Overrunning clutches are universally used in helicopter drive systems to couple the engine and rotor in powered flight while permitting rotor autorotation with the engine stopped. The clutches in current use depend on friction for power transmission,and suffer from structural inefficiency which imposes a weight penalty and centrifugal influences which restrict operating speed. The positive-engagement overrunning clutch described herein offers the possibility of better structural efficiency and lifting of the overrunning speed limitation. This clutch transmits power through splines,and suffers no detriment to overrunning operation from centrifugal force. A positive-engagement clutch was designed to meet the operating and space requirements of the HLH helicopter,and a test program was conducted to explore the operating characteristics of the clutch. (Modified author abstract)
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