US4248332A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid gear coupling
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-04-23
•
Granted: 1981-02-03
•
Expires: 1999-04-23
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is drawn to a fluid gear coupling in which the lock up RPM between the drive member or power input shaft and the driven member or power output shaft is variable depending on the torque or power applied to the drive member or power input shaft. The present invention employs valves on the drive member which close off the exit ports of a pump disposed between the drive member and the driven member which are responsive to both pressure and centrifugal force. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, check valves are provided in the main inlet ports of the pump along with auxiliary inlet ports so as to brake the device and prevent freewheeling upon deceleration.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilfred C. Noyes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 15:28
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D31/00; F16D31/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A fluid coupling comprising a rotatable coupling housing, a drive shaft, a rotary fluid pump means within said housing connected to and rotatable with said drive shaft, a fluid inlet to and a fluid outlet from said housing in fluid circuit with said pump means whereby rotation of said pump means is effective to pump fluid from said inlet to said outlet, a driven shaft, one of said shafts being connected to and rotatably moveable with said housing, valve means associated with said fluid outlet and associated with and rotatably moveable with said drive shaft, said valve means being responsive to the speed of rotation of said drive shaft to move to block said fluid outlet thereby restricting the flow of pumped fluid so as to transmit power from said drive shaft to said driven shaft, and said valve means being further responsive to the pressure of said pumped fluid to move to unblock said fluid outlet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A fluid coupling comprising a rotatable coupling housing, a drive shaft, a rotary fluid pump means within said housing connected to and rotatable with said drive shaft, a fluid inlet to and a fluid outlet from said housing in fluid circuit with said pump means whereby rotation of said pump means is effective to pump fluid from said inlet to said outlet, a driven shaft, one of said shafts being connected to and rotatably moveable with said housing, valve means associated with said fluid outlet and associated with and rotatably moveable with said drive shaft, said valve means being responsive to the speed of rotation of said drive shaft to move to block said fluid outlet thereby restricting the flow of pumped fluid so as to transmit power from said drive shaft to said driven shaft, and said valve means being further responsive to the pressure of said pumped fluid to move to unblock said fluid outlet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fluid coupling according to claim 1 wherein said valve means is moved to unblock said fluid outlet by said pumped fluid pressure when said drive shaft and said driven shaft are locked in 1:1 drive ratio.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fluid coupling according to claim 1 wherein said drive shaft is connected to said housing and said valve means is connected to said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A fluid coupling according to claim 1 including valve means associated with said fluid inlet, said valve means being responsive to fluid pressure to prohibit the flow of fluid from said pump means to said inlet upon deceleration of said drive shaft thereby braking and preventing freewheeling of said fluid coupling.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A fluid coupling according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of auxiliary inlet ports are employed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fluid coupling according to claim 1 wherein said pump means includes a pair of meshing gears and said auxiliary ports are spaced a distance of about two gear teeth on either side of said fluid inlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A fluid coupling according to claim 1 wherein at least one auxiliary inlet port is provided in fluid circuit with said pump means to assure an adequate supply of fluid to said pump means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fluid coupling according to claim 7 wherein said at least one inlet port feeds fluid to said pump means during both acceleration and deceleration of said drive shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
215 words
A fluid coupling comprising a rotatable coupling housing, a drive shaft, a rotary fluid pump means within said housing connected to and rotatable with said drive shaft, a fluid inlet to and a fluid outlet from said housing in fluid circuit with said pump means whereby rotation of said pump means is effective to pump fluid from said inlet to said outlet, a driven shaft, one of said shafts being connected to and rotatably moveable with said housing, valve means associated with said fluid outlet and associated with and rotatably moveable with said drive shaft, valve means associated with said fluid inlet, said valve means associated with said fluid outlet being responsive to the speed of rotation of said drive shaft to move to block said fluid outlet thereby restricting the flow of pumped fluid so as to transmit power from said drive shaft to said driven shaft, said valve means associated with said fluid outlet being further responsive to the pressure of said pumped fluid to move to unblock said fluid outlet, and said valve means associated with said fluid inlet being responsive to fluid pressure to prohibit the flow of fluid from said pump means to said inlet upon deceleration of said drive shaft thereby braking and preventing freewheeling of said fluid coupling.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
215 words
A fluid coupling comprising a rotatable coupling housing, a drive shaft, a rotary fluid pump means within said housing connected to and rotatable with said drive shaft, a fluid inlet to and a fluid outlet from said housing in fluid circuit with said pump means whereby rotation of said pump means is effective to pump fluid from said inlet to said outlet, a driven shaft, one of said shafts being connected to and rotatably moveable with said housing, valve means associated with said fluid outlet and associated with and rotatably moveable with said drive shaft, valve means associated with said fluid inlet, said valve means associated with said fluid outlet being responsive to the speed of rotation of said drive shaft to move to block said fluid outlet thereby restricting the flow of pumped fluid so as to transmit power from said drive shaft to said driven shaft, said valve means associated with said fluid outlet being further responsive to the pressure of said pumped fluid to move to unblock said fluid outlet, and said valve means associated with said fluid inlet being responsive to fluid pressure to prohibit the flow of fluid from said pump means to said inlet upon deceleration of said drive shaft thereby braking and preventing freewheeling of said fluid coupling.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
A fluid coupling according to claim 9 wherein said valve means associated with said outlet is moved to unblock said fluid outlet by said pumped fluid pressure when said drive shaft and said driven shaft are locked in 1:1 drive ratio and further including a plurality of auxiliary inlet ports for feeding fluid to said pump means, said pump means comprising a plurality of meshing gears wherein said auxiliary inlet ports are spaced a distance of about two gear teeth on either side of said fluid inlet.
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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) | 1984-02-03 | 1984-08-04 | 1985-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-02-03 | 1988-08-04 | 1989-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-02-03 | 1992-08-04 | 1993-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |