Power separating apparatus in automobile

A power separating apparatus in an automobile for separating a rotated device from a driving belt by use of an electromagnetic clutch in case of a failure of the rotated device, the apparatus comprising:

• a first detector being operable to generate a first electric signal when an engine is actuated;
• a second detector being operable to generate a second electric signal when the rotated device is not actuated and should be actuated;
• a determination circuit being operable to receive the first and second electrical signal and being operable to generate a failure signal indicating a failure of the rotated device depending upon a condition of a logical product of the first and second electrical signals when the rotated device should be actuated;
• means for controlling the electromagnetic clutch to separate the rotated device from the driving belt on the basis of the failure signal.

In an automobile having a rotated device rotated by engine power transmitted through a driving belt and an electromagnetic clutch for separating the driving belt from the rotated device in case of a failure of the rotated device, wherein the automobile includes a standard detector mounted thereto, the standard detector providing to an indicator an engine-state signal indicating whether or not the engine is operating, an improved power separating apparatus, comprising;

• a device detector connected to the rotated device and generating a device-state signal having a predetermined voltage level when the rotated device is not actuated whenever the rotated device should be actuated;
• a determining circuit connected to receive the device-state signal, the determining circuit also being connected to the standard detector so that the engine-state signal is provided to both the indicator and to the determining circuit, the determining circuit generating a failure signal indicating a failure in the rotated device depending upon a condition of logical product of the engine-state signal and the device-state signal;
• and
• means for controlling the electromagnetic clutch to separate the rotated device from the driving belt in response to the failure signal.