Sundstrand Corporation

Sunstrand Corporation

Ingenium Technologies

Duane H Grimm

David G Bannon

John D Tysver

Teddy L Jones

Wayne A Flygare

Richard E Walsh

Michael A Cordner

William J Michaels

The invention provides an accessory drive that is a combination of mechanical and hydraulic components that accepts variable speed input power from a prime mover or engine and transmits that power in a very efficient manner to the output of the device to drive ancillary engine accessories (e.g., cooling fans, generators, water and fuel pumps, etc.). The accessory drive system allows the output speed of the drive and the speed of the engine accessories to be controlled in a manner that minimizes power consumption of the accessories and drive system.

Parallel path accessory drive

The problem of verifying functional readiness of a braking apparatus including: a brake plate rotatable about an axis; an armature and a reaction plate disposed on opposite sides of the brake plate; and an actuator for urging the armature to clamp the brake plate between the armature and the reaction plate in a manner generating braking torque acting on the brake plate with respect to the armature and reaction plate for resisting rotation of the brake plate, is solved by providing an integral brake integrity monitoring apparatus. The brake integrity monitoring apparatus includes features for reacting the brake torque directly against one or more calibrated springs, as the brake is applied, to generate a calibrated relative rotation of the armature with respect to the reaction plate. The amount of relative rotation of the armature and/or reaction plate caused by the braking torque acting against a reacting torque generated by the springs provides a direct measurement of braking torque. The relative rotation between the armature and the reaction plate is measured with a proximity sensor and compared to a reference value of relative rotation corresponding to a minimum functional value of braking torque for a properly functioning brake apparatus, to verify that the brake is producing the minimum required torque. In alternate embodiments, relative rotation is generated and measured between the braking apparatus and a support structure operatively connected to the braking apparatus.

Brake apparatus with functional integrity monitor

A control mechanism is provided which feathers the propeller blade pitch during stopping and stores restart energy in the blade pitch governor mechanism. Deceleration to the feathered mode is aided by the airstream. During restart, excess stored energy is used to increase reliability, but is then dissipated mechanically, as by a flywheel mechanism, to maintain low internal impact stresses. More specifically, where single governor spring is used for controlling the pitch of all propeller blades, a braked ball screw device is used to compress that spring during stoppage. Upon restart, the governor spring expands and causes blade pitch change. The ball screw arrangement then dissipates a large portion of the excess energy through torque transmission to mechanical components.

Control mechanism for RAM air turbine

The invention is directed to a jam tolerant ballscrew actuator. The ballscrew actuator is driven through a differential via plural power paths therein. A first of these differential power paths is drivingly coupled to a reciprocating dual ballscrew assembly by way of a rotatable ballnut. A second of the differential power paths is coupled to the dual ballscrew assembly via a rotatable hub having a splined opening therethrough. A reciprocating sleeve having a splined portion engages the sleeve shaft to reciprocate therethrough and be rotated by the rotatable hub. The sleeve shaft additionally includes a rotatable sleeve ballnut portion that drivingly cooperates with the dual ballscrew assembly. The reciprocating rotatable sleeve provides the ballscrew actuator output. The rotatable ballnut and the rotatable sleeve ballnut have equal but opposite leads which provide an axial motion summing characteristic for the dual ballscrew assembly. An internal jam of one of the ballscrews, in the differential, or in any bearing, simply alters the power flow path through the differential and the dual ballscrew assembly but does not affect the overall mechanical advantage or speed ratio of the actuator.

Jam tolerant linear actuator

A geared rotary actuator (1) including a compound input stage (3, 5) and a compound output stage (4, 6) with the input stage (3, 5) including a sun gear (24) with gear portions (24a, 24b) respectively meshing with a drive gear (23) and further gear (25). Input/output link members (28, 29) connect the input stage (3, 5) with planet gears (26, 27) of the output stage (4, 6) so as to provide uninterrupted controlled speed, torque and power delivery to an output (31, 32) and through shaft (S) of the geared rotary actuator (1) even upon an occurrence of a jam in the geared rotary actuator (1).

Jam tolerant geared rotary actuator for multiple actuator systems with a

A geared rotary actuator (1) including planet gears (2) disposed around a shaft (S), sun gears (8, 9) meshing with the planet gears (2) and with axially displaceable ramp members (10, 11) splined to the shaft (S) at least a pair of ball members (13, 14) are accommodated in pockets formed between the respective ramp members (10, 11) and a further member (12). Ramp surfaces (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b, 10a, 10b) are provided at the respective pockets to enable the ball members (13, 14) to ride out of the pockets upon an occurrence of an excessive torque thereby axially displacing the respective ramp members (10, 11) against a bias of springs (15, 16) coupled to the sun gears (8, 9) through planet gear radial support members (4) integrally formed with the sun gears (8, 9) thereby disconnecting a torque path through the actuator (1). Axial support for the radial support members (4) and ramp members (10, 11) is provided by struts (17, 18) fashioned as pins displaceable between an axial position and a transverse position upon the occurrence of excessive torque.

Jam tolerant geared rotary actuator with automatic disconnect

Difficulties in positively engaging and disengaging helical spring clutch mechanisms are avoided in a construction including a driven shaft (10) with a gear (18) rotatably mounted on the shaft (10). A helical spring (40) is disposed about part (24) of the gear (18) and the driving shaft (12) and a reaction collar (28) is located adjacent to the spring (40) and is splined to the driving shaft (12). A friction collar (52) is engagable with the helical spring (28) and is carried by the driving shaft (10). Ball actuators (62, 64) are provided for selectively engaging the friction collar (52) with the helical spring (40) thereby causing the spring (40) to engage the reaction collar (28) and rotate with the driving shaft (12) to drive the gear (18). r

Spring clutch assembly for use in a transmission

Periodic lubrication of mechanical actuation systems may be avoided in a self-lubricating mechanism for such a system that includes a bidirectional rotary shaft (22), a housing (10), and a one-way clutch (90, 92) having an output element (92) moved in response to one direction of rotation of the shaft (22) and which may remain stationary for the opposite direction of rotation of the shaft (22). Included is a variable volume lubricant reservoir (40, 58) within the housing (10) and a gear system (44, 80, 94, 96, 98) interconnects the output element (92) and the reservoir (40, 58) to continuously feed lubricant therefrom whenever the shaft (22) is rotated in one direction.

Automatic lubrication device for mechanical actuation systems

A system for damping relative rotation between two axially driven shafts (30) rotating in the same direction and for indicating failure of one of the shafts is disclosed. The system includes a coupling mechanism (34), coupling the driven shafts together to transmit torque from one of the shafts to the other of the shafts upon a predetermined relative angular rotation between the two shafts and providing a free zone of relative rotation between the shafts without transmitting torque between the shafts when the shafts have moved less than a predetermined angular rotation with respect to each other within the free zone of rotation. A mechanism (32) is provided which is coupled to the shafts for producing movement of a movable member (40) which is directly proportional to the degree of relative rotation between the shafts (30) during relative rotation between the shafts less than the predetermined relative angular rotation within the free zone of rotation. A retarding mechanism (62) is provided for retarding the motion of the movable member (40) with a force for retarding movement of the movable member when the shafts are rotating relatively with respect to each other through an angle less than the predetermined relative angular rotation within the free zone of rotation which restricts the rate of relative motion of the shafts with respect to each other. Further, an indicator (66) is provided which produces a signal upon movement of the shafts with respect to each other through the predetermined relative angular rotation within the free zone of rotation.

Shaft failure indicator

A rotary travel limit stop is provided to cause the rotation of the rotary actuator to cease. Second and third rotatable members are arranged in gear mesh association with the first rotatable member and the second and third rotatable members are provided with different numbers of gear teeth so that the rotate at different speeds when the first rotatable member is caused to rotate. The different rates of rotation of the second and third rotatable members result in an axial movement away from each other by the second and third rotatable members when a cam structure is positioned at a preselected relative location as a result of a relative rotation between the second and third rotatable members. This axial movement of the second and third rotatable members away from each other causes moveable stop pins or protuberances to move into interfering relation with fixed stop pins or protuberances. During the following revolution of the second and third rotatable members, the stop pins or protuberances move into contact with each other and stop subsequent rotation of the device.

Rotary travel limit stop

A latching failure detection mechanism for a rotary drive system is disclosed. A pair of mating clutch jaws are provided, with each jaw torsionally connected to a respective one of a pair of input members, such as the ends of a closed loop drive line. The jaws are relatively axially and rotatably movable. The jaws are movable from a first, inoperative position wherein the jaws simply rotate with the input members and a second, latching position wherein the jaws relatively rotatably move to a latched condition in response to relative failure rotation of the input members, thereby providing a torque path through the jaws in the latching position. An indicator is provided operatively associated with a movable one of the clutch jaws for providing a positive indication that the jaws have moved to the latching position.

Latching failure detection mechanism for rotary drive systems

A coupling providing protection against excessive torque transmission with an override capability. The torque limiting clutch capable of overrun without detrimental thermal or mechanical effects is capable of being by-passed by a lock-up clutch which torsionally connects the input and output of the torque limiting clutch. The lock-up clutch is actuated by an external command.

Torque limiting clutch with by-pass

An actuator includes a main shaft (16) at the input of a speed reducing gear unit (29-32) which carries an overtravel stop mechanism. The grounded stops (68) are adjustable by a worm gear (72) to allow a near infinite resolution of the position for the overtravel stop of the driven member (16). Rotating stop members (52) are mounted for translation along the main shaft (16). When traveling nut (44) engages a cam surface (60), cam follower (56) translates the normally rotating stop members (52) in a direction opposing the bias force of a compression spring (36) into a stop condition against the grounded fixed stop (68) on wheel (50).

Actuator mechanism having adjustable stop

An actuator including a motor having a rotary output, an actuating arm mounted for reciprocating movement, and a mechanism, interconnecting the output and the arm to convert rotary motion to reciprocating motion. The mechanism includes a rotary element. A brake is provided including a friction plate and first and second reaction plates. A solenoid and spring are operable to move the reaction plate into or out of engagement with the friction plate and cams associated with the rotary element are operable to move the reaction plate into engagement with the friction plate.

Fail safe actuator

A narrow tolerance range slip clutch has a friction clutch and a ball ramp mechanism, with one or more springs associated with the friction clutch and ball ramp mechanism to exert a clamp load on the friction clutch and to establish a trip torque setting on the ball ramp mechanism. With a driving torque below a trip torque setting, there is a normal drive through the slip clutch. When the driving torque exceeds the trip torque setting, the clamp load on the friction clutch is reduced by means of a force balance between a ball ramp axial force and a clutch reaction force also proportional to input torque which are functions of the input torque and spring forces acting on the ball ramp mechanism and the friction clutch. With this force balance, the clamp load on the friction clutch is relieved sufficiently to avoid transmission of torque above the trip torque setting, with the result that there is continuous power flow through the slip clutch and after relief of the overloading, the slip clutch automatically resets itself to a full clamp load in transmitting normal torque levels.

Growing community of inventors

Rockford, IL, United States of America

Duane H Grimm