rotationally unitized.
3 more elements
A centrifugal force enabled clutch comprising:
- an inner ring;
- an outer ring;
- a plurality of sprags positioned between the inner ring and the outer ring;
- and
- a spring biasing each of the plurality of sprags towards the outer ring;
- wherein each of the plurality of sprags includes an inner elongated corner adjacent the inner ring, an outer elongated corner in contact with the outer ring, and a center of gravity offset from the outer elongated corner;
- wherein each of the plurality of sprags are movable between a disengaged position, with the inner elongated corner spaced from the inner ring, and an engaged position, with the inner elongated corner contacting the inner ring and the outer elongated corner contacting the outer ring such that in the engaged position, the plurality of sprags rotationally unitize the inner ring and the outer ring.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.