| 摘要 |
<p>A method of remotely controlling torque transfer from a rotatable shaft (S) to a surrounding core via a variable torque clutch, makes use of a variable clutch mounted on the shaft between the shaft and the core, a primary power supply to cause torque transfer by the clutch and carried to the clutch via the shaft (S) and a secondary supply including a coded signal also carried by the shaft to the clutch to allow remotely controlled variation of the magnitude of torque transferred. By using a coded signal, which may be superimposed on the power supply it is possible to control independently a plurality of clutches on a single shaft whilst using the shaft to carry a common primary power supply. In one embodiment an electro- rheological fluid is located between electrodes (H) and (F), the inner body of the clutch engages the shaft (S) by a key (J), and the outer body (A) drives the core via a gripper mechanism such as a friction plate, the torque transfer being controlled by electronic means (G). Alternatively the clutch may be controlled by an electro-pneumatic transducer, the primary power supply being provided by a high pressure air line. <IMAGE></p> |
