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US 9,732,803 B2Granted
Concentric V-groove coupling
AssigneeKer-Train Holdings Ltd.
InventorJohn Hugh Kerr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coupling comprises a pair of clutch end members, a clutch center member disposed between the clutch end members, and an actuator coupled to one of the end members. Each end member includes concentric V-grooves disposed on a respective face thereof. The center member is axially movable between the end members, and includes a pair of opposing surfaces. One of the opposing surfaces includes concentric V-grooves configured to mesh with the V-grooves of one of the end members. Another of the opposing surfaces includes concentric V-grooves configured to mesh with the V-grooves of another of the end members. The actuator is configured to simultaneously couple the end members to the center member by urging the V-grooves of both of the end members into engagement with the V-grooves of the center member.
Claims29
A coupling comprising:
- at least two inter-connected torque couplings, each comprising:
- a pair of clutch end members, each said end member including a set of concentric V-grooves disposed on a respective face thereof;
- a clutch centre member disposed between the respective clutch end members, the centre member being axially movable between the respective end members and including a pair of opposing surfaces, one of the opposing surfaces including a plurality of concentric V-grooves configured to mesh with the set of V-grooves of one of the respective end members, another of the opposing surfaces including a plurality of concentric V-grooves configured to mesh with the set of V-grooves of another of the respective end members;
- and
- an actuator coupled to one of the end members and being configured to simultaneously couple the end members to the centre member by engaging the V-grooves of both of the respective end members with the V-grooves of the centre member,
- wherein the centre member of one of the torque couplings comprises one of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling, another of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling and one of the end members of another of the torque couplings, and
- wherein the centre member of the another torque coupling has a radially outer end and a radially inner end, each said V-groove includes a root disposed between peaks, and the opposing surfaces are disposed at an acute angle relative to each other such that a distance between one of the peaks of the one opposing surface and a closest one of the peaks of the another opposing surface is less at one of the radial ends than at another of the radial ends.
4 more elements
A coupling comprising:
- at least two inter-connected torque couplings, each comprising:
- a pair of clutch end members, each said end member including a set of concentric V-grooves disposed on a respective face thereof;
- a clutch centre member disposed between the respective clutch end members, the centre member being axially movable between the respective end members and including a pair of opposing surfaces, one of the opposing surfaces including a plurality of concentric V-grooves configured to mesh with the set of V-grooves of one of the respective end members, another of the opposing surfaces including a plurality of concentric V-grooves configured to mesh with the set of V-grooves of another of the respective end members;
- and
- an actuator coupled to one of the end members and being configured to simultaneously couple the end members to the centre member by engaging the V-grooves of both of the respective end members with the V-grooves of the centre member,
- wherein the centre member of one of the torque couplings comprises one of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling, another of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling and one of the end members of another of the torque couplings,
- wherein the another torque coupling comprises a centering mechanism coupled to the centre member thereof and configured to urge the center member thereof away from the respective end members, and
- wherein the centering mechanism comprises one of a ball and a spring coupled to a rotational shaft, the centre member of the another torque coupling has a radially outer end and a radially inner end, and the radially inner end of the centre member of the another torque coupling is configured for mounting to the rotational shaft and comprises a recess configured for capturing the centering mechanism therein.
5 more elements
A coupling comprising:
- at least two inter-connected torque couplings, each comprising:
- a pair of clutch end members, each said end member including a set of concentric V-grooves disposed on a respective face thereof;
- a clutch centre member disposed between the respective clutch end members, the centre member being axially movable between the respective end members and including a pair of opposing surfaces, one of the opposing surfaces including a plurality of concentric V-grooves configured to mesh with the set of V-grooves of one of the respective end members, another of the opposing surfaces including a plurality of concentric V-grooves configured to mesh with the set of V-grooves of another of the respective end members;
- and
- an actuator coupled to one of the end members and being configured to simultaneously couple the end members to the centre member by engaging the V-grooves of both of the respective end members with the V-grooves of the centre member,
- wherein the centre member of one of the torque couplings comprises one of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling, another of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling and one of the end members of another of the torque couplings, and
- wherein the centre member of at least one of the torque couplings comprises at least one oil passage configured to facilitate a cascading oil flow to the V-grooves of the respective end members.
4 more elements
A coupling comprising:
- at least two inter-connected torque couplings, each comprising:
- a pair of clutch end members, each said end member including a set of concentric V-grooves disposed on a respective face thereof;
- a clutch centre member disposed between the respective clutch end members, the centre member being axially movable between the respective end members and including a pair of opposing surfaces, one of the opposing surfaces including a plurality of concentric V-grooves configured to mesh with the set of V-grooves of one of the respective end members, another of the opposing surfaces including a plurality of concentric V-grooves configured to mesh with the set of V-grooves of another of the respective end members;
- and
- an actuator coupled to one of the end members and being configured to simultaneously couple the end members to the centre member by engaging the V-grooves of both of the respective end members with the V-grooves of the centre member,
- wherein the centre member of one of the torque couplings comprises one of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling, another of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling and one of the end members of another of the torque couplings, and
- wherein one of the end members of at least one of the torque couplings comprises at least one oil passage configured to provide a flow of oil to the associated V-grooves of the centre member thereof.
4 more elements
A coupling comprising:
- at least two inter-connected torque couplings, each comprising:
- a pair of clutch end members, each said end member including a set of concentric V-grooves disposed on a respective face thereof;
- a clutch centre member disposed between the respective clutch end members, the centre member being axially movable between the respective end members and including a pair of opposing surfaces, one of the opposing surfaces including a plurality of concentric V-grooves configured to mesh with the set of V-grooves of one of the respective end members, another of the opposing surfaces including a plurality of concentric V-grooves configured to mesh with the set of V-grooves of another of the respective end members;
- and
- an actuator coupled to one of the end members and being configured to simultaneously couple the end members to the centre member by engaging the V-grooves of both of the respective end members with the V-grooves of the centre member,
- wherein the centre member of one of the torque couplings comprises one of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling, another of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling and one of the end members of another of the torque couplings, and
- wherein each said V-groove provided on at least one of the end members of at least one of the torque couplings comprises a root disposed between adjacent peaks, and the at least one end member of the at least one torque coupling has a radially outer end and a radially inner end and comprises at least one oil passage, each said oil passage comprising a through-hole extending axially from one of the roots thereof towards an opposite face of the at least one end member, and a slot provided in the opposite face thereof and extending radially from the through-hole towards the inner end thereof.
4 more elements
A transmission drive-line stage comprising:
- a torque input member;
- a torque reactive member;
- a torque output member;
- and
- a pair of torque couplings configured to transfer torque between the torque input member and the torque output member, each said torque coupling comprising:
- a pair of clutch end members, each said end member including a set of concentric V-grooves disposed on a respective face thereof;
- a clutch centre member disposed between the respective clutch end members, the centre member being axially movable between the respective end members and including a pair of opposing surfaces, one of the opposing surfaces including a plurality of concentric V-grooves configured to mesh with the set of V-grooves of one of the respective end members, another of the opposing surfaces including a plurality of concentric V-grooves configured to mesh with the set of V-grooves of another of the respective end members;
- and
- an actuator coupled to one of the end members and being configured to simultaneously couple the end members to the centre member by engaging the V-grooves of both of the respective end members with the V-grooves of the centre member,
- wherein the centre member of one of the torque couplings is coupled to the torque reactive member, one of the end members of another of the torque couplings is coupled to the torque reactive member, and the centre member of the another torque coupling is coupled to the torque input member, and
- wherein the centre member of the one torque coupling comprises one of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling, another of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling and one of the end members of the another torque coupling.
8 more elements
A coupling comprising:
- at least two inter-connected torque couplings, each comprising:
- a pair of clutch end members, each said end member including a set of concentric V-grooves disposed on a respective face thereof;
- a clutch centre member disposed between the respective clutch end members, the centre member being axially movable between the respective end members and including a pair of opposing surfaces, one of the opposing surfaces including a plurality of concentric V-grooves configured to mesh with the set of V-grooves of one of the respective end members, another of the opposing surfaces including a plurality of concentric V-grooves configured to mesh with the set of V-grooves of another of the respective end members;
- and
- an actuator coupled to one of the end members and being configured to simultaneously couple the end members to the centre member by engaging the V-grooves of both of the respective end members with the V-grooves of the centre member,
- wherein the centre member of one of the torque couplings comprises one of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling, another of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling and one of the end members of another of the torque couplings, and
- wherein the actuator of the one torque coupling is operable independently of the actuator of the another torque coupling.
4 more elements
A coupling comprising:
- at least two inter-connected torque couplings, each comprising:
- a pair of clutch end members, each said end member including a set of concentric V-grooves disposed on a respective face thereof;
- a clutch centre member disposed between the respective clutch end members, the centre member being axially movable between the respective end members and including a pair of opposing surfaces, one of the opposing surfaces including a plurality of concentric V-grooves configured to mesh with the set of V-grooves of one of the respective end members, another of the opposing surfaces including a plurality of concentric V-grooves configured to mesh with the set of V-grooves of another of the respective end members;
- and
- an actuator coupled to one of the end members and being configured to simultaneously couple the end members to the centre member by engaging the V-grooves of both of the respective end members with the V-grooves of the centre member,
- wherein the centre member of one of the torque couplings comprises one of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling, another of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling and one of the end members of another of the torque couplings, and
- wherein the actuator of the another torque coupling is configured to uncouple the end members thereof from the centre member thereof in synchronism with activation of the actuator of the one torque coupling.
4 more elements
A coupling comprising:
- at least two inter-connected torque couplings, each comprising:
- a pair of clutch end members, each said end member including a set of concentric V-grooves disposed on a respective face thereof;
- a clutch centre member disposed between the respective clutch end members, the centre member being axially movable between the respective end members and including a pair of opposing surfaces, one of the opposing surfaces including a plurality of concentric V-grooves configured to mesh with the set of V-grooves of one of the respective end members, another of the opposing surfaces including a plurality of concentric V-grooves configured to mesh with the set of V-grooves of another of the respective end members;
- and
- an actuator coupled to one of the end members and being configured to simultaneously couple the end members to the centre member by engaging the V-grooves of both of the respective end members with the V-grooves of the centre member,
- wherein the centre member of one of the torque couplings comprises one of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling, another of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling and one of the end members of another of the torque couplings, and
- wherein the centre member of the one torque coupling comprises a pair of clutch plates, one of the clutch plates comprises the one opposing surface of the one torque coupling, and another of the clutch plates comprises the another of the opposing surfaces of the one torque coupling and the one end member of the another torque coupling.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.