Patent — available for licensing
Fluid Transfer Coupler
A NASA invention available to explore as a licensing opportunity.
About this technology
Overview
A fluid coupling is a hydrodynamic or hydrokinetic device used to transmit rotating mechanical power. It has been used in automobile transmissions as an alternative to a mechanical clutch. It also has widespread application in marine and industrial machine drives, where variable speed operation and controlled start-up without shock loading of the power transmission system is essential. A fluid coupling consists of a housing and two turbines, plus the hydraulic fluid. The housing contains the fluid and turbines. The hydraulic fluid is directed by a pump whose shape forces the flow in the direction of the output turbine. The motion of the fluid is effectively toroidal. The Fluid Transfer Coupler addresses trades between ball-in-grove type couplers and pivoting pawls, along with various types of seals.