APPARATUS FOR ENGAGING ROTATING COMPONENTS IN A MOTOR

• Main Authors: FERREIRA CARLOS, CALI CONNARD
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 03.02.2011
• Subjects: BLASTING; BRAKES; CLUTCHES; COMBUSTION ENGINES; COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

Methods and apparatus for engaging gears in motors are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for engaging rotating components in a motor may include an actuator; and an engagement assembly disposed about an axis and coupled to the actuator, the engagement assembly having at least one pawl that can move along the axis to selectively couple the engagement assembly, via operation of the actuator, with a drive interface to transmit torque, wherein each pawl includes a face that engages a corresponding surface of the drive interface; and a slot formed through an upper region of the at least one pawl to divide the upper region of the at least one pawl into a first portion that includes the face and a second portion that does not include the face, wherein the first portion can flex upon impact of the face with the corresponding surface of the drive interface.