초록 ▼

The spline-ended connecting shaft of an engine-accessory disconnect device has a radially outwardly projecting drive flange coaxially secured to an intermediate portion thereof. A housing captively retains the flange, permitting axial translation and rotation of the flange and shaft relative to the

The spline-ended connecting shaft of an engine-accessory disconnect device has a radially outwardly projecting drive flange coaxially secured to an intermediate portion thereof. A housing captively retains the flange, permitting axial translation and rotation of the flange and shaft relative to the housing. A burst of compressed air injected into the housing is caused to exert sequentially opposite forces on the flange to rapidly initiate and terminate axial uncoupling motion of the shaft without imposing appreciable rigid impact force on the disconnect components. The shaft extends through openings in end walls of the housing so that it is freely rotatable and axially translatable relative to the housing without touching the surfaces of the housing openings.

대표청구항 ▼

An accessory drive system comprising: (a) a driving mechanism; (b) a drivable accessory; and (c) disconnect means for connecting and transmitting mechanical power between said driving mechanism and said accessory, said disconnect means being operable, without imposing appreciable rigid impact force

An accessory drive system comprising: (a) a driving mechanism; (b) a drivable accessory; and (c) disconnect means for connecting and transmitting mechanical power between said driving mechanism and said accessory, said disconnect means being operable, without imposing appreciable rigid impact force thereon, to rapidly disconnect said driving mechanism and said accessory, and including: (1) connecting means carried by one of said driving mechanism and said accessory for translational movement relative thereto between a first position in which said connecting means engage the other of said driving mechanism and said accessory and couples said driving mechanism and said accessory, and a second position in which said driving mechanism and said accessory are uncoupled, and (2) means for utilizing a single quantity of compressed fluid to exert a fluid thrust force upon said connecting means to translationally drive the same from said first position toward said second position and to subsequently exert a fluid cushioning force upon the translating connecting means to stop the same in said second position, said connecting means including a shaft, and said fluid force exerting means including a housing enveloping a portion of said shaft and means for selectively injecting a burst of pressurized fluid into said housing, said fluid force exerting means further including cooperating means on said shaft and said housing for causing the injected fluid to exert both of said forces on said connecting means without creating frictional forces between said housing and any portion of said shaft during movement of said shaft between said first and second positions.