초록 ▼

Inoperability due to solenoid freeze-up, electrical malfunction or human error in a mechanical disconnect system for disconnecting first and second shafts includes a disconnect plunger, a first spring for urging the disconnect plunger toward the first shaft whereby the disconnect plunger causes the

Inoperability due to solenoid freeze-up, electrical malfunction or human error in a mechanical disconnect system for disconnecting first and second shafts includes a disconnect plunger, a first spring for urging the disconnect plunger toward the first shaft whereby the disconnect plunger causes the first shaft to disengage the second shaft when the disconnect plunger is in contact with the first shaft, a solenoid having an armature and windings and a solenoid plunger coupled to the solenoid armature. A second spring urges the solenoid plunger into engagement with the disconnect plunger to thereby prevent movement of the disconnect plunger into engagement with the first shaft. The solenoid windings are controllably energized to move the solenoid armature such that the solenoid plunger is retracted from the disconnect plunger. An expandable material is disposed in a confined volume of space between the disconnect plunger and the solenoid whereby the expandable material expands when heated to a certain temperature to in turn move the solenoid plunger, solenoid armature and solenoid windings away from the disconnect plunger and thereby cause the disconnect plunger to contact the first shaft under the influence of the first spring.

대표청구항 ▼

A device for moving a first shaft relative to a second shaft between an engaged position wherein cooperating structures carried by the first and second shafts are engaged so that the shafts rotate together and a disengaged position wherein the cooperating structures carried by the first and second s

A device for moving a first shaft relative to a second shaft between an engaged position wherein cooperating structures carried by the first and second shafts are engaged so that the shafts rotate together and a disengaged position wherein the cooperating structures carried by the first and second shafts are disengaged from one another, comprising: a disconnect plunger having an engaging member engageable with a first portion of the first shaft; first means for urging the disconnect plunger toward the first shaft whereby the engaging member engages the first portion of the first shaft and causes the first shaft to move the disengaged position; a solenoid having an armature and windings; a solenoid plunger coupled to the solenoid armature; second means for urging the solenoid plunger into engagement with the disconnect plunger to thereby prevent movement of the disconnect plunger into engagement with the first shaft; third means for controllably energizing the solenoid windings to move the solenoid armature such that the solenoid plunger is retracted from the disconnect plunger; and an expandable material disposed in a confined volume of space between the disconnect plunger and the solenoid whereby the expandable material expands when heated to a certain temperature to in turn move the solenoid plunger, the solenoid armature and solenoid winding away from the disconnect plunger and thereby cause the disconnect plunger to contact the first shaft under the influence of the first urging means.