Clutch assembly brake

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022018415-A1
Application number	US-202117335259-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 1, 2021
Priority date	Jun 10, 2020
Publication date	Jan 20, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

The disclosure describes a clutch assembly that includes a first clutch element coupled to an input shaft and including a first clutch element friction surface; a second clutch element coupled to an output shaft, and a brake clutch coupled to a stationary component. The second clutch element includes a first friction surface configured to engage the first clutch element friction surface and a second friction surface opposite the first friction surface. The second clutch element is configured to move relative to the first clutch element to engage and disengage the first friction surface and the first clutch element friction surface. The brake clutch includes a brake clutch friction surface configured to engage the second friction surface of the second clutch element when the first clutch element and the second clutch element are disengaged.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A clutch assembly comprising:
a first clutch element coupled to an input shaft and comprising a first clutch element friction surface; a second clutch element coupled to an output shaft, wherein the second clutch element comprises a first friction surface configured to engage the first clutch element friction surface and a second friction surface opposite the first friction surface, wherein the second clutch element is configured to move relative to the first clutch element to engage and disengage the first friction surface and the first clutch element friction surface; and a brake clutch coupled to a stationary component, wherein the brake clutch comprises a brake clutch friction surface configured to engage the second friction surface of the second clutch element when the first clutch element and the second clutch element are disengaged.

2 . The clutch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first clutch element comprises a first cone structure and the second clutch element comprises a second cone structure.

3 . The clutch assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second friction surface comprises a radially outer surface of the second cone structure, wherein the brake clutch comprises a cone brake clutch, and wherein the brake clutch friction surface comprises a radially inner surface of the cone brake clutch.

4 . The clutch assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second friction surface comprises a first annular disc coupled to a back end of the second cone clutch, and wherein the brake clutch comprises a second annular disc coupled to the stationary component.

5 . The clutch assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a lock shaft assembly configured to engage a lock shaft to the input shaft when the first clutch element and the second clutch element are engaged.

6 . The clutch assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a sprag clutch coupled to the output shaft and located on the opposite side of the second clutch element from the first clutch element.

7 . A system comprising:
a gearbox; a propeller coupled to a propeller shaft; and a clutch assembly comprising:
a first clutch element coupled to an input shaft and comprising a first clutch element friction surface, wherein the input shaft is coupled to the gearbox;
a second clutch element coupled to the propeller shaft, wherein the second clutch element comprises a first friction surface configured to engage the first clutch element friction surface and a second friction surface opposite the first friction surface, wherein the second clutch element is configured to move relative to the first clutch element to engage and disengage the first friction surface and the first clutch element friction surface; and
a brake clutch coupled to a stationary component, wherein the brake clutch comprises a brake clutch friction surface configured to engage the second friction surface of the second clutch element when the first clutch element and the second clutch element are disengaged, and wherein engagement of the second clutch element and the brake clutch stops rotation of the propeller.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the first clutch element comprises a first cone clutch and the second clutch element comprises a second cone clutch.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the second friction surface comprises a back cone-shape surface of the second cone clutch, wherein the brake clutch comprises a cone brake clutch, and wherein the brake clutch friction surface comprises an inner surface of the cone brake clutch.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the second friction surface comprises a first annular disc coupled to a back end of the second cone clutch, and wherein the brake clutch comprises a second annular disc coupled to the stationary component.

11 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising a lock shaft assembly configured to engage a lock shaft to the input shaft when the first clutch element and the second clutch element are engaged.

12 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the propeller comprises a pusher prop of a pusher prop helicopter.

13 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising at least one gas turbine engine coupled to the gearbox.

14 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the clutch assembly further comprises a sprag clutch coupled to the propeller shaft and located on the opposite side of the second clutch element from the first clutch element.

15 . A method comprising:
engaging a first clutch element friction surface of a first clutch element coupled to an input shaft with a first friction surface of a second clutch element coupled to an output shaft to transfer torque from the input shaft to the output shaft, wherein the second clutch element further comprises a second friction surface opposite the first friction surface, wherein the second clutch element is configured to move relative to the first clutch element to engage and disengage the first friction surface and the first clutch element friction surface; disengaging the second clutch element from the first clutch element to stop transfer of torque from the input shaft to the output shaft; and engaging the second friction surface of the second clutch element with brake clutch friction surface of a brake clutch coupled to a stationary component to stop rotation of the output shaft.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first clutch element comprises a first cone clutch and the second clutch element comprises a second cone clutch.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the second friction surface comprises a back cone-shape surface of the second cone clutch, wherein the brake clutch comprises a cone brake clutch, and wherein the brake clutch friction surface comprises an inner surface of the cone brake clutch.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the second friction surface comprises a first annular disc coupled to a back end of the second cone clutch, and wherein the brake clutch comprises a second annular disc coupled to the stationary component.

19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising engaging a lock shaft of a lock shaft assembly to the input shaft while the first clutch element and the second clutch element are engaged.

20 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising a pusher prop coupled to the output shaft.

Assignees

• Rolls Royce Corp

Inventors

• Sauer Kevin

Classifications

• F16D2065/024

  the braking surface being inclined with respect to the rotor's axis of rotation at an angle other than 90 degrees, e.g. comprising a conical rotor · CPC title

• F16D2011/004

  using an internal or intermediate axially slidable sleeve, coupling both components together, whereby the intermediate sleeve is arranged internally at least with respect to one of the components · CPC title

• F16D67/04

  fluid actuated · CPC title

• F16D25/082

  the line of action of the fluid-actuated members co-inciding with the axis of rotation · CPC title

• F16D23/04

  with an additional friction clutch (synchro rings per se F16D23/025) · CPC title