US3800930A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable speed drive
Assignee: Sommer Co
•
Filing: 1972-09-22
•
Granted: 1974-04-02
•
Expires: 1992-09-22
Abstract
Abstract A variable speed drive, adapted to be mounted between and supported by a motor shaft and a driven shaft, comprising: a rotatable housing defining a fluid reservoir, and drivingly connected to the motor shaft; an output shaft having an end section located in the fluid reservoir, and an opposite end drivingly connected to the driven shaft; a clutch disc stack including a first series of drive discs located in the fluid reservoir and supported for rotation by the housing, and a second series of driven discs interleaved with the drive discs, and supported for rotation with the output shaft; and a piston actuator slidably located at one end of the clutch disc stack, and adapted to compressively engage the clutch disc stack. The loading pressure of the clutch disc stack is selectively modulated by the piston actuator to provide variable rotary motion to the output shaft by a control system which includes an electrically operable servo relief valve for controlling the piston, and a control module which provides a variable output signal to the valve in response to a desired preset rotary output speed characteristic. In another form of the subject invention the drive is modified to selectively accelerate the output shaft to the speed of the drive motor, for use in starting high inertia, constant speed, equipment. This form of the drive includes a larger actuating piston to provide increased torque.
Inventors
- 👤 G Sommer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:38
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D35/00; F16D35/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A variable speed drive unit located between, and supported by, a drive shaft and a driven shaft comprising: a housing supported for rotation with the drive shaft and defining a fluid reservoir; an output shaft having a first end drivingly connected to the driven shaft, and an opposite end located in said housing and rotatably supported thereby; a series of clutch plates located in said reservoir and supported for rotation with said housing; a series of friction discs located in said reservoir and supported for rotation with said output shaft, said discs being adapted for selective frictional engagement with said clutch plates; actuating means including piston means located in said housing, for selectively engaging said plates and said discs; a source of pressurized liquid media; and control means including valve means connected to said source and said piston means for selectively operating said actuating means to provide an applied frictional force between said plates and said discs in accordance with a desired angular speed characteristic of the driven shaft, said valve means including relief means for controlling the magnitude of pressure applied on said piston means by selectively discharging said liquid to said clutch plates and friction discs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A variable speed drive unit located between, and supported by, a drive shaft and a driven shaft comprising: a housing supported for rotation with the drive shaft and defining a fluid reservoir; an output shaft having a first end drivingly connected to the driven shaft, and an opposite end located in said housing and rotatably supported thereby; a series of clutch plates located in said reservoir and supported for rotation with said housing; a series of friction discs located in said reservoir and supported for rotation with said output shaft, said discs being adapted for selective frictional engagement with said clutch plates; actuating means including piston means located in said housing, for selectively engaging said plates and said discs; a source of pressurized liquid media; and control means including valve means connected to said source and said piston means for selectively operating said actuating means to provide an applied frictional force between said plates and said discs in accordance with a desired angular speed characteristic of the driven shaft, said valve means including relief means for controlling the magnitude of pressure applied on said piston means by selectively discharging said liquid to said clutch plates and friction discs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The invention, as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a relatively non-rotatable housing axially spaced from said first mentioned housing and in fluid communication therewith, said non-rotatable housing being supported by said output shaft and defining a second fluid reservoir; and combination shaft sealing and bearing means located in said non-rotatable housing including means for transferring said liquid media from said valve means to said output shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention, as recited in claim 2, wherein said valve means is operatively connected to said non-rotatable housing and wherein said non-rotatable housing defines first and second fluid passage means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention, as recited in claim 3, wherein said first and second passage means are in fluid communication with said piston means, and said clutch plates and friction discs respectiVely.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention, as recited in claim 1, including spring means associated with said piston means for disengaging said clutch plates and said friction discs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention, as recited in claim 1, wherein said control means includes electrical circuit means for providing an output signal in accordance with a desired angular speed characteristic of said output shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
The invention, as recited in claim 6, including a pulse gear mounted for rotation with said output shaft, a magnetic pickup located proximate said pulse gear and providing a feedback signal to said circuit means in accordance with the angular speed of said output shaft, and wherein said circuit means is responsive to said feedback signal to correctably adjust said output signal in accordance therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
A variable speed drive unit for drivingly connecting a drive means to a driven means comprising: housing means for defining a fluid reservoir, said housing means including a first section connected for rotation with said drive means and a second non-rotatable section axially spaced from said first section and including a bushing located in said non-rotatable section functioning as a hydrostatic bearing; an output shaft rotatably supporting said non-rotatable section and connected to said driven means; a series of clutch plates located in said housing means and mounted for rotation with said drive means; a series of friction discs supported by said output shaft for rotation therewith and interleaved with said clutch plates; and means for selectively modulating the fluid pressure between said plates and discs to provide a controlled slippage therebetween.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
132 words
A variable speed drive unit for drivingly connecting a drive means to a driven means comprising: housing means for defining a fluid reservoir, said housing means including a first section connected for rotation with said drive means and a second non-rotatable section axially spaced from said first section and including a bushing located in said non-rotatable section functioning as a hydrostatic bearing; an output shaft rotatably supporting said non-rotatable section and connected to said driven means; a series of clutch plates located in said housing means and mounted for rotation with said drive means; a series of friction discs supported by said output shaft for rotation therewith and interleaved with said clutch plates; and means for selectively modulating the fluid pressure between said plates and discs to provide a controlled slippage therebetween.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The invention, as recited in claim 8, wherein said last mentioned means includes actuating means for compressing said plates and said discs, a control circuit providing an electrical output signal in accordance with a preset angular speed desired for said driven means, and valve means responsive to said output signal for controlling the compressive force applied by said actuator means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention, as recited in claim 9 wherein said valve means is operatively connected to said non-rotatable section and wherein said non-rotatable section defines first and second fluid passage means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention, as recited in claim 10, wherein said first and second passage means are in fluid communication with said actuating means, and said clutch plates and friction discs respectively.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
176 words
A variable speed drive comprising: a rotatable housing adapted for connection with a drive means and rotatable therewith; an output shaft having a first end adaptd for connection with a driven means and an opposite end rotatably supported by said rotatable housing; a stationary housing supported by said output shaft; hydrostatic bearing means located in said stationary housing for providing a shaft seal for said output shaft; a clutch including a first series of drive plates supported in said rotatable housing for rotation with said drive means, and a series of friction discs carried by said output shaft and adapted for selective frictional engagement with said plates; actuating means located in said rotatable housing for frictionally engaging said drive plates to said friction discs; and valve means connected to a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for directing said fluid to said bearing means, said drive plates and friction discs, and said actuating means; and control means associated with said valve means and said actuating means for selectively modulating the frictional engagement between said plates and discs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
176 words
A variable speed drive comprising: a rotatable housing adapted for connection with a drive means and rotatable therewith; an output shaft having a first end adaptd for connection with a driven means and an opposite end rotatably supported by said rotatable housing; a stationary housing supported by said output shaft; hydrostatic bearing means located in said stationary housing for providing a shaft seal for said output shaft; a clutch including a first series of drive plates supported in said rotatable housing for rotation with said drive means, and a series of friction discs carried by said output shaft and adapted for selective frictional engagement with said plates; actuating means located in said rotatable housing for frictionally engaging said drive plates to said friction discs; and valve means connected to a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for directing said fluid to said bearing means, said drive plates and friction discs, and said actuating means; and control means associated with said valve means and said actuating means for selectively modulating the frictional engagement between said plates and discs.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention, as recited in claim 12, including bearing means for rotatably supporting one end of said output shaft relative to said housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention, as recited in claim 13, wherein said bearing means comprises a sole spherical roller bearing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention, as recited in claim 12, wherein said rotatable housing includes a plurality of fins located about the outer periphery thereof and adapted to provide a heat transfer function whereby to remove heat from said reservoir.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention, as recited in claim 12, wherein said actuating means includes a piston member having a first side in fluid communication with the source of pressurized fluid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention, as recited in claim 16, wherein said actuating means includes spring means acting on an opposite side of said piston member to provide a ''''fail-safe'''' in the event of loss of said pressurized fluid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention, as recited in claim 12, including speed sensor means carried by said output shaft for determining the angular motion thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention, as recited in claim 18, wherein said sensor means includes a pulse gear mounted to said output shaft and a magnetic pick-up carried by said stationary housing and disposed proximate to said pulse gear.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
170 words
A variable speed drive unit adapted to be located between, and supported by, a first and second hub located on a drive shaft and a driven shaft, respectively, the unit comprising: a housing assembly connected to one of said hubs and adapted for rotation therewith; an output shaft having a first end rotatably supported by said assembly and a second end connected to the other of said hubs; bearing means interposed between said housing assembly and said first end of said output shaft for rotatably supporting said output shaft, said bearing means being the sole means for supporting said output shaft for rotatable movement relative to said drive shaft; a series of clutch plates supported for rotation with said assembly; a series of friction discs supported for rotation with said output shaft; actuating means for selectively engaging said discs and plates to provide desired angular motion to said driven shaft; and means associated with said unit for compensating for parallel offset and angular misalignment between said drive and driven shafts.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
170 words
A variable speed drive unit adapted to be located between, and supported by, a first and second hub located on a drive shaft and a driven shaft, respectively, the unit comprising: a housing assembly connected to one of said hubs and adapted for rotation therewith; an output shaft having a first end rotatably supported by said assembly and a second end connected to the other of said hubs; bearing means interposed between said housing assembly and said first end of said output shaft for rotatably supporting said output shaft, said bearing means being the sole means for supporting said output shaft for rotatable movement relative to said drive shaft; a series of clutch plates supported for rotation with said assembly; a series of friction discs supported for rotation with said output shaft; actuating means for selectively engaging said discs and plates to provide desired angular motion to said driven shaft; and means associated with said unit for compensating for parallel offset and angular misalignment between said drive and driven shafts.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-01 | 1977-10-01 | 1978-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-01 | 1981-10-01 | 1982-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-01 | 1985-10-01 | 1986-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |