Abstract: A contact shaft moving device that reduces the wearing of a pinion in a ring gear. More specifically, the contact shaft moving device moves a contact shaft in such a direction as to cause a moving contact to be in direct contact with a stationary contact after a plunger is attracted and moved for a certain period of time by an exiting coil. The movement of the plunger also assists in moving the pinion into abutment with the ring gear prior to contact between the moveable and stationary contacts.

Abstract: A vehicle control device is provided that is capable of functioning as a transmission synchronizer, an electromagnetic clutch, a starter for an engine, and a generator. The device includes a first member having a plurality of inwardly extending poles and a plurality of coils that are wound upon the poles. The first member is connected to an engine output shaft for rotation therewith. The device also includes a second member that is disposed within the first member. The second member is connected to a transmission input shaft for rotation therewith. Finally, the device includes means for energizing the coils of the first member to control the operation of the control device. By controlling the energization of the coils and the relative motion of the first and second members, the control device can be used as a transmission synchronizer, a clutch, a starter for the vehicle's engine, and a generator for the vehicle's battery.

Abstract: A cylinder of a rotary printing press is provided with a journal which is supported for rotation in an eccentric bushing. The eccentric bushing is, in turn, shiftably positioned in a lateral side frame of the printing press. The cylinder is directly driven by an electric motor. This electric motor is mounted directly on the eccentric bushing. A compensation coupling, such as a clutch is placed between the electric motor and the cylinder.

Abstract: This invention provides a cogeneration system formed compactly and provided with a plurality of generators, wherein a plurality of miniaturized generators are coupled to a flywheel provided in an engine. In this cogeneration system, a toothed endless belt is meshed with a toothed portion formed on an outer circumference of the flywheel provided in an engine, and electric power is generated by driving a plurality of generators by the toothed endless belt via speedup gears. The electric power generated by the generators is synthesized and then transformed by a transformer, and the resultant electric power is consumed by a load via a rectifying diode and an inverter.

Abstract: A drive assembly for driving an adjustable unit in a motor vehicle includes a motor/transmission and an associated control unit. The motor/transmission is suitable for adjusting an adjustable part in a motor vehicle for normal applications. The transmission is driven by the motor to adjust the adjustable part. The motor and the transmission are separated by an interface region. The motor includes a magnetic field generator for generating an alternating magnetic field as the motor drives the transmission. The control unit can be readily connected to the motor/transmission for controlling the adjustment of the adjustable part for more advanced applications. To be readily connected to the motor/transmission, the control unit includes a profiled projection having a hollow chamber. A magnetic sensor is positioned inside the hollow chamber.

Abstract: A massage chair drive mechanism having a main body, a kneading shaft rotatably mounted transversely to the main body and having a gear affixed thereto, a spiral gear engaging the gear of the kneading shaft and rotatably mounted within the main body and having a face gear connected thereto, a beating shaft rotatably mounted transversely to the main body and having a gear affixed thereto, a worm gear rotatably mounted within the main body and engaged with the gear of the beating shaft and having a face gear at one end thereof, a main shaft rotatably mounted within the spiral gear and the worm gear and having opposite ends extending outwardly of the main body, a clutch positioned between the face gears of the respective worm gear and spiral gear and first and second moving rods positioned within the main body and moveable so as to engage portions of the clutch. The clutch includes a first tubular member and a second tubular member with a compression spring connected thereto and extending therebetween.

Abstract: A motor drive system comprises a motor driven by a variable frequency power supply and a machine driven by the motor, which are mechanically connected by the drive shaft of the motor and the shaft of the machine via bearings. A stationary portion of the motor and the frame of the machine are electrically connected by a low-impedance conductor, so that a current can be caused to flow at least partially between the stationary portion of the motor and the frame of the machine.

Abstract: A drive device for an electrically operated vehicle, in particular a wheelchair, having at least one rim with rim well and actual shaft wherein a brake is located in a brake space defined in part by a gap between a pair of spaced part bearings on the axle shaft of the device.

Abstract: A drive unit for a windshield wiper apparatus includes an electrical motor, a drive unit, and an electronic unit for the control of the motor. In addition, a so-called parking position switch, which is activated by the primary gear of the drive unit, is provided. In order to achieve a compact unit, the electronic unit as well as the drive unit is provided in a casing, whereby the electrical motor is flange-mounted to the casing, and the casing is provided with a plug casing, whereas the electrical connections between the plug in the plug casing, the electronics unit, the electrical motor, and the parking position switch are carried out by way of conducting strips which are placed exclusively in the casing.

Abstract: A self-locking drive, for use in door/gate operators is disclosed. The method/means incorporates an electric motor, which has a rotor assembly that can slide axially in its casing. A brake cone is fixed to the rotor-shaft, which can engage a complimentary brake cone that is attached to the motor casing. At rest these brake cones are very lightly engaged due to an axially mounted spring. The components of the system are designed and configured that any attempt to open the closed door/gate results in the brake cones being forced tighter together. This results in further engagement of the of the brake cones which further resist opening of door/gate. The forcing of the cones together is achieved by helical spur gearing. During motorized closing, the stator's centering pull on the rotor at full load, just balances the axial thrust due to the meshing helical gearing. Consequently, the brake cones do not engage during closing of door/gate.

Abstract: A robot having a pair of magnetic couplings that each couple a motor in a cylindrical first chamber to an associated cylindrical ring closely spaced from the cylindrical wall of said first chamber. The robot includes a mechanism to convert rotation of each of these rings into separate motions of the robot. In the preferred embodiment, these separate motions are radial and rotational.

Abstract: Feedback potentiometer-type servoactuator uses the ring gear of a planetary gear system to drive the wiper across a resistive arc of less than 360.degree. where the actuator has a travel of multiple turns. The ring gear is supported by spaced struts in the actuator housing.

Abstract: An electrical machine with a stator and a rotor rotatable about an axis of rotation and having no bearing elements rotatably mounting the rotor relative to the stator or for defining the axis of rotation of the rotor is provided with means for releasably securing the rotor in position relative to the stator. The rotor can be secured relative to the stator in the axial and radial directions. Rotation of the rotor relative to the stator can also be prevented.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric motor having a locking device and a brake actuator for an electric system which includes such an electric motor. The locking brake has a simple configuration and includes a conical ring which is mounted so as to be axially displaceable on the motor shaft of the electric motor of the brake actuator. In a first axial position, the conical ring (26) permits a rotation of the motor shaft (12) in both directions and, in a second axial position, the conical ring is in engagement with the motor shaft (12) and rotates with the latter. In the second axial position of the conical ring (26), a rotation of the motor shaft (12) in one rotational direction leads to the situation that the conical ring (26) is in engagement with the lock ring (24) of the brake actuator (2). The lock ring (24) is fixed so that it cannot rotate relative to the motor shaft (12).

Abstract: A starter has a housing formed with a fitting part and a flange on the outer periphery thereof. The fitting part is in circular shape when viewed in the axial direction and is press-fitted, in the socket-and-spigot joint manner, into a fitting hole of an engine-side body with the flange being in abutment with a fitting plane of the engine-side body. The outer diameter Ho of the fitting part is set larger than the axial length of the center of gravity of an armature of a starter motor from a fitting plane of the flange.

Abstract: A drive device for an electrically operated vehicle, in particular a wheelchair, having at least one rim with rim well and an axle shaft wherein a brake is integrated into an annular channel formed between the rim and the axle shaft.

Abstract: A mounting assembly secures a generator and facilitates attachment to a railroad railcar on the end of the railcar axle. The generator produces electricity from the axle of a railroad railcar while it is traveling on a railroad track. A generator is mounted with a generator bracket and a backing plate to an existing bearing adapter on the railcar. A drive hub engages axle bolts on the railcar axle. As the railcar axle turns, the drive hub turns and with the drive hub connected to a generator the generator subsequently rotates to supply electricity to the railcar. Different types of generators can be attached with the mounting assembly to the railcar. The mounting assembly allows generators to be mounted without modification to the existing railcar structure.

Abstract: An improved connection coupling for providing rotary motion from an electric motor rotor to a load wherein a mechanical coupling element is attached to an end of the rotor and to the shaft of the load. The free end of the rotor includes a cavity which extends axially from the end surface of the rotor inward to allow for insertion of a portion of the mechanical coupling element in the cavity. The walls of the cavity do not contact the portion of the mechanical coupling element to allow this mechanical coupling element to move freely in the rotation direction.

Abstract: In a starter, a power supply terminal connected to a solenoid coil of a magnet switch and connectable to a starter external circuit is provided on an end cover. The power supply terminal includes a terminal metal member, a bimetal which interrupts electric conduction between the solenoid coil and the terminal metal member at the time of temperature rise above a predetermined temperature, and a casing contacting a foot part of the terminal metal member and encasing the bimetal therein. The bimetal responds to each of the excessive heating of the terminal metal member and excessive energization current to interrupt the conduction. In case of a single axis-type starter, the power supply terminal is provided on a recess so that the terminal metal member does not extend axially beyond the rear end face of the end cover.

Abstract: In a one way clutch of a starter having an outer member, inner member and rollers, a planet carrier is formed integrally with the outer member and through holes are formed avoiding cam chambers for rollers so as not to interfere with cam chambers formed in the inner circumferential surface of outer member. At one end portion of outer member, limiting portion for limiting the axial shifting of rollers is integrally formed, and at the other end surface, a limiting plate for limiting the axial shifting of rollers is provided and press-fitted into pins. The limiting portion may be replaced by another limiting plate. Through holes for the through holes are formed at locations where the outer member is radially thick, e.g., between circumferentially adjacent two of the cam chambers.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical linear actuator including a drive motor, a capacitor, a die-cast gear box, and a drive nut system. The die-cast gear box is capable of receiving multiple drive motor diameters, and the drive motor may be staked to the gear box. A coverless-capacitor is fixed to the gearbox without fasteners, and knock-out plugs are die cast into the gearbox. Integral cord strain reliefs are provided to eliminate the need for plastic bushings. The assembly includes a metal drive key that mates with the drive shaft and an output gear for transmitting torque to the drive shaft. A plastic flange bearing provides bearing surfaces for the drive key and the drive shaft. A high efficiency reinforced self-guided ACME nut travels linearly along the drive shaft. A tight diameter is used on the ACME nut thread form, and a bearing section is provided on its outboard to maximize screw-to-nut alignment. Snap-fit adjustable cams allow easy adjustment of the travel of the drive nut along the shaft via limit switches.

Abstract: An adjustable coupler has a group of magnet rotors separated by air gaps from a group of conductor rotors. The air gaps are adjusted by axial movement of one of the groups relative to the other to vary the slip of the coupler and achieve a constant load speed at various load torques.

Abstract: A driving device of the massaging chair including a main shaft, a bevel gear mounted on one end of the main shaft, a worm rod mounted on another end of the main shaft, and a driving rotor mounted slidably between the bevel and the worm rod. When the main shaft is driven by a motor to turn forward, the driving rotor is engaged with the bevel gear to actuate a kneading shaft of the massaging chair. When the main shaft is driven by the motor to turn backward, the driving rotor becomes disengaged with the bevel gear and moves away from the bevel gear to engage the worm rod so as to actuate a beating shaft of the massaging chair.

Abstract: A drive for rotating equipment that does not require internal or external mechanical seals and obviates the necessity to have internal shaft and bearings, eliminating internal lubrication problems and can be used with different types of prime movers is provided. A driven rotor, connected to the prime mover, with mounted horizontal stop rings, vertical stop rings, permanent magnet for floating rotor position, and permanent rotor drive magnet is driven by a driver rotor mounted with strain gauge and permanent magnet, electromagnet for driven rotor position and drive, strain gauges signal transmission rings, and electromagnet current transmission rings. The driver rotor, by using the signal generated by the strain gauges, varies current to the electromagnets controlling magnetic field forces to float the driven rotor. When the unit is shutdown the driven rotor rests on the vertical stop rings uncoupled.

Abstract: A light-weight and small-size electric motor in which linear movement can be obtained without requiring any special movement conversion mechanism. The electric motor includes a rotor (4), a rotary shaft (5, 6, 5a) coupled to the rotor (4), and a screw mechanism (7) for Supporting the rotary shaft (5, 6, 5a), the screw mechanism (7) being configured such that the rotor (4) is moved in an axial direction of the rotary shaft (5, 6, 5a) by movement of the rotary shaft (5, 6, 5a) within the screw mechanism (7) upon rotation of the rotor (4).

Abstract: An electrical generator for mounting on a railroad car axle end which utilizes the rotation of the axle to generate electricity. The generator includes a housing assembly bolted to the end of a railroad car axle, preferably using the bolt holes that are present on conventional axle ends. The housing includes a tubular rim along which is mounted a plurality of spaced permanent magnets. A stator fastened to a stationary part of the car, typically the outer race of the axle bearing, mounts a plurality of coils in a circular array, closely spaced to the magnets. Electricity is generated whenever the car axle is rotating.

Abstract: A motor for motorcycles includes a shaft, a rotor, an inner housing covering the rotor, a sun and planet gear unit, a generator, an outer housing, and a clutch as main components. The generator produces electricity to charge a battery when the motor moves the motorcycle so that the battery is always fully charged for operating the motor. The clutch will not engage a wheel of the motorcycle to rotate until rotation of the motor reaches a preset speed.

Abstract: An electric drive for small vehicles, especially wheelchairs, includes a d.c. motor, which is arranged as a wheelhub motor in the running wheel of the small vehicle. Efficiency and manufacturing costs are improved, while ensuring simple assembly, wherein the possibility of automatically locking the running wheels is provided, along with a short and lightweight design. The d.c. motor is an external rotor motor, whose external rotor forms the wheelhub or the wheel rim of the running wheel. The stator of the d.c. motor is stationarily connected to the small vehicle via a brake housing (3). A central spring pressure brake is provided which can be released electromagnetically and manually and brakes the external rotor of the d.c. motor in the case of a power failure.

Abstract: In a drive arrangement for driving a pump of the axial-piston type, of which solely the swash-plate member (8) is shown, from a motor (1), the main novel feature is that the motor shaft (9) is directly connected or connectable to the swash-plate member (8), thus eliminating problems caused by a previously used intermediate shaft between the motor shaft and the swash-plate member.

Abstract: Invention relates to an on-board electrical generator system that may be retrofitted to existing railroad vehicles, such as freight cars, box cars, and the like, where rotation of the vehicle's axle powers the system. A preferred use thereof is to charge the battery for the electrically controlled brakes on the vehicle. Such vehicles typically include a chassis, having plural axles mounted thereon, and a journal box or adaptor block having a projection generally aligned parallel with the axles. Each axle contains a pair of wheels, which are inwardly mounted from the respective axle ends and rotatable with the axle. The generator includes a rotor fixed for rotative movement relative to a stationary stator, whereby such relative movement causes electric currents to be generated in the stator containing the generator in a non-rotatable housing.

Abstract: An electric motor with an internal rotor (10), which comprises a free intal chamber (12), and a stator (14) disposed at a radial spacing from the rotor (10) has a more compact construction and can be assembled more easily. The electric motor is characterized in that at least part of a gear (16) is disposed in the free internal chamber (12) of the rotor (10).

Abstract: A single-phase switched reluctance motor is disclosed. The motor includes a stator having a plurality of projecting poles and a rotor rotatably disposed adjacent to the stator. The stator and rotor poles may be formed from laminations of ferromagnetic material. Energizing coils are wound around one or more of the stator poles. When the coils are energized, the rotor develops torque. In one embodiment, the motor includes a motor starting mechanism which sets the rotor into motion before the stator coils are energized so that the rotor is never static in a preferred position. In another embodiment, the motor includes a rotor positioning mechanism which positions the rotor in a preferred starting position before the stator coils are energized.

Abstract: A vehicle axle driven electrical generator assembly for supplying electrical power to electrically operable vehicle brakes, the generator having a magnetic field producing rotor and a stator with conductors in the magnetic field. The rotor has its axis of rotation coaxial with the axis of rotation of the axle and is rotated by a drive shaft which is either secured to the end of the axle or is loosely coupled to the end of the axle. The rotor and the stator are encircled by a housing to which the stator is secured and the housing is restrained with respect to rotation by either a link acting between the housing and a fixed portion of the vehicle or by securing the housing to the fixed portion.

Abstract: To reduce the outlay in terms of manufacture and assembly, a motor-gear drive unit is provided, which includes a motor housing and adjoining gear case, and in which:a) a motor-gear shaft (3) is mounted in the motor housing (1) in a first bearing, preferably a cup bearing (7);b) the motor-gear shaft (3) is mounted in the gear case (2) in a second bearing in the form of a preferably metallic, cylindrical bearing (8);c) the gear case (2) consists of a plastic part with an axially loadable bearing orifice (2.3) having circumferentially radially projecting shaped webs (2.31) for receiving the cylindrical bearing (8); andd) the cylindrical bearing (8) is pressed into the bearing receptacle (2.3) axially in bearing contact with a press fit relative to the shaped webs (2.31).

Abstract: In the case of thermal power installations in which a gas turbine and a steam turbine jointly drive a turbo generator, the slip rings (8, 9) are arranged on a separate slip ring shaft (14) which is connected to the actual shaft or machine shaft (10) of the electric machine by means of a first detachable coupling (11). The slip ring shaft is provided on its end averted from the electric machine with a coupling flange (15) which is not connected to the slip ring shaft (14) by welding until after the slip rings (8, 9) have been pushed on.The use of an expensive shrink-on coupling between the turbo generator and steam turbine is avoided in this way without increasing the overall length of the turbo generator.

Abstract: In a capstan motor, a gear portion and an FG detection portion are integrally formed of a plastic magnet at mutually different wall thicknesses and they are fixed to the outer circumference of a rotor yoke. The FG detection portion is provided with multipolar magnetization to generate a rotation detection signal with a magnetoresistance element. The gear portion is arranged to transmit the drive force to the outside. The outer diameter of the rotor yoke is different at the gear portion and at the FG detection portion, depending upon the wall thicknesses of the plastic magnet. The outer diameter is set to be greater in the portion corresponding to the FG magnet of the rotor yoke.

Abstract: An electric motor which is capable of changing an output torque with a simple arrangement without using an expensive power unit for controlling the supply of voltage (current) to an armature. The electric motor has a motor section constituted by an armature, a first pole piece, and a second pole piece, and has a slide bevel gear which meshes with a bevel gear of an input shaft. The slide bevel gear moves in an axial direction in correspondence with the steering torque, which movement is transmitted to the second pole piece by a pressing lever to rotatively move the second pole piece. Consequently, the opposing positions of poles of the first pole piece and the second pole piece are relatively changed to change polarities, so that a driving force corresponding to the steering torque is outputted.

Abstract: An actuator lever 3 has one of its opposite ends fixedly mounted on an output shaft 4 which extends upward from an upper surface 2a of an actuator casing 2. The other end of the actuator lever 3 has its lower surface fixed to a stopper 8. In operation, the stopper 8 abuts against a vertical barrier 6a in a shoulder portion 6 of the actuator casing 2 to define a start position or origin of rotational motion of the actuator in its return stroke.

Abstract: A conductor rotor presents a pair of electroconductive rings spaced apart to receive magnet carrying shoes with permanent magnets to induce eddy currents in the rings and thereby retard rotation of the conductor rotor. The shoes are moved in and out in a controlled manner to move between a retracted brake-off position and an extended brake-on position.

Abstract: A power transfer assembly has a magnet rotor with permanent magnets co-acting with a pair of electroconductive rings on a conductor rotor. The rotary axes of the two rotors are in laterally spaced parallel relation with one of the rotors being greater in diameter than the other.

Abstract: An electric motor drive unit for surgical tools, in which a drive consisting of a motor or motor gear unit is connected to, and electrically insulated from a clutch for the tool by a shaft, and in which the drive as well as current-carrying components are electrically insulated from a housing which accomodates said drive and current-carrying components. To achieve an electrical isolation of the current-carrying components from the tool and the gripping surface of the housing, the shaft, at least over part of its length, is made from an insulating material and runs through a seal which is supported in the housing and sealingly divides the housing into a first and second chamber, of which the first chamber accomodates the drive and the second chamber accomodates the clutch for the tool, said tool being inserted into a distal opening in the housing in the second chamber and connectable to the clutch.

Abstract: A synchronous motor/generator is modified by mounting the conventional rotor on a sleeve that rotates freely on the main shaft rather than being fixedly mounted on the shaft. Limits to this rotation are incorporated in the design such that the maximum angular rotation of the rotor on the shaft equals half the stator advance that occurs during a complete full cycle of the AC stator winding voltage. In addition to smoothing transients, this configuration permits the machine to smoothly drop into the correct stator/rotor flux phase when it changes from a motor to a generator, and back into the correct phase for a motor, when the AC power is interrupted, and subsequently resumes, resulting in dropping a single cycle.

Abstract: An electric drive unit for a vehicle is disclosed which has two electric machines axially aligned and connected with each other in mirror image. Each electric machine has a casing (3), a rotor (2) having a wheel body (16), an inner annular stator (4) including stator windings (5), having an axial, substantially cylindrical recess (11). The stator is attached to the casing (3), a rotor shaft (7) is attached to the wheel body (16) and extends into the substantially cylindrical axial recess (11) of the stator (4). There are first mounting means (20) rotatably mounted within the housing and relative thereto for mounting the rotor shaft (7); and an output coupling means (8, 9, 19, 25, 26) having a connecting flange (25, 26) for detachably connecting an output shaft thereto, the output coupling means (8, 9, 19, 25, 2 86) being disposed substantially within the axial cylindrical recess (11).

Abstract: A motor vehicle screen wiper drive unit in the form of a motorised reduction gear unit has a body which is provided with a removable brush carrier plate, together with at least one electrical component connected to the brush carrier plate through a flexible electrical conductor, this component, or these components, being part of the power supply circuit for the drive unit. The brush carrier plate includes means for retaining the said component or components temporarily during fitting of the carrier plate in the body of the unit. The electrical component is arranged for sliding movement with respect to the carrier plate, into cooperation with retaining means formed in the body of the unit for retaining the component. A method of assembly of a brush carrier plate with at least one associated electrical component, in the body of such a drive unit, is also described.

Abstract: A starter having a speed reduction mechanism that can reduce the mechanical and thermal loads that harm a starter motor. By setting the upper and lower coil ends and of upper and lower armature coils approximately parallel to the end side of the armature core, and by connecting the upper coil end and lower coil end, the upper and lower coil ends can be stored in an axially projecting small space adjacent the armature core. As a result, the anti-centrifugal force of the armature can be increased, and the mechanical load applied to the starter motor can be drastically reduced. As the upper and lower coil ends are near the armature core, the heat generated by the upper and lower coil ends is easily dissipated to the armature core, and the thermal load applied to the starter motor can be reduced.

Abstract: A starter which optimally maintains the characteristics of a spring which presses a brush and reduces its axial direction length. A compressed coil spring is arranged around an outer circumference of a plunger of a magnet switch and the length of the spring can be set as long as the radial direction length of the magnet switch. The spring effectively uses the space around the outer circumference of the magnet switch, so the axial direction length of the spring need not be added to the axial direction length of the starter.

Abstract: A motor includes a rotor case having a rotor magnet so as to face a stator core; a rotating shaft as fixed through a hole formed in the center of the rotor case; and a pulley having a center hole fixedly secured to a distal end portion of the rotating shaft projecting beyond the hole in the rotor case, the pulley being fixed to the rotor case.

Abstract: An elastic hoist and traction apparatus in which a friction receiving surface is provided at a rotor of a motor, and an overload prevention device is provided at the reverse side to a load on a brake for stopping a driving shaft and between the motor shaft and the friction receiving surface of the rotor or between the motor shaft and the driving shaft, thereby solving the problem created in that the overload prevention device is provided at the load side of the brake.

Abstract: A mirror driving apparatus includes a rotary mirror, a support member for rotatably supporting the rotary mirror, a driving section for rotating the rotary mirror, a rotary electrode mounted on the rotary mirror or the support member, a fixed electrode disposed close to the rotary electrode and generally parallel thereto, a fixing section to which the support member and the fixed electrode are mounted, and a detecting section for detecting electrostatic capacity or a variation thereof between the rotary electrode and the fixed electrode. A mechanical vibration system, formed by the rotary mirror and the rotary mirror support member, is controlled based on the amount of rotary movement of the rotary mirror detecting as a change in capacity between the electrodes to suppress resonance of the rotary mirror. Additionally, by superposing an additional high frequency component outside the control band onto the rotary mirror control signal, the rotary mirror can be moved in fine increments.

Abstract: An electric generator of the type that is oil-cooled and generally used in aircraft includes a fluid brake assembly. The fluid brake assembly includes a fluid brake rotor which is generally in the form of a fan or impeller which is connected to the drive shaft of the generator. Under normal conditions with the cooling oil withdrawn from the housing of the generator by the scavenge system, the fluid brake rotor freely turns with the shaft. When the oil scavenge system becomes incapacitated, the generator becomes "flooded" and the fluid brake rotor acts as pump to try to pump the oil, creating a torque load on the drive shaft. This load is preferably greater than the shear strength of the shaft, causing the shaft to shear and disconnecting the generator from the aircraft engine. By shearing the drive shaft, the operation of the main engine is unaffected by the flooding of the generator, and serious failure of the aircraft engine is avoided.