US 11,708,868 B2
Failsafe multimode clutch assemblies for rotorcraft
Eric Stephen Olson, Fort Worth, TX (US); and David Andrew Prater, Hurst, TX (US)
Assigned to Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US)
Filed by Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US)
Filed on Oct. 5, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/494,356.
Application 17/494,356 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/037,512, filed on Sep. 29, 2020, granted, now 11,174,014.
Application 17/037,512 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/567,086, filed on Sep. 11, 2019, granted, now 10,793,284, issued on Oct. 6, 2020.
Application 16/567,086 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/274,520, filed on Feb. 13, 2019, granted, now 10,788,088, issued on Sep. 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0025941 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. F16D 41/08 (2006.01); F16D 41/07 (2006.01); F16D 11/14 (2006.01); F16D 25/061 (2006.01); F16D 25/08 (2006.01); F16D 48/02 (2006.01); B64C 27/14 (2006.01); B64D 35/04 (2006.01); B64D 35/08 (2006.01); F16D 41/04 (2006.01); F16D 121/04 (2012.01); B64D 27/02 (2006.01); F16D 1/10 (2006.01); F16D 41/06 (2006.01)
CPC F16D 41/07 (2013.01) [B64C 27/14 (2013.01); B64D 35/04 (2013.01); B64D 35/08 (2013.01); F16D 11/14 (2013.01); F16D 25/061 (2013.01); F16D 25/083 (2013.01); F16D 25/14 (2013.01); F16D 41/04 (2013.01); F16D 41/08 (2013.01); B64D 2027/026 (2013.01); F16D 2001/103 (2013.01); F16D 2041/0603 (2013.01); F16D 2121/04 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A failsafe multimode clutch assembly for a rotorcraft, the clutch assembly comprising:
a freewheeling unit having an input race and an output race, the freewheeling unit having a driving mode in which torque applied to the input race is transferred to the output race and an overrunning mode in which torque applied to the output race is not transferred to the input race;
a bypass assembly having an engaged position in which the bypass assembly couples the input and output races of the freewheeling unit and a disengaged position in which the bypass assembly does not couple the input and output races of the freewheeling unit;
an actuator assembly configured to utilize a pressurized lubricating oil to generate an engagement signal that biases the bypass assembly toward the engaged position and a disengagement signal that biases the bypass assembly toward the disengaged position; and
a lock assembly in fluid communication with the engagement signal, the lock assembly enabling actuation of the bypass assembly when the engagement signal is present and disabling actuation of the bypass assembly when the engagement signal is absent;
wherein, in the disengaged position of the bypass assembly, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is enabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for unidirectional torque transfer from the input race to the output race; and
wherein, in the engaged position of the bypass assembly, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is disabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for bidirectional torque transfer between the input and output races.