Torque limiter assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11713790-B2
Application number	US-202117404135-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 17, 2021
Priority date	Jul 8, 2017
Publication date	Aug 1, 2023
Grant date	Aug 1, 2023

Abstract

A torque limiting assembly is disclosed comprising: an input shaft; an output shaft; and spring having a first end coupled to the input shaft and a second end coupled with the output shaft. In a low torque mode, when the input shaft is rotated the spring is compressed by a low amount and transmits a force to drive rotation of the output shaft, whereas in a high torque mode the spring is compressed by a high amount such that the input shaft rotates relative to the output shaft. This relative rotation moves or urges an engagement member so as to either: disconnect the input shaft from the output shaft; or engage a housing to prevent or inhibit rotation of the input shaft relative to the housing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A torque limiting assembly comprising:
an input shaft;
an output shaft;
a spring carrier positioned radially between the input shaft and the output shaft; and
a first resilient biasing member having a first portion coupled to the input shaft and a second portion connected to the spring carrier;
wherein the assembly is configured such that, in a low torque mode, when the input shaft is rotated in a first direction the first resilient biasing member is compressed by a relatively low amount and transmits a force from rotation of the input shaft to drive rotation of the output shaft; and
wherein the assembly is configured such that, in a high torque mode, when the input shaft is rotated in the first direction the first resilient biasing member is compressed by a relatively high amount such that the input shaft rotates relative to the output shaft, thereby moving or urging an engagement member so as to engage a housing to prevent or inhibit rotation of the input shaft relative to the housing.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the input shaft contacts the engagement member, wherein the input shaft rotates in the first direction relative to the engagement member in the high torque mode, and wherein the engagement member and input shaft are configured such that rotation of the input shaft relative to the engagement member in the first direction moves or urges the engagement member to engage the housing so as to prevent or inhibit rotation of the input shaft relative to the housing.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the output shaft is arranged concentrically with, and between, at least a portion of the input shaft and at least a portion of the housing; and
wherein said portion of the output shaft comprises an aperture in which the engagement member is arranged, wherein said aperture is sized and configured to prevent the engagement member moving in the first direction relative to the output shaft.

4. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the input shaft comprises a portion that is curved or otherwise ramped in a circumferential direction such that rotation of the input shaft relative to the engagement member in the first direction moves or urges the engagement member radially outwards.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second resilient biasing member having a first portion connected to the input shaft and a second portion fixedly coupled to the output shaft such that it cannot move relative thereto;
wherein the assembly is configured such that, in a low torque mode, when the input shaft is rotated in a second direction the second resilient biasing member is compressed by a relatively low amount and transmits a force from rotation of the input shaft to drive rotation of the output shaft; and
wherein the assembly is configured such that, in a high torque mode, when the input shaft is rotated in the second direction the second resilient biasing member is compressed by a relatively high amount such that the input shaft rotates relative to the output shaft, thereby moving the engagement member so as to engage the housing to prevent or inhibit rotation of the input shaft relative to the housing.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first resilient biasing member comprises a spring.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first resilient biasing member is an elongated member that extends circumferentially only part way around a rotational axis of the input shaft.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the first resilient biasing member is fixedly coupled to the output shaft such that it cannot move relative thereto.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the output shaft comprises a plurality of apertures and the spring carrier comprises a plurality of protrusions, wherein the plurality of protrusions are configured to interlock with the plurality of apertures such that the spring carrier and output shaft are rotationally fixed relative to each other.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the first resilient biasing member is connected to the input shaft via a first radial protrusion on the input shaft, and the second portion of the first resilient biasing member is directly connected to the spring carrier.

11. A torque limiting assembly comprising:
an input shaft;
an output shaft;
a spring carrier positioned radially between the input shaft and the output shaft, wherein the spring carrier is interlocked with the output shaft so that they are rotationally fixed relative to each other; and
a first resilient biasing member having a first end connected to the input shaft and a second end connected to the spring carrier;
wherein the assembly is configured such that, in a low torque mode, when the input shaft is rotated in a first direction the first resilient biasing member is compressed by a relatively low amount and transmits a force from rotation of the input shaft to drive rotation of the spring carrier, wherein rotation of the spring carrier drives rotation of the output shaft; and
wherein the assembly is configured such that, in a high torque mode, when the input shaft is rotated in the first direction the first resilient biasing member is compressed by a relatively high amount such that the input shaft rotates relative to the spring carrier and the output shaft, thereby moving or urging an engagement member so as to engage a housing to prevent or inhibit rotation of the input shaft relative to the housing.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the output shaft comprises an aperture in which the engagement member is arranged, wherein said aperture is sized and configured to prevent the engagement member moving in the first direction relative to the output shaft;
wherein the input shaft contacts the engagement member; and
wherein the input shaft comprises an inwardly curved or ramped portion aligned with said aperture such that, in the high torque mode, the input shaft rotates relative to the engagement member in the first direction so as to move or urge the engagement member radially outwards so as to engage the housing.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Biernat Marcin
• Babicki Kamil

Classifications

• F16D43/208 Primary

  moving radially between engagement and disengagement · CPC title

• F16D7/10 Primary

  moving radially between engagement and disengagement · CPC title

• F16D43/204

  with intermediate balls or rollers · CPC title