Device for transmitting rotational power

A device for transmitting rotational power from an automobile engine to a compressor for use in an automobile air conditioning system, said compressor including a housing with a cylinder bore, a front flange attached to the front end of said housing, a drive shaft extending through said housing and said front flange, said drive shaft supported by said housing for rotation about the axis of said housing, and a piston engaging said drive shaft through a swash plate to slide within said cylinder bore, said device for transmitting a rotational power comprising:

• a pulley, supported by a bearing on said front flange for rotation about said axis of said housing, for receiving a rotational power from said automobile engine through a V-belt extending between said pulley and said automobile engine;
• a hub connected to said drive shaft;
• means for rotationally connecting said pulley and hub, said connecting means comprising:
• at least one elastic member substantially formed into a ring, wherein said ring defines an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface, and a radial width between said inner and outer peripheral surfaces, said radial width being substantially constant,
• a first holder member, defined along the outer periphery of said hub, for holding said at least one elastic member from the radially outside of said at least one elastic member, and
• a second holder member, connected to said pulley, for holding said at least one elastic member from radially inside of said at least one elastic member;
• said first holder member defining a peripheral surface, said peripheral surface of said first holder being substantially complementary to said outer peripheral surface of said elastic member;
• said second holder member defining a peripheral surface, said peripheral surface of said second holder being substantially complementary to said inner peripheral surface of said elastic member,
• said first and second holder members radially cooperating with each other to circumferentially hold said at least one elastic member during normal operation to transmit the rotation, and being disconnected by the deformation of said at least one elastic member when a relative rotation between said pulley and drive shaft occurs.