Patent ID: 6196361
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: B64C,Y10T

Abstract:
A braking apparatus comprising:a) a housing;b) a shaft operably connected to said housing in a manner allowing said shaft to rotate relative to said housing about an axis of rotation and constraining said shaft against movement along said axis with respect to said housing;c) jaw clutch means disposed about said axis including:a rotating element thereof operably connected to said shaft in a manner constraining said rotating element for rotation with said shaft and against unlimited axial movement with respect to said shaft;a translating element thereof operably connected to said housing in a manner constraining said translating element for axial movement with respect to said housing between a locked and an unlocked axial position of said translating element, and against unlimited rotation about said axis with respect to said housing;said rotating and translating elements each including complementary jaw tooth means extending axially therefrom in a juxtaposed relationship for engagement of said rotating and translating elements in an interlocking relationship with one another when said translating element is disposed in said locked position;d) actuator means for moving said translating element between said locked and unlocked axial positions; ande) ball spline means operably disposed between said translating element and said housing for operably connecting said translating element of said jaw clutch means to said housing in said manner constraining said translating element for axial movement with respect to said housing between said locked and unlocked axial positions of said translating element, and against said unlimited rotation about said axis with respect to said housing.