Patent · US Expired

Rotational control apparatus

US5586635A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
17References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 31, 1995
Grant dateDec 24, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 31, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16D25/08
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A rotational control apparatus (A) having a rotatable input (26 or 180) and output (26 or 180) with respective interface discs (106, 180). Three sets of two diametrically opposed pistons (64 and 66, 68 and 70, 72 and 74) are controllable to rotatably relate the interface discs (106, 180). The piston sets (64 and 66, 68 and 70, 72 and 74) include piston heads (76) with dissimilar diameters such that each of the sets of pistons (64 and 66, 68 and 70, 72 and 74) may apply a dissimilar torque for a given amount of air pressure. Each of the piston sets (64 and 66, 68 and 70, 72 and 74) may be actuated independently or in combination with each of the other sets of pistons (64 and 66, 68 and 70, 72 and 74) such that the interface discs (106, 180) may be rotatably related to each other with varying degrees of torque. The rotational control apparatus (A) also includes a unique interface disc (106) with a frustoconical annular projection (136) for drawing relatively hot air away from the hub (26) near the interface disc (106) and out of the apparatus (A). The rotational control apparatus (A) further includes a unique set of axially extending channels (38, 60, 111) for the conveyance of air f…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.