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US 8,617,019 B2Granted
Aircraft electric taxi system with friction actuated, bi-directional clutch
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsDonald J. Christensen, Todd Langston, David Lane Charles, Rudy Velasquez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric taxi system (ETS) for an aircraft may comprise drive motors mounted coaxially with wheels of the aircraft. A clutch assembly may be interposed between the drive motor the wheel. The clutch assembly may transmit torque from the motor to the wheel when the wheel and a rotor of the motor rotate at the same rotational speed. The clutch assembly may self-disengage a rotor of the motor from the wheel when the wheel rotates faster than the rotor.
Claims10
A clutch assembly comprising:
- a driving member;
- a driven member;
- and
- a transfer member axially movable between a retracted position and an extended position;
- the transfer member being coupled to the driving member with one or more links when the transfer member is in its retracted position so that the transfer member is driven to rotate with the driving member as a result of force transmitted through the one or more links;
- the transfer member configured to engage with a driving lug of the driving member when the transfer member is in its extended position so that the transfer member is driven to rotate with the driving member as a result of force transmitted through the driving lug;
- the transfer member being configured to engage with a driven lug of the driven member to rotate the driven member when the transfer member is in its extended position;
- the transfer member being disengaged from the driven member when the transfer member is in its retracted position;
- wherein the one or more links are attached to the driving member at one or more first pivot points;
- wherein the one or more links are attached to the transfer member at one or more second pivot points;
- and
- wherein a circumferential displacement of the one or more first pivot points relative to the one or more second pivot points results in change of axial distance between the first and second pivot points and a corresponding axial displacement of the transfer member relative to the driving member.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.