Linear bearing clutch
AssigneeThe Johns Hopkins University
InventorsRyan D. Seery, Matthew S. Bailey, Daniel M. Shaefer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A linear bearing clutch includes a first surface, a second surface, one or more contact elements, and a holding device. The first surface includes a tapered surface. The second surface includes a flat or curved surface. The holding device is configured to hold the one or more contact elements. The first surface is configured to permit motion of the one or more contact elements along a first direction of the second surface and restrict motion of the one or more contact elements in a second direction of the second surface, the second direction being opposite the first direction.
Claims24
A linear bearing clutch comprising:
- a first surface comprising a tapered surface;
- a second surface comprising a flat or curved surface;
- one or more contact elements;
- and
- a holding device configured to hold the one or more contact elements,
- wherein the first surface is configured to permit motion of the one or more contact elements along a first direction of the second surface,
- wherein the first surface is configured to restrict motion of the one or more contact elements in a second direction of the second surface, the second direction being opposite the first direction, and
- wherein the one or more contact elements comprises sprags.
A system comprising:
- a shaft;
- and
- a linear bearing clutch coupled to the shaft, the linear bearing clutch comprising:
- a first surface comprising a tapered surface;
- one or more rows of one or more contact elements;
- and
- a holding device configured to hold the one or more rows of the one or more contact elements,
- wherein the first surface is configured to permit axial motion of the one or more contact elements along a first direction of the shaft,
- wherein the first surface is configured to restrict axial motion of the one or more contact elements in a second direction of the shaft, the second direction being opposite the first direction, and
- wherein the one or more rows of the one or more contact elements comprises a plurality of rows of contact elements.
A method of designing a linear bearing clutch, the method comprising:
- selecting materials of a shaft and a linear bearing clutch coupled to the shaft, wherein the linear bearing clutch comprises contact elements and a tapered surface;
- and
- selecting geometries of the shaft, the contact elements, and the tapered surface,
- wherein the tapered surface has a taper angle and a coefficient of static friction between the contact elements, the tapered surface, and the shaft is greater than a tangent of the taper angle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.