Friction Clutch For Accessory Drive
AssigneeBorgWarner Inc.
InventorShiwei Qin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fail-safe friction clutch assembly for a vehicle accessory, particularly to drive a vehicle cooling pump or cooling fan. The friction clutch assembly includes a friction plate member connected to a central rotatable shaft member used for operating the vehicle accessory. A pair of friction lining members arc positioned on opposite sides of the friction plate member. An armature member is spring biased to axially force the friction plate member and friction lining member against a housing or cover which is rotating at input speed. A solenoid assembly is used to overcome the spring bias and pull the armature and friction plate member away from the housing.
Claims28
A friction clutch assembly for a vehicle engine accessory, the accessory having a housing member, a pulley member for rotating the housing member, an internal shaft member which is selectively rotatable for operating the accessory, and a solenoid assembly, said friction clutch assembly comprising:
- an armature member, said armature member made of a magnetic material and capable of axial movement in a housing when energized by a solenoid assembly;
- a friction plate member positioned adjacent said armature member;
- a pair of friction lining members, each of said pair positioned on opposite sides of said friction plate member;
- biasing members biasing said armature member in an axial direction away from the solenoid assembly;
- wherein when said solenoid assembly is actuated, said armature member is pulled axially toward said solenoid member preventing either of said pair of friction lining members from contacting the housing member;
- and
- wherein when said solenoid assembly is not activated, said biasing members bias said armature member axially against said friction plate member causing one of said pair of friction lining members to contact said housing member causing rotation of said internal shaft member and operating said accessory.
A friction clutch assembly for a vehicle coolant pump, said coolant pump having a central shaft member for rotating an impeller, said friction clutch assembly comprising:
- a solenoid assembly comprising a solenoid housing and a solenoid coil member;
- a pulley member rotatable at input speed;
- a housing member attached to said pulley member and rotatable therewith;
- an axially moveable magnetic armature member;
- biasing members for biasing said armature member axially away from said solenoid assembly;
- friction plate member connected to said central shaft member and rotatable therewith;
- a first friction lining member positioned on a first surface of said friction plate member and adjacent said armature member;
- and
- a second friction lining member positioned on a second and opposite surface of said friction plate member and adjacent said housing member;
- wherein when said solenoid assembly is not electrically actuated, said biasing members force said armature member and said friction plate member axially in a direction toward said housing member wherein said second friction lining member contacts said housing cover member causing said friction plate member and said central shaft member to rotate at input speed.
A friction clutch assembly for a vehicle engine cooling fan, said cooling fan having a central shaft member for rotating fan member, said friction clutch assembly comprising:
- a solenoid assembly comprising a solenoid housing and a solenoid coil member;
- a pulley member rotatable at input speed;
- a housing member attached to said pulley member and rotatable therewith;
- an axially moveable magnetic armature member;
- biasing members for biasing said armature member axially away from said solenoid assembly;
- friction plate member connected to said central shaft member and rotatable therewith;
- a first friction lining member positioned on a first surface of said friction plate member and adjacent said armature member;
- and
- a second friction lining member positioned on a second and opposite surface of said friction plate member and adjacent said housing member;
- wherein when said solenoid assembly is not electrically actuated, said biasing members force said armature member and said friction plate member axially in a direction toward said housing member wherein said second friction lining member contacts said housing cover member causing said friction plate member and said central shaft member to rotate at input speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.