Actuated spring clutch assembly

Abstract: A spring clutch assembly has an input clutch member (2), an output clutch member (3), and a spring (12) disposed over a coaxial arbor (9). The spring clutch assembly further includes an independently rotatable shaft (16) disposed in a passage extending through the arbor. The shaft includes a splined surface (19) engaged by an axially movable collar (23) having a mating splined surface. The collar is mounted a chamber (20) in the input member, and has extending ears (25) and (26) located in slots (21) and (22) in the chamber side­ wall. A cap (30) is fitted to an output end of the shaft and has an arm (38) extending into engagement with an end coil (41). The arm includes a projection which engages a recess in the coil. Axial movement of the collar causes the shaft to turn, relative to the arbor, with the arm forcing the coil spring to compress, disengaging the teaser coils from the output drive surface. Utilizing a shaft assembly for manual clutch disengagement allows the input member to be rotated without rotating the output member.

Description: This invention relates to spring clutches assemblies including means for disengaging a drive member from a driven member. Spring clutch assemblies, such as that disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,570,318 to Kish, are known for transferring torque from a drive member to a driven member, with spring clutch assemblies preferred as torque transmitting devices where overrunning conditions would be encountered. Such conditions occur when the driven member attains a higher rotational speed than the drive member and therefore declutching is required to prevent rotation of the driver. Overrunning spring clutches utilize a coil spring which expands radially under a driven load to couple two clutch members, an input member and an output member. Each clutch member includes a bore where the coil spring is located, with approximately one half of the spring in the input member and one half in the output member. The clutch spring is usually fixed at the drive end by press fitting onto an arbor which is attached to the input member. The arbor is coaxial with the input and output members, passing through the hollow core of the spring. The arbor serves as a centering means for alignment and support of the coil spring. In the non-rotating state, a space is provided between the spring and the inner bore surfaces of the clutch members, except at the ends where "teaser" coils are in contact with the inner surfaces. These teaser coils ride on the surfaces to actuate the spring. When the input member begins to rotate, in a direction counter to the pitch of the spring coils, the teaser coils, dragging against the output member, cause the spring to unwind, expanding radially so that it is in driving contact with the bore surfaces along its entire length, transferring torque from the input to the output member. In the overrunning condition, the driven member rotates faster than the drive member, in the direction of the spring pitch, driving the teaser coils to rewind the spring and disengage the driven member from the drive member. This may occur, for example, in a helicopter during engine shutdown when momentum maintains main rotor rotation. A problem with spring clutches is their inability to be disengaged in a non-overrunning condition. For example, on a helicopter, it may be desirable to use the driver to power auxiliary devices or to conduct equipment checks, without rotating the rotors. Spring clutch assemblies operate automatically in response to rotation of the driver and are not disengageable on command. Additional devices, such as an auxiliary clutch, may be used to disengage the driver, however, these would add excessive weight and complexity to the aircraft. It is an object of the present invention to provide a spring clutch assembly which allows disengagement of the primary power train in a non-overrunning condition. It is another object of the present invention to provide means for disengaging the drive train without adding excessive weight and complexity to the spring clutch assembly. It is a further object of the present invention to provide means for disengaging the primary drive train without interfering with the normal overrunning capabilitiy of the spring clutch assembly. Subject-matter of the invention is a spring clutch assembly having an input clutch member; an output clutch member, the input and output members having bores extending therethrough, each member being separably rotatable; an arbor connected to the input member and extending through the bores in both members; a clutch spring placed on the arbor, each member having a drive surface engageable by the spring; characterized by a shaft, disposed in a passage in the arbor, the shaft extending through the arbor and being rotatable therein; spring engagement means fixed to the shaft for engaging the spring; rotating means engaged to the shaft, for rotating the shaft relative to the arbor in response to a control signal. A spring clutch assembly comprising the features before "characterized by" in the preceding paragraph is known from US-A-1 973 671. Its clutch spring can intentionally be brought into a contracted diameter condition, thereby declutching the input clutch member and the output clutch member, by rotating the input clutch member relative to the arbor. Tapered keys are provided, which extend in axial direction through slots in the arbor and in the input clutch member; axially shifting those keys results in the relative rotation of the input clutch member. A further subject-matter of the invention is a method for disengaging a drive member from a driven member in a spring clutch assembly, the spring clutch assembly comprising: (a) an input clutch member and an output clutch member, each member being separably rotatable; (b) the input and output members having bores extending therethrough, an arbor being connected to the input member and extending through the bores in both members; (c) a clutch spring, including teaser coils placed on the arbor, each member having a drive surface engageable by the spring; (d) a shaft, disposed in a passage in the arbor and extending through the arbor; (e) spring engagement means fixed to the shaft for engaging the spring, the method comprising rotating the shaft, including the spring engagement means, by rotating means which are engaged to the shaft, in response to a control signal, from a first position to a second position, thereby bringing the teaser coils out of contact with the drive surface of the output member. When, in the spring clutch assembly according to the invention, the shaft is rotated from a first position to a second position, the spring engagement means winds the spring in the direction of the spring pitch to disengage the teaser coils from the output member. This allows the input member to rotate freely, without causing rotation of the output member. Consequently, auxiliary devices may be run with the driver disengaged. Returning the rotating means to the first position unwinds the spring to return the teaser coils to contact with the output member, allowing the spring to function normally. Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the actuated spring clutch assembly of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of one embodiment of the spring engagement means of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the spring clutch assembly, taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the spring engagement means, taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the actuated overrunning spring clutch assembly of the present invention. "Actuated" refers to the ability to disengage the spring clutch on command. The spring clutch assembly 1 includes an input clutch member 2 and an output clutch member 3. The clutch members are disposed in a housing which has not been shown to ease illustration of the invention. The input and output members are generally cylindrical in shape and are placed in end-to-end juxtaposition with a gap 4 therebetween, each clutch member being independently rotatable. The input and output clutch members have bores 5 and 6, respectively, extending axially therethrough. The bores 5 and 6 provide input and output drive surfaces 7 and 8 for spring engagement. The input member is engaged by a drive device (not shown) such as a gas turbine engine. The output member is engaged to a driven device (not shown) such as a helicopter rotor. An arbor 9 is coaxially disposed in the assembly, extending through the bores in both members. The arbor 9 is attached by a pin 10 to the input member and is rotatable therewith. The arbor 9 has a central passage 11 which extends for its length. A coil spring 12 is placed on the arbor, within the bores of the input and output members. The spring has input teaser coils 13, which contact the input drive surface, output teaser coils 14, which contact the output drive surface and central coils 15 which do not contact the drive surfaces when in the compressed condition yet are expandable into engagement with the drive surfaces for transmitting torque from the drive member to the driven member. The spring has a pitch which causes expansion when the input member rotates faster than the output member, and compression when the output member rotates faster than the input member. A shaft 16 extends through the passage 11 in the arbor, and is rotatable therein. Bearings 17 are provided in a recess 18 in the input member bore for rotatably supporting the shaft. The shaft is therefore rotatable, relative to the arbor/input member subassembly. The shaft has a helically splined end 19 which extends through a chamber 20 in the input member. The chamber is cylindrically shaped and includes two opposed slots 21 and 22, in the wall thereof. A reciprocally movable collar 23 is engaged to the splined shaft end within the chamber. Referring to Fig. 3, the collar 23 includes splines 24 on the inner diameter thereof, which are sized to engage the splined shaft end. The collar includes two opposed ears 25 and 26 which extend into the wall slots 21 and 22, to restrict the collar to axial movement. Referring again to Fig. 1, the collar 23 has an end 27 connected to a reciprocating actuator 28, with the end supported rotatably in the actuator by bearings 29. Linear movement of the collar acts on the shaft splines to twist the shaft, rotating the shaft from a first position (A) to a second position (B), shown in phantom. Generally, helical splines with a particular twist may cooperate with an actuator of a particular stroke to provide precise positioning of the shaft relative to the arbor. The actuator may be electrically, pneumatically or mechanically operated in response to a control signal. Spring engagement means are fitted to a portion of the shaft adjacent the output teaser coils. Referring to Fig. 2, the engagement means comprise a cylindrical cap 30, with a keyway 31 in the sidewall thereof. The cap 30 has a hole 32 in a top portion 33 through which a threaded end 34 of the shaft passes through. The shaft also has a keyway 35 which is aligned with the cap keyway 31. A key 36 is inserted in the keyways to lock the cap to the shaft, with a nut 37 (shown in Fig. 1) fitted to the threaded shaft to prevent axial cap movement. An arm 38 extends from the cap into engagement with the spring. Referring to Fig. 4, the arm has a projection 39 for engaging a rectangular recess or cutout 40 in an end coil 41. The recess may be provided by modifying the spring to add an end coil of sufficient thickness to allow machining. The end coil is preferably of a smaller outside diameter than the teaser coils and is not in contact with the drive surface. This assures that arm does not interfere with the clutch overrunning capability. In operation, the input member, arbor and spring rotate as a unit. The shaft similarly rotates with the unit, yet is separably rotatable relative to the arbor. For example, the shaft may be rotated from 0 degrees to 180 degrees, relative to the arbor, while the unit is rotating at 10,000 RPM. For normal operation, the collar 23 is located at a first position (A) which allows the output teaser coils 14 to engage the output drive surface 8. Therefore, the arm 38 does not interfere with normal operation of the spring clutch assembly and any rotation of the input member results in engagement and rotation of the output member. When it is desired to disengage the output member, for example, for driving auxiliary devices, the actuator 28 receives a signal which drives the actuator to displace the collar 23 axially, causing the collar to move from the first position to a second position (B). As the collar moves axially, the engaged splined surfaces cause rotation of the shaft. The arm 38 then forces the teaser coils 14 to turn in the direction of the spring pitch, causing the spring to compress and thereby disengaging the output teaser coils from the output drive surface. Once contact is broken, the input member may be rotated freely without rotating the output member. In a helicopter, such an assembly allows the engine to drive auxiliary devices such as generators or other items, without requiring main rotor rotation. While a helically splined shaft is shown, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various alternative means for rotating the shaft may be used. In addition, it will be understood that various other modifications or changes could be made to the spring engagement means without varying from the present invention.

Claims: A spring clutch assembly (1) having an input clutch member (2); an output clutch member (3), the input and output members (2, 3) having bores (5, 6) extending there-through, each member (2, 3) being separably rotatable; an arbor (9) connected to the input member (12) and extending through the bores (5,6) in both members (2, 3); a clutch spring (12) placed on the arbor (9), each member having a drive surface (7, 8) engageable by the spring (12); characterized by: a shaft (16), disposed in a passage (11) in the arbor (9), the shaft (16) extending through the arbor (9) and being rotatable therein; spring engagement means (30, 38) fixed to the shaft (16) for engaging the spring (12); rotating means (19, 23) engaged to the shaft (16), for rotating the shaft (16) relative to the arbor (9) in response to a control signal. The spring clutch assembly (1) of claim 1 wherein the clutch spring (12) comprises teaser coils (14) for disengaging the spring (12) from the output member (3), the spring engagement means (30, 38) being engaged to the teaser coils (14), and the teaser coils (14) being in contact with the drive surface (8) of the output member (3) when the shaft (16) is in a first position and the teaser coils (14) being out of contact with the drive surface (8) of the output member (3) when the shaft (16) is rotated from the first position to a second position. The spring clutch assembly (1) of claim 1 or 2 wherein the rotating means comprise a splined shaft end (19) and a collar (23) fixed radially to the input member (2) and having a mating splined surface (24), the collar (23) being displaceable axially along the splined surface (24) for rotating the shaft (16). The spring clutch assembly (1) of any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising actuator means (28) for driving the rotating means (19, 23) from a first position to a second position. The spring clutch assembly (1) of claim 4 wherein the actuator means (28) is a pneumatically, electrically or mechanically operated actuator. The spring clutch assembly (1) of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the spring engagement means comprises a cylindrical cap (30) fixed to the shaft (16), an arm (38) extending from the cap (30), the arm (38) including a projection (39) matable with a recess in an end coil. The spring clutch assembly (1) of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the shaft (16) is supported by bearings (17). The spring clutch assembly (1) of claim 6 or 7 further comprising a key (36) for fixing the cap (30) to the shaft (16), and a nut (37) threaded onto a threaded portion (34) of the shaft (16) for retaining the cap on the shaft. A method for disengaging a drive member from a driven member in a spring clutch assembly (1), the spring clutch assembly (1) comprising: (a) an input clutch member (2) and an output clutch member (3), each member (2, 3) being separably rotatable; (b) the input and output members (2, 3) having bores (5, 6) extending therethrough, an arbor (9) being connected to the input member (2) and extending through the bores (5, 6) in both members; (c) a clutch spring (12), including teaser coils (14), placed on the arbor (9), each member (2, 3) having a drive surface (7, 8) engageable by the spring (12); (d) a shaft (16), disposed in a passage (11) in the arbor (9) and extending through the arbor (9); (e) spring engagement means (30, 38) fixed to the shaft (16) for engaging the spring (12), the method comprising rotating the shaft (16), including the spring engagement means (30, 38), by rotating means (19, 23) which are engaged to the shaft (16), in response to a control signal, from a first position to a second position, thereby bringing the teaser coils (14) out of contact with the drive surface (8) of the output member (3).

Inventors: KISH JULES GENE, STONE ROBERT ARTHUR, KISH, JULES GENE, STONE, ROBERT ARTHUR
Applicants: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP, UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Application year: 1989
Main classification: F16D41
IPC codes: F16D45, F16D13, F16D41