Positive locking roller stop device

A positive locking roller stop device includes two parallel disks; one is attached in a fixed position on a shaft while the other is mounted to same shaft via a bearing, allowing for rotation of this disk independent of the rotation of the shaft. One disk has one or more spring arm rollers attached to surface facing the second disk which has either an inclined notch(es) or inclined ramp(s) positioned to face the other disk and spring arm roller. Spacing between the disks allows the spring arm roller to engage the inclined notch(es) in the other disk when rotated in one direction thereby locking the movable disk to shaft while allowing free rotation of movable disk around shaft when rotated in opposite direction.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This embodiment relates to a device having a rotational mechanism attached to a shaft that allows rotational motion to be transmitted in one direction at high rotational speeds, but allowing for free-wheeling of a work piece such as a flywheel with minimal friction when the power source is reduced, preventing the slower shaft speed from reducing the speed of the work piece.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The most common type of apparatus that operates in a similar way is a ratchet with a gear and pawl. A ratchet typically is used to transmit torque in one direction to a work piece but is not practical for high speed applications. In contrast to the conventional ratchet, this embodiment allows for the transmission of rotational energy at high rotational speeds while allowing free-wheeling with minimal friction, and without hindering the rotation of a work piece such as a flywheel when the energy supplied to the shaft decreases. As energy is supplied to the shaft and the rotational speed increases the roller stop is engaged to add rotation to the work piece. As the energy supplied to the shaft decreases, the positive locking roller stop allows the work piece to continue to rotate unhindered until additional energy again is supplied to the shaft by the power source and the rotational speed of the shaft increases again.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in the figures, the positive locking roller stop device of this embodiment is a very simple device with few moving parts.

The positive locking roller stop device configuration shown inFIG. 1,FIG. 2andFIG. 3is comprised of first disk1and second disk5of any convenient size and thickness aligned on a shaft8with the sufficient space between the two disks to allow the spring arm roller(s)2room for proper travel. As shown inFIG. 1, second disk5, which includes the inclined notch(es)7or inclined ramp(s)9, is attached to shaft8in a fixed position by collar6, so that shaft8and second disk5rotate together. First disk1, to which the spring arm roller(s)2are attached, is attached to bearing3and rotates independently of shaft8and second disk5, if first disk1's rotation is faster than shaft8and second disk5. The orientation of the first disks1and second disk5as being attached to shaft8in a fixed position or rotating freely on a bearing may be reversed. Fasteners4in first disk1provide a means of attaching a work piece such as a flywheel.

The size, configuration and number of spring arm roller(s)2used can vary. The orientation of the spring arm roller(s)2on first disk1and the inclined notch(es)7or inclined ramp(s)9on second disk5to the axis of shaft8also may vary from a plane perpendicular to the axis of shaft8as shown inFIG. 1to a plane parallel to the axis of shaft8. The spring arm roller(s)2is comprised of the arm11, spring12, bracket13, roller14and pins15as shown inFIG. 4a.

When the rotational speed of shaft8and second disk5is equal to that of first disk1, the inclined notch(es)7cut in second disk5or inclined ramp(s)9positioned above the surface of second disk5, engage with the spring arm roller(s)2attached to first disk1, and the rotational speed of first disk1remains the same as shaft8and second disk5. When the rotational speed of shaft8and second disk5decreases, the spring arm roller(s)2attached to first disk1roll freely over second disk5unaffected by the slowing of shaft8and second disk5.