Means and method for regulating a hydraulic energy absorbing device

Abstract

A device for regulating the driving torque and energy absorption in hydraulic energy absorbing means such as employed in aircraft arresting mechanisms, consisting in a liquid reservoir housing in which a bladed rotor is rotative, said rotor having its blades surrounded by fixed vanes of a curvature different from that of the blades of the rotor. A ring is mounted above the blades, the ring having an annular groove or channel in which a channel-shaped capsule is positioned, the capsule being adjustable up or down in the groove, a rotative adjustment ring is mounted on a part of the housing and an outer ring carries rods that enter the housing to contact with the capsule, and the outer ring has parts engaging in guide means on the inner ring, whereby rotative adjustment of the inner ring causes raising or lowering of the capsule with respect to the rotor blades.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A control device for regulating the driving torque and energy absorption in a hydraulic energy absorbent for aircraft arresting device and the like comprising a housing containing the liquid energy absorbent, a rotative shaft extending through said housing, said shaft supporting a series of radially arranged blades forming a ring adapted to rotate adjacent the bottom of said housing, a series of stationary vanes surrounding said blade ring within said housing, said blades and said vanes being curved in relatively opposite directions, a stationary ring member within said housing superposed on said vanes, an annular channel in said ring member having an annular recess facing said blades, an annular capsule having a generally U-shaped cross section reciprocably accommodated in said recess with the legs thereof adapted to slide over and cover said blades, said capsule engaging one end of a rod slidably engaging the bottom wall of said housing, the other end of said rod extending beyond said bottom wall and being connected to an axially adjustable member having guide means engaging an inclined groove located in a movable operating member connected to the bottom wall of said housing and being effective by movement thereof to adjust said rods to raise and lower said capsule over said blades whereby to control the torque from zero to maximum without liquid removal. .Iadd. 2. A control device for regulating the driving torque in a hydraulic device comprising a housing having an inner wall containing a liquid, a rotative shaft extending through said housing, said shaft supporting a series of radially arranged blades forming a blade ring adapted to rotate within said housing, a series of stationary vanes surrounding said blade ring and having a side connected to said inner wall to said housing, a ring member within said housing connected to a side of said stationary vanes remote from said inner wall of said housing, an annular channel in said ring member providing an annular recess facing said blades, an annular capsule removably accommodated in said recess and having legs adapted to slide over and cover said blades, capsule moving means with said capsule for moving it into and outside of said recess and over said blades whereby said legs are moved into and outside of said recess in said ring member and away from and over said blades whereby the torque created in said liquid by movement of said blades is varied from a maximum to zero without liquid removal. .Iaddend..Iadd. 3. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said capsule has a generally U-shaped cross-section to which said legs are attached. .Iaddend..Iadd. 4. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said moving means comprise a plurality of rods. .Iaddend..Iadd. 5. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said ring member is stationary and comprises a substantially flat circular disc, and said disc is mounted upon said sides of said vanes. .Iaddend..Iadd. 6. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said blades and said vanes are curved in relatively opposite directions. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 7. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said blade ring is disposed adjacent a wall of said housing. .Iaddend..Iadd. 8. A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said wall is the bottom wall of said housing.