Compact clutch mechanism
AssigneeHughes Helicopter, Inc.
InventorsJohn H. Sallach, Dale E. Schmaenan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clutch assembly includes axially aligned shafts, one driving and one driven, the driving shaft including a plurality of slots and the other a plurality of apertures aligned with the slots. Elongated roller bearings are positioned in the slots and apertures to lock the shafts together, a resilient member being used to urge the bearings radially inwardly. In the event that one of the shafts slows substantially relative to the other, the bearings move radially outwardly to declutch the shafts.
Claims13
A clutch mechanism comprising:
- a driven shaft,
- a driving shaft,
- one of said shafts including means forming a plurality of slots in a portion of the outer surface thereof,
- the other of the said shafts being axially aligned with said one shaft and including a portion which is cylindrical and overlies the portion of said one shaft which includes said slots,
- said other shaft including means forming a plurality of apertures aligned with said slots in said one shaft,
- a plurality of roller bearings received in said slots and said apertures, and
- a helical spring formed by a helix coaxial with said shafts and defining a cylinder and having portions of the inner surface of said cylinder which contact said roller bearings to urge said roller bearings radially inwardly to connect said shafts together for rotation, said apertures permitting radial outward movement of said bearings to permit one of said shafts to rotate relative to the other.
In a gun having a bolt assembly, a drive assembly to drive said bolt assembly and a feeder assembly, said assemblies being driven by a motor, a clutch mechanism comprising:
- a shaft connected to be driven by said motor,
- a shaft connected for driving said assemblies,
- one of said shafts including means forming a plurality of slots in a portion of the outer surface thereof,
- the other of said shafts being axially aligned with said one shaft and including a portion which is cylindrical and overlies the portion of said one shaft which includes said slots,
- said other shaft including means forming a plurality of apertures aligned with said slots in said one shaft,
- a plurality of roller bearings received in said slots and said apertures, and
- a helical spring formed by a helix coaxial with said shafts and defining a cylinder and having portions of the inner surface of said cylinder which contact said roller bearings to urge said roller bearings radially inwardly to connect said shafts together for rotation, said apertures permitting radial outward movement of said bearings to permit one of said shafts to rotate relative to the other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.