Patent ID: 11067223

Abstract:
A trunnion clutch system is provided for angularly positioning a payload. The system includes a trunnion and a clutch. The trunnion has an annular trunnion housing, a trunnion shaft that engages the payload, and an electromagnetic motor that turns the trunnion housing. The clutch has an annular clutch housing, a jack shaft, a coil of copper winding rings, a plurality of helical springs, an annular armature, and an annular platform. The clutch housing contains a channel. The jack shaft is disposed in the clutch housing and engages the trunnion. The coil of copper winding rings is disposed within the channel. The helical springs are disposed within an angularly distributed plurality of pockets within the clutch housing. The annular armature is disposed to be separate from the coil by a gap via the springs. The annular platform has an abrasive liner disposed adjacent the armature. Energizing the coil pulls the armature away from the liner, thereby disengaging the trunnion.