Patent US3727737A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3727737A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure modulating system for reversing clutches and throttle control
Assignee: Rexnord Industries LLC
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Filing: 1971-06-14
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Granted: 1973-04-17
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Expires: 1991-06-14
Abstract
Abstract A pneumatic clutch control assembly for a ship''s propulsion system which sequentially controls the inflation and exhaust of pneumatically operated clutches and also controls the throttle system of an associated prime mover. Upon actuation of a control valve, which may be located in the pilot house and at other locations, a series of valves are sequentially operated to inflate a selected ahead or astern clutch in one of two conditions: (1) a first condition in which the clutch is inflated to reduced pressures according to the variable pressure of the control valve to allow slippage of the clutch and permit operation at speeds below the idle speed of the prime mover, and (2) a second condition in which the clutch is inflated to full pressure under a programmed inflation rate. In the first condition, the prime mover remains at minimum speed and only part of the idle torque is transmitted as required for the desired propeller speed. In the second condition, the control assembly limits the prime mover control signal during periods of partial clutch inflation until full pressure is supplied to the clutch.
Inventors
- 👤 J Phinney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:02
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H21/00; B63H21/22; B63H21/21; B63H21/213; F; F02; F02D; F02D29/00; B63H23/00; B63H23/02; B63H23/08; B63H23/30; F02D2700/00; F02D2700/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
304 words
A pneumatic clutch control assembly for a marine propulsion system of the type including a prime mover controlled by a throttle speed governor, a gear drive for transmitting power from the prime mover to a propeller drive shaft, air inflatable clutches arranged to selectively connect the prime mover to the gear drive including at least one such clutch for ahead operation and at least one such clutch for astern operation, and throttle means for actuation of the propulsion system, said pneumatic clutch control assembly being adapted for connection to a source of pressurized air and comprising, in combination: a first selective inflation means that is controlled by the throttle means to inflate a selected one of said air inflatable clutches up to a first control air pressure at a rate responsive to actuation of the throttle means; a second selective inflation means that operates independently of and bypasses the throttle means for inflating said selected air inflatable clutch beyond the first control air pressure at a programmed rate up to a second control air pressure at which point the second selective inflation means is actuated by clutch air pressure to complete inflation of said selected clutch at an unrestricted rate to full clutch air pressure; valve means arranged to operatively connect the first selective inflation means for clutch inflation below the first control air pressure and further arranged to operatively connect the second selective inflation means for clutch inflation above the first control air pressure; a throttle governor control means adapted to control the throttle speed governor to maintain the prime mover at idle speed until the selected clutch air pressure reaches a third control air pressure and thereafter allow air pressure from said first selective inflation means to be supplied to the throttle governor for regulation of engine speed by the throttle means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
304 words
A pneumatic clutch control assembly for a marine propulsion system of the type including a prime mover controlled by a throttle speed governor, a gear drive for transmitting power from the prime mover to a propeller drive shaft, air inflatable clutches arranged to selectively connect the prime mover to the gear drive including at least one such clutch for ahead operation and at least one such clutch for astern operation, and throttle means for actuation of the propulsion system, said pneumatic clutch control assembly being adapted for connection to a source of pressurized air and comprising, in combination: a first selective inflation means that is controlled by the throttle means to inflate a selected one of said air inflatable clutches up to a first control air pressure at a rate responsive to actuation of the throttle means; a second selective inflation means that operates independently of and bypasses the throttle means for inflating said selected air inflatable clutch beyond the first control air pressure at a programmed rate up to a second control air pressure at which point the second selective inflation means is actuated by clutch air pressure to complete inflation of said selected clutch at an unrestricted rate to full clutch air pressure; valve means arranged to operatively connect the first selective inflation means for clutch inflation below the first control air pressure and further arranged to operatively connect the second selective inflation means for clutch inflation above the first control air pressure; a throttle governor control means adapted to control the throttle speed governor to maintain the prime mover at idle speed until the selected clutch air pressure reaches a third control air pressure and thereafter allow air pressure from said first selective inflation means to be supplied to the throttle governor for regulation of engine speed by the throttle means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
143 words
A pneumatic clutch control assembly for a marine propulsion system of the type including a prime mover controlled by a throttle speed governor, a gear drive for transmitting power from the prime mover to a propeller drive shaft, air inflatable clutches arraNged to selectively connect the prime mover to the gear drive including at least one such clutch for ahead operation and at least one such clutch for astern operation, and throttle means for actuation of the propulsion system, said pneumatic clutch control assembly being adapted for connection to a source of pressurized air and comprising, in combination: a first selective inflation means that is controlled by the throttle means to inflate a selected one of said air inflatable clutches up to a first control air pressure at a rate responsive to actuation of the throttle means, which first selective inflation means comprises:
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
143 words
A pneumatic clutch control assembly for a marine propulsion system of the type including a prime mover controlled by a throttle speed governor, a gear drive for transmitting power from the prime mover to a propeller drive shaft, air inflatable clutches arraNged to selectively connect the prime mover to the gear drive including at least one such clutch for ahead operation and at least one such clutch for astern operation, and throttle means for actuation of the propulsion system, said pneumatic clutch control assembly being adapted for connection to a source of pressurized air and comprising, in combination: a first selective inflation means that is controlled by the throttle means to inflate a selected one of said air inflatable clutches up to a first control air pressure at a rate responsive to actuation of the throttle means, which first selective inflation means comprises:
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
a first air branch that leads from the source of pressurized air to said first valve means and is operatively connected to said throttle means, which first air branch has an air output that is responsive to air pressure supplied to the first air branch by said throttle means; and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
a first air branch that leads from the source of pressurized air to said first valve means and is operatively connected to said throttle means, which first air branch has an air output that is responsive to air pressure supplied to the first air branch by said throttle means; and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
115 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein the second selective inflation means comprises: the first valve means and the third air branch of the first selective inflation means and further includes a second air branch that leads from the source of pressurized air to said first valve means; and restricting valve means included in the second air branch for restricting the rate of increase of air flowing into the third air branch until the air in the selected clutch reaches the second control air pressure whereupon the second air branch is actuated by the selected clutch air pressure to bypass the restricting valve means to complete inflation of the selected clutch to full clutch air pressure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
165 words
a third air branch that leads from said first valve means to the air inflatable clutches, which third air branch receives air from the first air branch through the first valve means until the first control air pressure is reached and the first valve means is actuated; a second selective inflation means for inflating said selected air inflatable clutch beyond the first control air pressure at a programmed rate up to a second control air pressure at which point the second selective inflation means is actuated by clutch air pressure to complete inflation of said selected clutch at an unrestricted rate to full clutch air pressure; and a throttle governor control means adapted to control the throttle speed governor to maintain the prime mover at idle speed until the selected clutch air pressure reaches a third control air pressure and thereafter allow air pressure to be operatively supplied from said throttle means to the throttle governor for regulation of engine speed by the throttle means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
165 words
a third air branch that leads from said first valve means to the air inflatable clutches, which third air branch receives air from the first air branch through the first valve means until the first control air pressure is reached and the first valve means is actuated; a second selective inflation means for inflating said selected air inflatable clutch beyond the first control air pressure at a programmed rate up to a second control air pressure at which point the second selective inflation means is actuated by clutch air pressure to complete inflation of said selected clutch at an unrestricted rate to full clutch air pressure; and a throttle governor control means adapted to control the throttle speed governor to maintain the prime mover at idle speed until the selected clutch air pressure reaches a third control air pressure and thereafter allow air pressure to be operatively supplied from said throttle means to the throttle governor for regulation of engine speed by the throttle means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
90 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein the throttle governor control means includes a governor valve means operatively connected between the throttle means and the throttle speed governor, a piloting air branch supplies air from the selected clutch to the governor valve means, and the governor valve means is adapted to block passage of air to the throttle speed governor until air pressure supplied to it from said piloting air branch reaches the third control air pressure and thereupon actuate to enable the throttle means to actuate the throttle speed governor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein a piloting air branch supplies air from the selected clutch to the second air branch, and the second selective inflation means is actuated at the second control air pressure by air pressure operatively supplied by said piloting air branch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-16 | 1976-10-16 | 1977-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-16 | 1980-10-16 | 1981-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-16 | 1984-10-16 | 1985-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |