Abstract: A pressurized drive coupling includes a socket joined to an end of one shaft in a drive system and a stem extending from an end of another shaft. The stem is insertable into a cavity formed in the socket and the stem and cavity have mating noncircular transverse cross-sections. A sleeve is seated around the socket. The sleeve includes a rigid outer section and a deformable inner section which is in contact with the socket. A pressure chamber is formed between the sections of the sleeve and the pressure chamber is filled with a suitable fluid which is pressurized to reduce the dimensions of the cavity and eliminate clearance between the stem and cavity.

Abstract: Apparatus for emergency enablement of a boat propeller. The apparatus comprises a central mounting plate having an aperture for engagement with one end of the propeller shaft to which the propeller is attached. A plurality of cantilevered members, the proximal ends of which are fixed at spaced intervals around the periphery of the central mounting plate, extend perpendicular to the mounting plate for disposal within longitudinal spaces of the boat propeller.

Abstract: A fuseable torsion shaft for use within an aircraft flight control surface actuation system. The fuseable torsion shaft includes a shear tube which exhibits high strength elastic characteristics during normal operation up to a predetermined shear torque level. Thereafter, a torsion shaft having lower strength plastic characteristics provides torque transmission capability for a limited deflection.

Abstract: A coaxial drive shaft system is provided with an overload shearable coupling for driving multiple outputs from a single input. A pair of coaxial, telescoped drive shafts are provided as independent outputs to a pair of driven devices. A singular input shaft is coupled to the drive shafts by a gearbox for simultaneously rotating the drive shafts. A shear section is formed in one of the drive shafts for rupturing the one drive shaft in response to an overload condition thereon, while the other coaxial, telescoped drive shaft continues to be rotated by the singular input shaft.

Abstract: A non-jamming rotary mechanical actuator for aircraft control surfaces includes a pair of fixed ring gears separated by a moving ring gear. An end plate having a central bore therethrough and a bearing member for rotatably supporting a shaft is mounted at each outer side of said pair of fixed ring gears. Each ring gear has an internal gear surface. The shaft includes an integral inner cam member having a first offset and an outer cam member having a second offset. In driving relationship with said outer cam member is a compound gear having three sets of gear teeth for intermittent contact with said internal gear surfaces of the three ring gears. When a shear member located between the two cam members is broken due to torque overload, the cam members rotate relative to each other so that the compound gear loses contact with the ring gears, thus preventing jamming.

Abstract: A centrifuge rotor is characterized by a protrusion on the undersurface thereof which is received by a conjoinable pair of collar members. Each collar has a recess therein which cooperate to receive a drive spud from the rotor drive. A prestressed arrangement exerts a compressive force of a predetermined magnitude on the collar members to hold them together. The compressive force is progressively relieved as the rotor is rotated to a predetermined speed. Thereafter, increased rotor speed imposes a centrifugal force on the prestressed arrangement to cause it to fail in tension, thereby permitting the collar members to separate and thus release the rotor from its engagement with the drive.

Abstract: A coupling for transmitting a torque from a shaft to a hub provided with an internal chamber which can be pressurized and which is relieved when a relative rotational movement takes place in relation to the shaft due to an overload and which is secured against slipping off from the shaft seat in an axial direction by a two-part flange mounted on the shaft. The flange engages with a radial groove in the hub in a claw-like manner and carries a shear-off device for breaking off the plug sealing the internal pressure chamber.

Abstract: A lubricant delivering coupling adapted to interconnect a power transfer unit and a load having a rotary input. The coupling is comprised of a pair of concentrically disposed inner and outer hollow members. The outer member is in a torque transmitting relationship between the power transfer unit and the load. The inner hollow member is secured at both ends to an inner surface of the outer member and is adapted to receive lubricant from a lubricant source within the transfer device for delivery to and through the hollow inner member.The inner and outer members each have intermediate the respective ends thereof a shear section. Upon overloading of the outer member and the shearing failure thereof, the inner member continues to twist until rupture at the inner member shear section.

Abstract: In order to prevent expensive subsequent damage because of a shaft fracture in machines which are coupled together, one of the two shaft ends is provided outside of one coupling flange with a predetermined breaking point. At one coupling flange a safety element is mounted which extends past the axial length of the predetermined breaking point. The safety element can be constructed as a pin rotatably mounted inside the shaft end or as a safety ring mounted around the shaft end to hold a fractured shaft in the predetermined position until standstill without it being possible for the shaft to be deflected.

Abstract: A lawn mower rotor assembly comprising a rotor body, filament cutting members, and a shear pin coupler, the rotor body being a flat star-shaped disk having five equally spaced arms projecting outwardly from the center of the rotor, each of the arms including near its outer periphery a lug for gripping one end of a short length of filament, the coupler being a disk fitting into a central counterbore in the rotary body having two cylindrical members projecting upwardly from the upper surface of the disk symmetrically positioned diametrically opposite from each other and mating with two recesses in the counterbore.

Abstract: An improved gear type coupling wherein the sleeve thereof is a torsional shear element to provide torsional overload protection to the coupling and its connected equipment. The shear section of the shear element is an integral part thereof and all sections of the shear element conduct an equal share of the transmitted torque.

Abstract: A metal forming machine for forming articles from metal workpieces has a plurality of driven members for performing work on the metal workpieces. A drive shaft is connected with the driven members for transferring force to the driven members. A frangible portion is connected in the drive shaft and is designed to fail upon the occurrence of a predetermined overload at the member being driven from the drive shaft. A signalling device is associated with the frangible portion to stop the machine and give an alarm when an overload occurs which breaks the frangible portion.

Abstract: An overload protection coupling for limiting the torque transmitted between two elements of a rotating power transmission system comprises coaxial driving and driven members journalled for relative rotation. The members are drivingly connected to each other by one or more rod-like tensile breaking piece devices effective between first pairs of radial projections on the driving and driven members. One or more reaction devices are effective between second pairs of radial projections on the driving and driven members to ensure that the rod-like breaking piece devices are in pre-tension to a predetermined level approximately equivalent to the maximum torque transmitted by the coupling to increase fatigue life of the breaking piece devices. In some embodiments, the tensile breaking piece devices and reaction devices may be effective between just one pair of radial projections.

Abstract: A disconnect arrangement is useful for disconnecting high speed generators, such as those utilized in aircraft electrical systems, from a driving source, such as an aircraft engine. The disconnect coupling includes splined members at either end of a stub shaft which are coupled respectively to the generator and the engine. A carbide knife-edged plate is pivotable about one end of the plate and, in the normal or deactivated position, an extension of a solenoid armature prevents the knife-edge from contacting the stub shaft. When energized, the solenoid armature is retracted releasing its engagement with the knife-edged plate, and a spring forces the knife-edge to engage the stub shaft at a relatively thin-walled portion thereof. Friction generated causes localized heating and the relatively thin wall of the stub shaft becomes plastic, the stub shaft then separating into two portions effecting disconnection of the generator from the engine.

Abstract: A gear clutch comprises an annular clutch casing with a plurality of internal teeth and a clutch hub having a plurality of external teeth meshed with the internal teeth. The clutch is coaxial with the clutch casing and the external teeth have a load bearing part and a root. The clutch hub has an annular axially extending groove extending into the root from one side of the external teeth and ending below the external teeth and an annular radially extending groove on an opposite side of the external teeth and defining with the axially extending groove a cylindrical annular break section of a size smaller than that of the load bearing part, whereby the break section breaks before the load bearing part breaks when the gear clutch is overloaded.

Abstract: An improved gear type coupling wherein the sleeve thereof is a torsional shear element to provide torsional overload protection to the coupling and its connected equipment. The shear section of the shear element is an integral part thereof and all sections of the shear element conduct an equal share of the transmitted torque.