Flexible armature plate for an electro-magnetic overrunning clutch

An electro-magnetic coil assembly mounted in a clutch assembly, the electromagnetic coil assembly comprising a coil mounted within an annular coil housing and a flexible armature plate, the coil assembly is adapted, when energized, to generate an electromagnetic field between the coil and the armature plate for attracting the armature plate to the coil assembly, the flexible armature plate comprising:

• an annular plate with an outer edge and an inner edge, the outer edge being spaced apart from the inner edge and defining a plate width therebetween, the outer edge defining an outer periphery, the inner edge defining an inner periphery;
• a plurality of tangs formed on and spaced about the inner periphery, the tangs extending from the inner edge away from the annular plate;
• a plurality of inner notches formed on and spaced about the inner periphery of the annular plate, at least two of the inner notches located between each set of adjacent tangs and extending radially outward from the inner edge toward the outer edge;
• and
• a plurality of outer notches formed on and spaced about the outer periphery of the annular plate, at least one of the outer notches located between each set of adjacent tangs and extending radially inward from the outer edge toward the inner edge,
• wherein there is at least one outer notch located circumferentially equidistant between at least two inner notches.

An electro-magnetic coil assembly mounted in a clutch assembly, the electromagnetic coil assembly comprising a coil mounted within an annular coil housing and a flexible armature plate, the coil assembly is adapted, when energized, to generate an electromagnetic field between the coil and the armature plate for attracting the armature plate to the coil assembly, the flexible armature plate comprising:

• an annular plate with an outer edge and an inner edge, the outer edge being spaced apart from the inner edge and defining a plate width therebetween, the outer edge defining an outer periphery, the inner edge defining an inner periphery;
• a plurality of tangs formed on and spaced about the outer periphery, the tangs extending from the outer edge away from the annular plate;
• a plurality of outer notches formed on and spaced about the outer periphery of the annular plate, at least two of the outer notches located between each set of adjacent tangs and extending radially inward from the outer edge toward the inner edge;
• and
• a plurality of inner notches formed on and spaced about the inner periphery of the annular plate, at least one of the inner notches located between each set of adjacent tangs and extending radially outward from the inner edge toward the outer edge.