Input engaging clutch
AssigneeReell Precision Manufacturing Corporation
InventorsJoseph E. Arnold, Ted J. Perron
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clutch has a rotatable input, a rotatable output, a spring and a damper mechanism. The rotatable input is capable of being rotated and of being held stationary. The spring is coupled to the input such that each time the input changes modes the spring changes states. The damper mechanism allows the spring to change states without rotating the input. The rotatable output is positioned relative to the spring such that the output synchronously rotates with the input when the spring is in the first state and rotates independently of the input when the spring is in the second state.
Claims20
A clutch comprising:
- a rotatable input;
- a spring having an equilibrium state and a flexed state, the spring being coupled to the input such that the spring rotates with the input when the input rotates;
- a damper mechanism coupled to the spring such that the damper mechanism causes the spring to change from its equilibrium to its flexed state when the input transitions from stationary to rotational, and such that the damper mechanism allows the spring to change from its flexed to its equilibrium state when the input transitions from rotational to stationary;
- and
- a rotatable output positioned relative to the spring such that the output synchronously rotates with the input when the spring is in its flexed state, and rotates independently of the input when the spring is in its equilibrium state.
A clutch comprising:
- a rotatable input having a first mode and a second mode;
- a spring having a first state and a second state, the spring coupled to the input such that each time the input changes modes the spring changes states;
- damper means coupled to the spring for allowing the spring to change states without rotating the input;
- and
- a rotatable output positioned relative to the spring such that the output synchronously rotates with the input when the spring is in the first state and rotates independently of the input when the spring is in the second state.
A clutch comprising:
- a rotatable input having a first mode and a second mode;
- a spring having an equilibrium state and a flexed state, the spring coupled to the input such that each time the input changes modes the spring changes states;
- a rotary damper coupled to the spring such that the damper mechanism allows the spring to change states without rotating the input;
- and
- a rotatable output positioned relative to the spring such that the output synchronously rotates with the input when the spring is in the first state and rotates independently of the input when the spring is in the second state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.