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US 2004/0168876 A1Published application
Spring clutch
OwnerThomas L. Tully, Ruth H. Durwin +3inventors
InventorsThomas L. Tully, Ruth H. Durwin, Charles J. Isabelle, Robert T. Bohm, Robert J. Durwin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spring clutch has a housing containing first and second sleeves surrounding first and second longitudinal spans of a coil spring. A carrier mounting at least one of the sleeves relative to the housing flexes to maintain alignment of axes of the sleeves to control forces on the portion of the spring spanning the gap between the sleeves.
Claims11
A clutch apparatus comprising:
- a spring having a central longitudinal axis and first and second axial ends;
- a first sleeve, surrounding a first longitudinal span of the spring;
- a second sleeve, surrounding a second longitudinal span of the spring;
- a housing;
- a first bearing, supporting the first sleeve for rotation relative to the housing about a first axis normally coincident with the spring axis;
- a sleeve carrier at least partially surrounding the second sleeve and having first and second portions and an intermediate portion therebetween, the first portion being secured relative to the housing and the second portion being relatively radially moveable relative to the housing with a flexing of the intermediate portion;
- and
- a second bearing system, supporting the second sleeve for rotation relative to the sleeve carrier second portion about a second axis coincident with the spring axis and the first axis when the sleeve carrier intermediate portion is in an unflexed condition,
- wherein the first and second sleeves engage the spring so that:
- initial relative rotation between the first and second sleeves in a first direction tends to uncoil the spring and bias the spring into firmer engagement with the first and second sleeves;
- and
- initial relative rotation between the first and second sleeves in a second direction, opposite the first direction, tends not to uncoil the spring.
9 more elements
A clutch apparatus comprising:
- a spring having a central longitudinal spring axis and first and second axial ends;
- a housing;
- a first sleeve, surrounding a first longitudinal span of the spring and held for rotation relative to the housing about a first axis normally coincident with the spring axis;
- a second sleeve, surrounding a second longitudinal span of the spring and held for rotation relative to the housing about a second axis coincident with the spring axis and the first axis and having a longitudinally inboard end facing a longitudinally inboard end of the first sleeve and wherein the first and second sleeves engage the spring so that:
- initial relative rotation between the first and second sleeves in a first direction tends to uncoil the spring and bias the spring into firmer engagement with the first and second sleeves;
- and
- initial relative rotation between the first and second sleeves in a second direction, opposite the first direction, tends not to uncoil the spring;
- an arbor coupled to one of the first and second sleeves against relative rotation;
- a gear coupled to the other of the first and second sleeves to resist relative rotation;
- and
- carrier means for mounting at least one of the first and second sleeves to attenuate the transmission of misalignment of axes of the arbor and gear to misalignment of the longitudinally inboard ends of the first and second sleeves.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.