Resettable disconnect device for rotating machines

Apparatus for a rotary drive train in which a driving unit transfers power to a driven unit by means of a rotating drive connection, on the driving unit, powered by the driving unit, characterized by:

• (a) an input member adapted to fit the drive connection on the driving unit;
• (b) an output member;
• (c) an intermediate member displaceable with respect to the input member and the output member;
• (d) a first coupling on the intermediate member for transferring rotary movement of the first member to rotary movement of the intermediate member and a second coupling on the intermediate member for transferring rotary movement of the intermediate member to rotary movement of the output member, one of the first and second couplings being releasable and the other coupling remaining engaged;
• (e) release means having a disengage position and an engage position;
• (f) brake means responsive to the release means to apply a retarding force to the output member, the application of the brake means further urging said releasable coupling to release.

Apparatus for a rotary drive train in which a driving unit transfers power to a driven unit by means of a rotating drive connection, on the driving unit, powered by the driving unit, characterized by:

• (a) an input member adapted to fit the drive connection on the driving unit;
• (b) an output member;
• (c) an intermediate member, coaxial with the input member and the output member, the intermediate member being axially displaceable with respect to the input and output members;
• (d) a spline coupling on the intermediate member, connecting the intermediate member with the output member, the intermediate member being axially displaceable along the spline coupling, while remaining rotationally engaged with the output member;
• (e) a disengageable coupling between the input member and the output member, arranged so that the disengageable coupling can be alternately engaged or disengaged by displacing the intermediate member in an axial direction along the spline coupling;
• (f) a release ring;
• (g) a brake including a first part controlled by the release ring and a part which is rotable with the intermediate member;
• (h) a linkage connecting the rotatable part with the intermediate member, the linkage causing the intermediate member to be displaced along the spline coupling so as to disengage the disengageable coupling in response to braking force applied by the brake, the linkage further transferring a retarding force to the output member when the braking force is applied;
• (i) means to retain the disengageable coupling in engagement when the braking force is not being applied.