US3923133A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotary speed for supplying fluid pressure to a clutch
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-06-14
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Granted: 1975-12-02
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Expires: 1994-06-14
Abstract
Abstract A pneumatically engageable clutch for coupling a rotating shaft with a rotatable member comprises a compressed air passage in the rotating shaft. The compressed air passage opens in a port in the peripheral surface of the shaft. A stationary casing surrounds the shaft and has an annular chamber adjacent the port, compressed air being supplied to the annular chamber. The annular chamber is sealed by packing rings, such as Simmer rings, made of elastomeric material an engaging the shaft. To reduce the pressure difference across the packing rings, hydraulic pressure is applied to the outsides of the packing rings. Control means keep the hydraulic pressure substantially equal to the compressed air pressure. In one embodiment, the control means comprise a slide valve. In another embodiment, the control means comprise a partially oil-filled closed system which includes chambers axially outside of the packing rings, the compressed air pressure acting statically on the oil level.
Inventors
- 👤 Ilie Chivari
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:55
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L17/00; F16L17/10; F16D; F16D25/00; F16D25/06; F16L27/00; F16L27/08; F16L27/087; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86268
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
In a pneumatically engageable clutch for coupling a rotating shaft with a rotatable member, comprising: a pneumatically operated, clutch engaging actuator means, mounted to rotate with said rotating shaft, a compressed air passage extending through said shaft, said compressed air passage having an inlet and outlet, said outlet being connected to said actuator means, and means for supplying compressed air from a stationary external source to said inlet of said compressed air passage, the improvement wherein said inlet of said compressed air passage forms an orifice in the cylindrical surface of said shaft and wherein said compressed air supplying means comprises: a stationary casing surrounding said shaft and forming an annular chamber adjacent said inlet orifice of said compressed air channel and open towards said shaft, radially-acting substantially air-tight shaft sealing means provided between said casing and said rotating shaft on both sides of said annular chamber, means for exposing the sides of said shaft sealing means remote from said annular chamber to hydraulic pressure exerted by a liquid, and control means for controlling said hydraulic pressure as a function of the pressure of the compressed air inside said annular chamber to limit the pressure difference acting on said shaft sealing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
In a pneumatically engageable clutch for coupling a rotating shaft with a rotatable member, comprising: a pneumatically operated, clutch engaging actuator means, mounted to rotate with said rotating shaft, a compressed air passage extending through said shaft, said compressed air passage having an inlet and outlet, said outlet being connected to said actuator means, and means for supplying compressed air from a stationary external source to said inlet of said compressed air passage, the improvement wherein said inlet of said compressed air passage forms an orifice in the cylindrical surface of said shaft and wherein said compressed air supplying means comprises: a stationary casing surrounding said shaft and forming an annular chamber adjacent said inlet orifice of said compressed air channel and open towards said shaft, radially-acting substantially air-tight shaft sealing means provided between said casing and said rotating shaft on both sides of said annular chamber, means for exposing the sides of said shaft sealing means remote from said annular chamber to hydraulic pressure exerted by a liquid, and control means for controlling said hydraulic pressure as a function of the pressure of the compressed air inside said annular chamber to limit the pressure difference acting on said shaft sealing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A clutch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shaft sealing means comprises packing rings of elastomeric material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
166 words
A clutch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means comprises: a valve body having a bore, a slide valve member sliding in said bore and subdividing said bore into a first and a second chamber, means for connecting said first chamber to said annular chamber to expose one side of said slide valve member to the compressed air pneumatic pressure prevailing inside said annular chamber, means for supplying a flow of liquid to said second chamber to produce a hydraulic pressure therein, a liquid outlet port from said second chamber in said valve body, said slide valve member being arranged to govern said liquid outlet port in a sense to open said outlet port further with increasing of said hydraulic pressure relative to said pneumatic pressure and to restrict said outlet port further with decreasing of said hydraulic pressure relative to said pneumatic pressure, and means for applying said hydraulic pressure to said sides of the shaft sealing means remote from said annular chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A clutch as claimed in claim 3, and further comprising a compression spring located in said first chamber and biasing said slide valve member in a sense to further throttle said outlet port.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
125 words
A clutch as claimed in claim 2, wherein said stationary casing comprises a metal ring member surrounding said rotating shaft having an internal surface and end faces, and having a circumferential groove on its internal surface, said circumferential groove defining said annular chamber, packing rings of elastomeric material being located in front of said end faces of said metal ring member, said packing rings each comprising an outwardly extending collar having a beaded edge, and a toroidal spring surrounding said collar and holding it in engagement with said rotating shaft, said metal ring member having axially projecting edge portions at the inner circumference of said end faces, said edge portions supportingly extending below said collar to increase the pressure loading capacity of said packing rings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A clutch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said exposing means comprises hydraulic pressure chambers defined by said stationary casing axially outwards of said shaft sealing means, bearing bushings and piston rings being provided between said casing and said rotating shaft axially outwards of said hydraulic pressure chambers to axially seal said chambers towards atmosphere.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A clutch as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said bearings bushings has radial flange at its inner end, said flange abutting the axially outward end face of the respective adjacent hydraulic pressure chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A clutch as claimed in claim 6, wherein outer packing rings made of elastomeric material and engaging said rotating shaft are retained in said stationary casing on both sides of said bearing bushings, annular chambers being defined between said bearing bushings and said outer packing rings, said chambers communicating with drain.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
A clutch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shaft has a hardened and ground sleeve affixed thereon inside stationary casing and said sleeve has turned-out end faces, two bushings being also mounted on said shaft, on both sides of said sleeve, said bushings having radial flanges and being axially secured by snap rings, said sleeve, with its turned-out end faces extending over said bushings and with its outer ends abutting said flanges, O-rings being located between said shaft and said turned-off end faces to provide an axial seal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A clutch as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising a sensor responding to the pressure difference between pneumatic and hydraulic pressures, and means operatively connected to said sensor for cutting-off the air supply when said pressure difference exceeds a predetermined threshold.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A clutch as claimed in claim 3 and further a compression spring located in said second chamber and biasing said slide valve member in a sense to further open said outlet port.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
104 words
A clutch as claimed in claim 3, wherein said slide valve member has a circumferential groove and is sealingly engaging the wall of said bore of said valve body on both sides of said circumferential groove, a liquid inlet port in said valve casing opening inTo said bore adjacent said circumferential groove, said circumferential groove communicating with said outlet port through a circumferential slot formed between the inner wall of said bore and the peripheral portions of said slide valve member defining the edge of said circumferential groove, said second chamber of said valve body communicating with said circumferential groove through a restricted passage.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A clutch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means comprise a closed system partially filled with liquid, the space above the liquid level in said system communicating with said annular chamber, whereby said hydraulic pressure is produced as static pressure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A clutch as claimed in claim 13, wherein said liquid is a highly viscous oil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
76 words
A clutch as claimed in claim 14, wherein said stationary casing defines annular chambers axially outwards of said shaft sealing means, oil sealing means being provided between said stationary casing and said rotating shaft to seal said annular chambers in oil-tight manner, said chambers communicating with an oil reservoir, a pressure transmitting conduit being connected at one end to a compressed-air supply conduit and opening, at its other end, into said reservoir at the top thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
A clutch as claimed in claim 15, wherein annular bodies are sealingly and axially movably mounted on said shaft and have their outer end faces in sealing and sliding engagement with the end faces of said annular chambers to seal said annular chambers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A clutch as claimed in claim 16, wherein sleeves of resistant and low-friction material are mounted on the periphery of said annular bodies.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A clutch as claimed in claim 16, wherein said annular bodies consist of low-friction synthetic plastics.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A clutch as claimed in claim 16, wherein said annular bodies consist of sinter metal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A clutch as claimed in claim 16, wherein said shaft is mounted in said stationary casing in journal bearings axially inwards of said annular bodies.
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) | 1978-12-01 | 1979-06-02 | 1979-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-01 | 1983-06-02 | 1983-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-01 | 1987-06-02 | 1987-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |