# US 4,392,835 A · Slicer disconnect

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- Number: US 4,392,835 A
- Document ID: US4392835A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/239,017
- Filed: 1981-02-27
- Granted: 1983-07-12
- Earliest claimed: 1981-02-27
- Assignees: General Electric Company
- Inventors: Ehtisham U. A. Siddiqui; James L. Wenzel; John L. Butterfield
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4392835A

## CPC

- F16D 9/00: Couplings with safety member for disconnecting, e.g. breaking or melting member
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES

## Abstract

A disconnect arrangement is useful for disconnecting high speed generators, such as those utilized in aircraft electrical systems, from a driving source, such as an aircraft engine. The disconnect coupling includes splined members at either end of a stub shaft which are coupled respectively to the generator and the engine. A carbide knife-edged plate is pivotable about one end of the plate and, in the normal or deactivated position, an extension of a solenoid armature prevents the knife-edge from contacting the stub shaft. When energized, the solenoid armature is retracted releasing its engagement with the knife-edged plate, and a spring forces the knife-edge to engage the stub shaft at a relatively thin-walled portion thereof. Friction generated causes localized heating and the relatively thin wall of the stub shaft becomes plastic, the stub shaft then separating into two portions effecting disconnection of the generator from the engine. A spring loaded, conical point bearing internal of the stub shaft maintains separation of the two portions, thus allowing the generator to coast to a stop while permitting the engine to remain operational.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A shaft quick disconnect mechanism for intercoupling a high-speed driving shaft and a driven shaft, comprising:
a coupling shaft having an axis of rotation and its one end fixed against torsional relative movement with said driving shaft and its other end fixed against torsional relative movement with said driven shaft, and having a tubular intermediate portion of thin annular cross-section;
means for severing said coupling shaft at said intermediate portion thereof including:
slicing means having an edge portion and having a first disposition whereat said edge portion is spaced from said tubular intermediate portion and a second disposition whereat said edge portion is in tangential abutment with the periphery of said tubular intermediate portion;
detent means having a first disposition whereat it engages said slicing means and retains said slicing means in its first, spaced disposition and a second disposition whereat it is disengaged from said slicing means;
biasing means coupled to said slicing means for translating said slicing means, effective after said detent means has moved from its first, engaged disposition to its second, disengaged disposition, from said first, spaced disposition to said second, tangential abutment disposition, whereat said edge portion is in biased engagement with said tubular intermediate portion and as said driving shaft turns said coupling shaft said edge portion rubs against said tubular intermediate portion to provide a frictional force which provides localized heating of said tubular intermediate portion to cause plastic deformation and rupture of said tubular intermediate portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A mechanism according to claim 1 wherein:
said slicing means includes
a level which has one end mounted by a pivot at a fixed distance from the axis of rotation of said coupling shaft and its other end has means to interlock with said detent means.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A mechanism according to claim 2 wherein:
said biasing means includes compression spring means which has one end mounted at a fixed distance from the axis of rotation of said coupling shaft and its other end coupled to said other end of said lever of said slicing means.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A mechanism according to claim 1 wherein:
a conical point bearing assembly is disposed within said coupling shaft to provide alignment support between said driving and driven shafts along the axis of rotation of said coupling shaft subsequent to the rupture of said tubular intermediate portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A mechanism according to claim 4 wherein:
said conical point bearing assembly includes:
a conical point,
a conical cup receiving said point,
spring means biasing said point and cup into longitudinal engagement along the axis of rotation of said coupling shaft.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A mechanism according to claim 1 wherein:
said tubular portion is made of hardened steel, and
said edge portion is made of carbide.