Torsion spring internal damper
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsChristopher T. Anglin, Leslie Charles Kurz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A spring assembly has a spring end for engagement with a component to bias the component in a first direction. The spring end is connected to a plurality of coils, which have an inner peripheral surface, and are mounted about a pivot pin. A damper is positioned between an outer peripheral surface on the pivot pin and the inner peripheral surface of the spring coils. The damper is engaged by the spring coils, if the spring end is driven in a direction opposed to the first direction. A one-way drive assembly and a gas turbine engine are also disclosed.
Claims16
A one-way drive assembly comprising:
- at least one pawl with a counterweight on one side of a pivot pin and an engaging pawl end on an opposed side of said pivot pin;
- said at least one pawl rotating with a shaft, a housing having a ratchet to receive said pawl end, and prevent rotation of said shaft in an undesired direction;
- a spring end for engagement with said at least one pawl to bias said at least one pawl in a first direction and said spring end being connected to a plurality of coils, said coils having an inner peripheral surface, and said coils being mounted about said pivot pin;
- a damper positioned between an outer peripheral surface on said pivot pin and said inner peripheral surface of said spring coils, with said damper being engaged by said spring coils, if said spring end is driven in a direction opposed to said first direction;
- and
- when said spring end is driven in a direction opposed to said first direction, said plurality of coils is compressed, and an inner diameter of said plurality of coils shrinks and said damper is squeezed between said plurality of coils and said pin, to dampen motion of said plurality of coils.
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a turbine driving a fan and a bearing for mounting a turbine shaft, said turbine having a one-way drive to prevent reverse rotation of a shaft leading into said turbine by said fan;
- at least one pawl with a counterweight on one side of a pivot pin and an engaging pawl end on an opposed side of said pivot pin;
- said at least one pawl rotating with said shaft, a housing having a ratchet to receive said pawl end, and prevent rotation of said shaft in an undesired direction;
- a spring end for engagement with said at least one pawl to bias said at least one pawl in a first direction and said spring end being connected to a plurality of coils, said coils having an inner peripheral surface, and said coils being mounted about said pivot pin;
- a damper positioned between an outer peripheral surface on said pivot pin and said inner peripheral surface of said spring coils, with said damper being engaged by said spring coils, if said spring end is driven in a direction opposed to said first direction;
- and
- when said spring end is driven in a direction opposed to said first direction, said plurality of coils is compressed, and an inner diameter of said plurality of coils shrinks and said damper is squeezed between said plurality of coils and said pin, to dampen motion of said plurality of coils.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.