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US 10,132,366 B1Granted
Clutch assembly and system
AssigneeLogan Clutch Corporation
InventorsW. Andrew Logan, Scott W. Stevens, Michael S. Vining, Robert S. Tekesky, Stefan Vinca
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Power transmission systems including clutch arrangements and systems are adapted to be used in marine and other environments. Such power transmission systems may include clutch arrangements that provide more effective power transmission capabilities as well as greater durability and longer life. Slipping clutch arrangements may effectively vary the output speed of a clutch arrangement from the speed of the engine or other driver as desired for the particular application. Various clutch arrangements also provide for greater flexibility and drive options, lighter weight, and diverse types of capabilities.
Claims24
Apparatus comprising:
- a clutch configured to selectively operatively engage and disengage a driver device and a driven device, including:
- an annular drive ring, wherein the drive ring is configured to be in fixed direct operative connection with one of the driver device and the driven device,
- a hub, wherein the hub extends concentrically of the drive ring and along an axis, wherein the hub is configured to be in fixed direct operative connection of the other of the driver device and the driven device,
- wherein the drive ring is in operative fixed rotational connection with a radially inward directed annular outer splined surface, wherein the outer splined surface includes a plurality of angularly spaced radially inward extending outer splines, and wherein each outer spline is elongated in a direction parallel of the axis,
- a plurality of spaced annular clutch discs, wherein each clutch disc includes an outer toothed circumference, wherein the drive ring outwardly fully surrounds each clutch disc, wherein the toothed circumference is configured to be in interengaging relation with the plurality of outer splines, and wherein each clutch disc is configured to be movable in engaged relation with the outer splines along the axial direction and wherein each clutch disc includes an inner clutch surface radially outwardly disposed from the hub,
- wherein the hub includes a plurality of discrete angularly spaced arcuate splined surface segments, wherein each segment includes a plurality of angularly spaced radially outward extending inner splines, wherein each inner spline is elongated in a direction parallel of the axis, wherein each inner spline extends radially outward from inner spline recesses that extend angularly between immediately angularly adjacent inner splines of a splined surface segment, wherein the inner spline recesses in each splined surface segment extend radially inward to an inner spline radial distance from the axis,
- wherein a plurality of discrete angularly spaced air containing openings extend in the hub, wherein a respective air containing opening extends between each immediately adjacent pair of arcuate splined surface segments, and wherein no inner splines extend in a respective angle occupied by each respective air containing opening, and wherein each air containing opening extends radially inwardly in the hub closer to the axis than the inner spline radial distance,
- a plurality of spaced annular separator discs, wherein at least one separator disc is positioned between each immediately adjacent pair of clutch discs,
- wherein each separator disc includes an inner toothed circumference, wherein the inner toothed circumference is configured to be in interengaging relation with the plurality of inner splines on each of the discrete segments, and wherein each separator disc is configured to be axially movable in engaged relation with the inner splines,
- a housing, wherein the housing is in fixed direct operative rotational connection with one of the hub and the drive ring, and wherein the housing is relatively rotatably movable with respect to the other of the hub and the drive ring, wherein in axial cross section each of the air containing openings extend continuously in a direction parallel to the axis between immediately angularly adjacent segments and through the housing to atmosphere,
- an annular piston cavity in the housing, wherein the annular piston cavity extends concentrically about the axis, and is bounded by at least one cavity wall,
- an annular piston, wherein the annular piston is configured to move along the axial direction responsive to fluid pressure in the piston cavity,
- at least one annular resilient seal, wherein each annular resilient seal is in engagement with both the piston and one piston cavity wall and wherein each annular resilient seal is x-shaped in cross section,
- wherein the piston is selectively axially movable to cause the plurality of separator discs and the plurality of clutch discs to be in compressed engagement, whereby the drive ring and the hub are in engaged rotational connection, and to release the plurality of clutch discs and the plurality of separator discs from compressed engagement, whereby the drive ring and the hub are enabled to be relatively rotationally movable.
11 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- a clutch configured to selectively operatively rotationally engage a rotating drive device and a driven device, including:
- an annular drive ring, wherein the drive ring is configured to be in fixed operative engagement with the driver device,
- a hub that extends concentrically relative to the drive ring and along an axis, wherein the hub is configured to be in fixed operative engagement with the driven device, wherein the hub includes a plurality of discrete arcuate segments and discrete air containing cooling openings, wherein each immediately adjacent pair of discrete arcuate segments is separated by a respective discrete air containing cooling opening,
- a disc pack, wherein the disc pack comprises
- a plurality of clutch discs and separator discs, wherein each separator disc is disposed between each immediately axially adjacent pair of clutch discs,
- wherein each of the clutch discs includes an outer toothed circumference, wherein the outer toothed circumference is in interengaging relatively axially movable relation with a plurality of radially inwardly extending outer splines on an annular inward facing surface of the drive ring, wherein the drive ring outwardly fully surrounds each clutch disc,
- wherein each of the separator discs includes an inner toothed circumference, wherein the inner toothed circumference is in interengaging relatively axially movable relation with a plurality of radially outward extending angularly spaced inner splines, wherein the inner splines extend between adjacent inner spline recesses on each of the angularly separated discrete arcuate segments, and wherein each of the air containing cooling openings are elongated parallel to the axis and extend radially inward below a radial distance from the axis to the inner spline recesses, and wherein each respective air containing cooling opening extends through an angle on the hub within which angle no inner splines are located,
- a housing, wherein the housing is operatively engaged in fixed rotational connection with the hub, wherein the housing includes an annular piston cavity, wherein the piston cavity is bounded by at least one annular cavity wall, and wherein in axial cross section each of the air containing cooling openings extends continuously in a direction parallel to the axis between immediately angularly adjacent arcuate segments and through the housing to atmosphere,
- an annular piston, wherein the annular piston extends in the piston cavity and is configured to be selectively axially movable responsive to fluid pressure in the piston cavity,
- at least one annular resilient seal, wherein each annular resilient seal is in engagement with both the piston and one annular cavity wall, and wherein each annular resilient seal is configured to provide a multi-point sealing engagement with each of the piston and the one cavity wall with which the seal is in engagement,
- wherein the piston is selectively movable to compress the discs of the disc pack, whereby the drive ring and the hub are in engaged rotational relation, and to not compress the discs of the disc pack, whereby the drive ring and the hub are relatively rotationally movable.
8 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- a clutch configured to selectively operatively engage and disengage a driver device and a driven device, including:
- an annular drive ring, wherein the drive ring is configured to be in fixed direct operative connection with one of the driver device and the driven device,
- a hub, wherein the hub extends concentrically of the drive ring and along an axis, wherein the hub is configured to be in fixed direct operative connection with the other of the driver device and the driven device,
- wherein the drive ring is in operative fixed rotational connection with a radially inward directed annular outer splined surface, wherein the outer splined surface includes a plurality of angularly spaced radially inward extending outer splines, and wherein each outer spline is elongated in a direction parallel to the axis,
- a plurality of axially spaced annular clutch discs, wherein each clutch disc includes an outer toothed circumference, wherein the outer toothed circumference is configured to be in interengaging relation with the plurality of outer splines, and wherein the drive ring outwardly fully surrounds each clutch disc, and wherein each clutch disc is configured to be movable in engaged relation with the outer splines along the axial direction and wherein each clutch disc includes an inner clutch surface radially outwardly disposed from the hub,
- wherein the hub includes a plurality of discrete angularly spaced arcuate splined surface segments, and a plurality of discrete air containing openings, wherein each segment includes a plurality of angularly spaced radially outward extending inner splines, wherein each inner spline is elongated in a direction parallel to the axis,
- wherein a respective air containing opening extends between and occupies an angle on the hub to separate each immediately angularly adjacent pair of segments such that no inner splines extend on an entire length of the hub in the angle occupied between any of the immediately adjacent segments, wherein each air containing opening is elongated in a direction parallel to the axis,
- a plurality of spaced annular separator discs, wherein at least one separator disc is positioned between each immediately adjacent pair of clutch discs,
- wherein each separator disc includes an inner toothed circumference, wherein the inner toothed circumference is configured to be in interengaging relation with the plurality of inner splines on each of the segments, and wherein each separator disc is configured to be axially movable in engaged relation with the inner splines on all of the segments,
- a housing, wherein the housing is in fixed direct operative rotational connection with one of the hub and the drive ring, and wherein the housing is relatively rotatably movable with respect to the other of the hub and the drive ring, wherein in axial cross section each air containing opening extends continuously in a direction parallel to the axis between immediately angularly adjacent segments and through the housing to atmosphere,
- an annular piston cavity in the housing, wherein the annular piston cavity extends concentrically about the axis and is bounded by a pair of radially disposed annular cavity walls,
- an annular piston, wherein the piston extends between the radially disposed annular cavity walls and wherein the annular piston is configured to move along the axial direction responsive to fluid pressure in the piston cavity,
- a plurality of annular resilient seals, wherein at least one inner resilient seal extends radially intermediate of the piston and a radially inner annular cavity wall and at least one outer resilient seal extends radially intermediate of the piston and a radially outer annular cavity wall,
- wherein the piston is selectively axially movable to cause the plurality of separator discs and the plurality of clutch discs to be in compressed engagement, whereby the drive ring and the hub are in engaged rotational connection, and to release the plurality of clutch discs and the plurality of separator discs from compressed engagement, whereby the drive ring and the hub are enabled to be relatively rotationally movable.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.