Decoupler with spring travel limiter
AssigneeLitens Automotive Partnership
InventorsChristian JANSEN, John R. Antchak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A decoupler having an output member, a one-way clutch, a spring and a spring limiter. The spring is disposed between an output portion of the one-way clutch and the output member to bias the output portion in a predetermined rotational direction relative to the output member. The spring limiter can be configured to lock an output of the one-way clutch to the output member to transmit rotary power between the one-way clutch and the output member without stressing the spring beyond a predetermined point and/or to limit rotational movement of the output portion and an associated end of the spring relative to the output member in the predetermined rotational direction. A method for operating a decoupler is also provided.
Claims21
A decoupler comprising:
- a hub that is rotatable about an axis;
- a pulley disposed concentrically about the hub and rotatable about the axis;
- a one-way clutch having an input member and an output member, the one-way clutch permitting transmission of rotary power from the pulley to the output member, but not from the output member to the pulley;
- and
- a torsion spring disposed between the output member of the one-way clutch and the, hub to transmit rotary power from the output member to the hub;
- wherein the output member of the one-way clutch is rotatable relative to the hub about the axis between a first position and a second position, wherein positioning of the output member in a first position locks the output member to the hub so that rotary power transmitted through the torsion spring is limited to a predetermined maximum torque, and wherein all rotary power transmitted through the one-way clutch is transmitted to the hub through the torsion spring when the output member is positioned between the first and second positions.
A method for operating a device that is driven by a power source, the method comprising:
- providing a decoupler having an input member, an output member, and a one-way overrunning clutch, the input member being configured to receive rotary power from a power source, the output member being configured to output rotary power from the decoupler to the device, the one-way clutch being configured to permit transmission of rotary power in a first rotational direction to drive the output member and being configured to disengage to permit the output member to overrun the input member;
- resiliently coupling the input member to the output member when the rotary power transmitted from the input member to the output member has a magnitude that is less than a predetermined threshold;
- and
- inhibiting relative rotation between the input member and the output when the magnitude of the rotary power transmitted from the input member to the output member is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold.
A decoupler comprising:
- a hub that is rotatable about an axis;
- a pulley disposed concentrically about the hub and rotatable about the axis;
- a one-way clutch having an input member and an output member, the one-way clutch allowing transmission of rotary power from the pulley to the output member but not facilitating transmission of rotary power from the hub to the pulley;
- a spring disposed between the output member and the hub and configured to transmit rotary power therebetween, the spring biasing the output member in a predetermined rotational direction relative to the hub;
- wherein the output member of the one-way clutch is rotatable relative to the hub about the axis between a first position and a second position, wherein all rotary power transmitted to the hub is transmitted through the spring when the output member is positioned between the first and second positions, and wherein rotational movement of both the output member and an end of the spring that is engaged to the output member in the predetermined rotational direction relative to the hub is inhibited when the output member is in the second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.