Speed limiting rotary coupling
AssigneeRobert Bosch GmbH
InventorIstvan Ragaly
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A normally lubricated bearing, typically a ball bearing, serves to transmit torque from a drive shaft for the fan wheel of an alternator. The driving and driven bearing surfaces form the coupling parts respectively on the drive side and the delivery side of the coupling. A cup spring is useful to control the bearing friction that must be overcome at a limiting speed at which the drive shaft begins to turn faster than the driven device. Such couplings are useful for engine fans, pumps, or other similar auxilary devices in motor vehicles.
Claims14
Electric generator for a motor vehicle, having a shaft driven from the vehicle engine, having a fan for cooling the generator and having, seated on said shaft a friction coupling for driving said fan with a speed-limiting drive characteristic for said fan, which fan comprises:
- first and second bearings each having rolling bearing elements, a first bearing race ring (26,28;
- 126, 128;
- 226,228) supported on said generator shaft and a second bearing race ring (27,29;
- 127,129;
- 227,229) affixed to said fan;
- said first and second ring of each said bearing being constituted so as to hold said bearing elements, as the latter roll, at a constant spacing from said generator shaft, and
- spring action pressure-producing means (37) for exerting pressure parallel to the axis of said shaft mounted for exerting said pressure as a relative force acting on said second rings (27,29;
- 127,129;
- 227,229) of both said bearings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.