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BR-102020000355-B1 - A clutch that has two stages to apply varying torque between an input shaft and an output shaft.

BR102020000355B1BR 102020000355 B1BR102020000355 B1BR 102020000355B1BR-102020000355-B1

Abstract

A two-stage clutch for applying varying torque between an input and an output shaft includes a clutch pack with input and output friction plates. The clutch also includes a first spring configured to apply initial pressure to the clutch pack to compress it. The clutch further includes a second spring configured to apply a second pressure to the clutch pack to compress it. Finally, the clutch includes an engagement nut configured to move in response to the rotation of the output shaft relative to the input shaft to compress the second spring, thus increasing the amount of the second pressure applied to the clutch pack.

Inventors

  • Bejan Maghsoodi

Assignees

  • GOODRICH CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date
20260317
Application Date
20200107
Priority Date
20190610

Claims (15)

  1. 1. Clutch (5) having two stages for applying varying torque between an input shaft (100) and an output shaft (102), said clutch comprising: a clutch pack (104) having input friction plates (106) and output friction plates (108); a first spring (112) configured to apply a first pressure to the clutch pack (104) to compress the clutch pack (104); a second spring (116) configured to apply a second pressure to the clutch pack (104) to compress the clutch pack (104); an engagement nut (128) configured to move in response to the rotation of the output shaft (102) relative to the input shaft (100) to compress the second spring (112) so as to increase an amount of the second pressure applied to the clutch pack (104); a basket (118) having an inner surface (120) configured to engage the input friction plates (106) and an outer surface (124) having basket threading (126), wherein the engagement nut (128) further includes an inner nut surface (130) having nut threading (132) which is configured to engage with the basket threading (126); the clutch (5) being characterized by: a first pressure plate (110) and a second pressure plate (114); a first needle bearing (136) located between that first pressure plate (110) and that basket (118) and configured to reduce friction between the first pressure plate (110) and the basket (118); a second needle bearing (138) located between that second pressure plate (114) and that engagement nut (128) and configured to reduce friction between the second pressure plate (114) and the engagement nut (128).
  2. 2. Clutch (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that the engagement nut (128) is configured to rotate with the output shaft (102) and the basket (118) is configured to rotate with the input shaft (100) so that the engagement between the basket threading (126) and the nut threading (132) moves the engagement nut (128) to compress the second spring (116) in response to the rotation of the output shaft (102) relative to the input shaft (100).
  3. 3. Clutch (5) according to claim 2, characterized in that the input shaft (100) is coupled to the input friction plates (106) through the basket (118) and the output shaft (102) is directly coupled to the output friction plates (108).
  4. 4. Clutch (5) according to claim 3, characterized in that the basket (118) is coupled to the input friction plates (106) by means of basket splines (122) and the output shaft is coupled to the output friction plates (108) by means of output splines (134).
  5. 5. Clutch (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first pressure plate (110) is coupled to the output shaft (102) and configured to rotate with the output shaft (102), and the first pressure plate (110) is engaged with the engagement nut (128), such that the engagement nut (128) rotates with the first pressure plate (110) and the output shaft (102).
  6. 6. Clutch (5) according to claim 5, characterized in that the engagement nut (128) is configured to disengage from the first pressure plate (110) in response to a predetermined amount of rotations of the input shaft (100) relative to the output shaft (102) in order to limit the amount of the second pressure applied to the clutch pack (104) by the second spring (116).
  7. 7. Clutch (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it further comprises a ball (140) configured to be located between the basket (118) and the input shaft (100) and configured to define a maximum torque transferred from the clutch (5).
  8. 8. Clutch (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that the engagement nut (128) is configured to be moved by the basket (118) in response to the rotation of the output shaft (102) relative to the input shaft (100) to compress the second spring (116), so as to increase an amount of the second pressure applied to the clutch pack (104).
  9. 9. Clutch (5) according to claim 8, characterized in that the engagement nut (128) is configured to rotate with the output shaft (102) and the basket (118) is configured to rotate with the input shaft (100) so that the engagement between the basket threading (126) and the nut threading (132) moves the engagement nut (128) to compress the second spring (116) in response to the rotation of the output shaft (102) relative to the input shaft (100).
  10. 10. Clutch (5) according to claim 9, characterized in that the input shaft (100) is coupled to the input friction plates (106) through the basket (118) and the output shaft (102) is directly coupled to the output friction plates (108).
  11. 11. Clutch (5) according to claim 10, characterized in that the basket (118) is coupled to the input friction plates (106) by means of basket splines (122) and the output shaft (102) is coupled to the output friction plates (108) by means of output splines (134).
  12. 12. Clutch (5) according to claim 10, characterized in that the first pressure plate (110) is coupled to the output shaft (102) and configured to rotate with the output shaft (102) and is engaged with the engagement nut (128), such that the engagement nut (128) rotates with the first pressure plate (110) and the output shaft (102).
  13. 13. Clutch (5) according to claim 12, characterized in that the engagement nut (128) is configured to disengage from the first pressure plate (110) in response to a predetermined amount of rotations of the input shaft (110) relative to the output shaft (102) in order to limit the amount of the second pressure applied to the clutch pack (104) by the second spring (116).
  14. 14. Clutch (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first spring (112) is configured to apply a first pressure to the first pressure plate (110) to compress the clutch pack (104); wherein the second spring (116) is configured to apply a second pressure to the second pressure plate (114) to compress the clutch pack (104); wherein the engagement nut (128) has an outer nut surface having nut threading (132) configured to engage with basket threading (126), so that rotation of the output shaft (102) relative to the input shaft (100) moves the engagement nut (128) through the engagement between basket threading (126) and nut threading (132) to compress the second spring (116), so as to increase an amount of the second pressure applied to the second pressure plate (114).
  15. 15. Clutch (5) according to claim 14, characterized in that: the engagement nut (128) is configured to rotate with the output shaft (102) and the basket (118) is configured to rotate with the input shaft (100) so that the engagement between the basket threading (126) and the nut threading (132) moves the engagement nut (128) to compress the second spring (116) in response to the rotation of the output shaft (102) relative to the input shaft (100); the first pressure plate (110) is coupled to the output shaft (102) and configured to rotate with the output shaft (102); the first pressure plate (110) is engaged with the engagement nut (128), so that the engagement nut (128) rotates with the first pressure plate (110) and the output shaft (102); optionally wherein the engagement nut (128) is configured to disengage from the first pressure plate (110) in response to a predetermined amount of rotations of the input shaft (100) relative to the output shaft (102) to limit the amount of the second pressure applied to the second pressure plate (114) by the second spring (116).

Description

Field [001] This disclosure relates to two-stage clutches and, more particularly, to a two-stage clutch for use with a winch system, such as that used in an aircraft. Fundamentals [002] Some aircraft may include winches to raise or lower a payload. A winch cable may be connected to a motor-driven drum at one end and the payload at the other end. The motor may be driven to rotate the drum in order to gather the cable on the outer circumference of the drum. A clutch may be provided to transmit torque from the motor to the drum. In response to clutch slippage, the drum may be effectively disconnected from the motor. This disconnection reduces the likelihood of an overload on the payload damaging the winch or the structure to which it is connected. Summary [003] A two-stage clutch is disclosed here for applying varying torque between an input shaft and an output shaft. The clutch includes a clutch pack with input friction plates and output friction plates. The clutch further includes a first spring configured to apply a first pressure to the clutch pack to compress the clutch pack. The clutch further includes a second spring configured to apply a second pressure to the clutch pack to compress the clutch pack. The clutch further includes an engagement nut configured to move in response to the rotation of the output shaft relative to the input shaft to compress the second spring in order to increase an amount of the second pressure applied to the clutch pack. [004] Any of the foregoing embodiments may also include a gondola with an inner surface configured to engage with the entry friction plates and an outer surface with gondola threading, wherein the engagement nut further includes an inner surface of the nut with the nut threading configured to engage with the gondola thread. [005] In either of the previous embodiments, the engagement nut is configured to rotate with the output shaft and the gondola is configured to rotate with the input shaft so that the engagement between the basket thread and the nut thread moves the engagement nut to compress the second spring in response to the rotation of the output shaft relative to the input shaft. [006] In any of the above embodiments, the input shaft is coupled to the input friction plates through the gondola and the output shaft is directly coupled to the output friction plates. [007] In any of the above embodiments, the gondola is coupled to the input friction plates by means of gondola splines and the output shaft is coupled to the output friction plates by means of output splines. [008] Any of the foregoing embodiments may also include a first pressure plate, wherein the first pressure plate is coupled to the output shaft and configured to rotate with the output shaft, and the first pressure plate is engaged with the engagement nut, so that the engagement nut rotates with the first pressure plate and the output shaft. [009] In either of the above embodiments, the engagement nut is configured to disengage from the first pressure plate in response to a predetermined number of rotations of the input shaft relative to the output shaft in order to limit the amount of second pressure applied to the clutch pack by the second spring. [0010] Any of the above embodiments may further include a first pressure plate and a second pressure plate; a first needle bearing located between the first pressure plate and the basket and configured to reduce friction between the first pressure plate and the basket; and a second needle bearing located between the second pressure plate and the engagement nut and configured to reduce friction between the second pressure plate and the engagement nut. [0011] Any of the above configurations may also include a ball configured to be located between the gondola and the input shaft and configured to define a maximum torque transferred from the clutch. [0012] A two-stage clutch is also disclosed for applying varying torque between an input shaft and an output shaft. The clutch includes a clutch pack with input friction plates and output friction plates. The clutch further includes a first spring configured to apply a first pressure to the clutch pack to compress the clutch pack. The clutch further includes a second spring configured to apply a second pressure to the clutch pack to compress the clutch pack. The clutch further includes a gondola with an inner surface configured to engage the input friction plates. The clutch further includes an engagement nut configured to be moved by the gondola in response to the rotation of the output shaft relative to the input shaft to compress the second spring in order to increase an amount of the second pressure applied to the clutch pack. [0013] In any of the above embodiments, the gondola has an outer surface with gondola threading and the locking nut also includes an inner nut surface with nut threading and configured to engage with the gondola threading. [0014] In either of the previous embodiments, the e