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US 2016/0230866 A1Published application
Torque Limiting System
AssigneeBair-Ling Technologies, LLC
InventorsRodric N. Lingren, Donald L. Bair
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to torque transfer and torque limiting system technology and applications. This invention relates to providing improved torque limiting systems that employ tolerance rings for controlling transmitting power between a single power-input shaft and one or more power-output shafts, which can protect mechanical equipment and drivetrains from damage by mechanical overload. Relating to motor vehicle differentials, the present invention can control differentiation between two power-output shafts, or drive shafts by providing friction internal to said differential and limit “undesirable” slip or differentiation between wheels, as might occur when one wheel encounters a low-traction condition, providing a limited-slip differential.
Claims20
A torque limiting assembly, comprising:
- a center element defined by a circular cross-section and an outer wall;
- an intermediate ring element encircling said center element within a central bore formed therein, said intermediate ring element defined by a generally circular cross-section and an inner wall and an outer wall;
- an exterior element encircling said intermediate ring element within a generally circular bore formed in said exterior element, said bore defined by an inner wall and said exterior element further defined by an outer wall;
- and
- wherein said center, intermediate and exterior elements are a matched set selected from a group defined by an inner splined set and an outer splined set,
- said inner splined set comprising:
- the center element outer wall is defined by a plurality of longitudinal grooves in spaced relation around its periphery;
- the intermediate element inner wall is defined by a plurality of domes protruding therefrom, said domes configured to reside within said longitudinal grooves in said center element outer wall;
- and
- the exterior element inner wall is defined by a smooth surface, and said outer splined set comprising:
- the center element outer wall is defined by a smooth surface;
- the intermediate element outer wall is defined by a plurality of domes protruding therefrom in spaced relation around its periphery;
- and
- the exterior element inner wall is defined by a plurality of longitudinal grooves configured such that said domes protruding from said intermediate element outer wall reside within them.
11 more elements
A differential assembly, comprising:
- a rotatable input shaft assembly;
- a first rotatable output shaft assembly mechanically linked to said input shaft whereby rotating said input shaft assembly generates a first rotational force at said first output shaft assembly;
- a second rotatable output shaft assembly mechanically linked to said input shaft assembly whereby rotating said input shaft assembly generates a second rotational force at said second output shaft assembly;
- a first torque control element associated with said first output shaft assembly, said first torque control element configured to impose force opposing said first rotational force responsive to the speed of rotation of said first output shaft assembly;
- and
- a second torque control element associated with said second output shaft assembly, said second torque control element configured to impose force opposing said second rotational force responsive to the speed of rotation of said second output shaft assembly.
3 more elements
An improved torque ring assembly, comprising:
- a center element defined by an outer wall;
- an intermediate ring element surrounding said center element within a central bore formed therein, said intermediate ring element defined by an inner wall and an outer wall;
- an exterior element surrounding said intermediate ring element within a bore formed in said exterior element, said bore defined by an inner wall and said exterior element further defined by an outer wall;
- and
- wherein said center, intermediate and exterior elements are a matched set selected from a group defined by an inner grooved set and an outer grooved set,
- said inner grooved set comprising:
- the center element outer wall is defined by a plurality of longitudinal grooves in spaced relation around its periphery;
- the intermediate element inner wall is defined by a plurality of domes protruding therefrom, said domes configured to reside within said longitudinal grooves in said center element outer wall, and further defined by a generally teardrop-shaped cross-section;
- and
- the exterior element inner wall is defined by a smooth surface, and said outer grooved set comprising:
- the center element outer wall is defined by a smooth surface;
- the intermediate element outer wall is defined by a plurality of domes protruding therefrom in spaced relation around its periphery, said domes further defined by a generally teardrop-shaped cross-section;
- and
- the exterior element inner wall is defined by a plurality of longitudinal grooves configured such that said domes protruding from said intermediate element outer wall reside within them.
11 more elements
The torque ring assembly of claim 19, wherein said gap adjustment mechanism comprises:
- an encapsulating ring encircling said exterior element;
- and
- one or more adjustment screws, with each threadedly engaging a threaded bore formed within said encapsulating ring, whereby said one or more adjustment screw can be rotated to add or reduce compressive force on said exterior element to responsively reduce or expand said gap width.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.