GB552369A - Improvements in or relating to mechanical relays - Google Patents

Abstract

552,369. Steering ships; controlling aircraft. HORSTMANN, B. G. July 1, 1941, No. 8243. [Classes 4 and 114] [Also in Group XXIV] A mechanical relay, suitable for the control of aircraft, or the steering of ships, comprises a prime mover 1 e.g. an electric motor, which drives a shaft 2 having a spider 5 with planetary bevel pinions 6. The latter gear with two bevel sun wheels 7, 8, a wheel 7 being connected directly to a brake drum 12, and wheel 8 to a brake drum 14 through reversing gearing 16, 17. The drums 12, 13, which thus normally revolve at equal speeds in opposite directions, co-operate with brake bands 24, 25, actuated by a control member 21 pivoted to a casing 18. The latter is mounted freely in bearings 3, 4. A parallel shaft 26 has a spider 27 with planetary pinions 29, a member 37 connected to the part to be actuated, and a gear 36 meshed by an idler or not, to a gear 35 fixed on the casing 18. Suns 31, 33, free on shaft 26 carry gears 32, 34, meshing with gears 13, 15 fixed to the drums 12, 14. In operaton, movement . of the control member 21 causes one or other of the brakes 12, 14, to engage. This produces a differential movement of the gears 31, 33, 29, and moves the shaft 26 and member 37 through a distance corresponding to the distance moved by the control member 21, the power for moving the member 37 being derived from the motor 1. The gearing 35, 36, produces a follow-up action of the casing 18, and also permits the member 37 to be moved directly by the control 21 should the motor 1 cease to function.