Early warning system for centrifugal clutch
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorRichard Conway
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A leaf spring for a centrifugal clutch of a transport refrigeration unit, and a centrifugal clutch incorporating the leaf spring are provided. The centrifugal clutch includes a drum, a hub, at least two friction pads, and at least one leaf spring between each respective friction pad. The leaf spring includes a frame and an indicator tab. The indicator tab of the leaf spring is configured to indicate when at least one friction pad of the centrifugal clutch is in need of replacement. This indication may be in the form of an audible sound generated when the indicator tab engages the internally facing surface of the drum. The indicator tab may be configured to only be able to engage the internally facing surface of the drum when the friction material of the friction pad has a thickness suggesting it is worn.
Claims20
A centrifugal clutch of a transport refrigeration unit, the centrifugal clutch comprising:
- a drum comprising an internally facing surface;
- a hub disposed within the drum, the hub configured to be rotatably driven by an engine configured to power the transport refrigeration unit;
- at least two friction pad assemblies connected to the hub, each friction pad assembly comprising a radially outward facing surface comprising a friction material for contacting the internally facing surface, the friction material comprising an installed thickness;
- and
- at least one leaf spring configured between each respective friction pad, each leaf spring comprising:
- a frame comprising a first side and a second side;
- and
- an indicator tab extending from the second side of the frame.
A leaf spring for a centrifugal clutch of a transport refrigeration unit, the leaf spring comprising:
- a frame comprising a first side and a second side;
- and
- an indicator tab extending from the second side of the frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.