US3877554A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bidirectional spring clutch having means to inhibit automatic shifting
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1973-09-26
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Granted: 1975-04-15
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Expires: 1993-09-26
Abstract
Abstract A linear to linear motion apparatus utilizing an output member slidably mounted on a shaft with an input member of circular cross section journalled therein, an elongated rack running through the output member parallel to the shaft and geared to the input member, and a bidirectional spring clutch controlling the relative motion of the input and output members. The clutch comprises a pair of left-hand wound helical springs, oppositely coiled on respective aligned surfaces of the input and output members, controlled by a shifter sleeve, and a third helical spring coiled on the shifter sleeve and an adjoining surface of the output member for inhibiting the automatic shifting of the sleeve. The rack can be run through the output member unidirectionally in either direction, or locked to the output member for advancing it unidirectionally in either direction, as determined by the state of the clutch.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward A Wojtowicz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:06
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H27/00; F16H27/02; B; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; F16D; F16D13/00; F16D13/02; F16D13/025; F16D67/00; F16D67/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A spring clutch comprising: an output member; an input member rotable with respect to said output member, said output member and said input member having a pair of aligned surfaces of circular cross section; spring drive means coiled around said pair of aligned surfaces for transmitting unidirectional force from said input member to said output member; sleeve means rotatably journalled on said output member for controlling the engagement of said spring drive means with said pair of aligned surfaces of said input and output members; spring brake means coiled around the outside of said sleeve means and a portion of said output member for inhibiting rotation of said sleeVe means; and means for engaging and disengaging said brake means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A spring clutch comprising: an output member; an input member rotable with respect to said output member, said output member and said input member having a pair of aligned surfaces of circular cross section; spring drive means coiled around said pair of aligned surfaces for transmitting unidirectional force from said input member to said output member; sleeve means rotatably journalled on said output member for controlling the engagement of said spring drive means with said pair of aligned surfaces of said input and output members; spring brake means coiled around the outside of said sleeve means and a portion of said output member for inhibiting rotation of said sleeVe means; and means for engaging and disengaging said brake means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
128 words
A bidirectional spring clutch comprising: an output member; an input member journalled in said output member, said output member and said input member having two pairs of aligned surfaces of circular cross section; a pair of like wound helical springs opposingly coiled around individual ones of said pairs of aligned surfaces; sleeve means rotatably journalled on said output member and having one end of said pair of springs captured therein for alternately engaging said springs with said pairs of aligned surfaces of said input and output members; means for inhibiting the rotation of said sleeve means in one direction including a spring means coiled around the outside of said sleeve means and an adjoining portion of said output member; and means for engaging and disengaging said spring means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
128 words
A bidirectional spring clutch comprising: an output member; an input member journalled in said output member, said output member and said input member having two pairs of aligned surfaces of circular cross section; a pair of like wound helical springs opposingly coiled around individual ones of said pairs of aligned surfaces; sleeve means rotatably journalled on said output member and having one end of said pair of springs captured therein for alternately engaging said springs with said pairs of aligned surfaces of said input and output members; means for inhibiting the rotation of said sleeve means in one direction including a spring means coiled around the outside of said sleeve means and an adjoining portion of said output member; and means for engaging and disengaging said spring means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The bidirectional spring clutch of claim 2, wherein said engaging and disengaging means comprises a shifter sleeve and wherein said spring means is a third helical spring having one end fixed in said output member and the other end fixed in said shifter sleeve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The bidirectional spring clutch of claim 3, wherein said sleeve means is biased toward engagment of one of said pair of helical springs and wherein the engagement of said third helical spring inhibits the rotation of said sleeve means under bias, whereby the reverse engagement of said pair of springs is maintained against bias.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The bidirectional spring clutch of claim 2 wherein the other ends of said pair of helical springs are fixed in said output member.
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) | 1978-04-14 | 1978-10-14 | 1979-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-14 | 1982-10-14 | 1983-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-14 | 1986-10-14 | 1987-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |