US 11,859,557 B2
Aircraft engine generator disconnect device with latch
John Nixon, Buckinghamshire (GB)
Assigned to SAFRAN ELECTRICAL & POWER, Blagnac (FR)
Appl. No. 17/282,606
Filed by SAFRAN ELECTRICAL & POWER, Blagnac (FR)
PCT Filed Oct. 2, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/076707
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 2, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/070190, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 9, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 1816264 (GB), filed on Oct. 5, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0340915 A1, Nov. 4, 2021
Int. Cl. F16D 11/04 (2006.01); F16D 11/14 (2006.01); F02C 7/32 (2006.01); F02C 7/36 (2006.01); F16D 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC F02C 7/32 (2013.01) [F02C 7/36 (2013.01); F16D 11/04 (2013.01); F16D 11/14 (2013.01); F16D 2011/002 (2013.01); F16D 2011/006 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A generator drive disconnect device of a generator arranged to be driven by an aircraft engine, the disconnect device comprising:
a drive transfer means for transferring drive from an input shaft of the generator to a rotor of the generator, the drive transfer means having a connected configuration and a disconnected configuration;
a disconnect mechanism configured to move the drive transfer means from the connected configuration to the disconnected configuration; and
a latch mechanism configured to hold the drive transfer means in the disconnected configuration, the latch mechanism comprising:
a support structure;
a latch member, moveable between an extended position in which the latch mechanism restricts movement of the drive transfer means from the disconnected configuration to the connected configuration, and a retracted position in which the latch mechanism does not restrict movement of the drive transfer means from the disconnected configuration to the connected configuration; and
a biasing mechanism configured to generate a biasing force to bias the latch member towards the extended position and to apply a reaction force to the latch member to resist movement of the latch member towards the retracted position, the reaction force having a magnitude which increases as the distance of the latch member from the retracted position increases.