US 6,581,743 B2 · Electromagnetic spring clutches

Abstract

An electromagnetic spring clutch may be utilized to engage a drive shaft 8 of a auxiliary machine for vehicle 2 and may include an input pulley 1 rotatably supported by a housing of the auxiliary machine for vehicle 2. An electromagnetic coil 5a may be disposed within the input pulley 1 and an armature 11 may be reversibly coupled to the input pulley 1 by the electromagnetic coil 5a. An output hub 7 may transmit torque applied to the input pulley 1 to the drive shaft 8. Preferably, the output hub 7 is prevented from moving in an axial direction relative to the drive shaft 8 and a clearance C is defined between the input pulley 1 and the output hub 7. Preferably, the clearance C is prevented from increasing during operation. A coil spring 4 may couple the armature 11 to the output hub 7. The coil spring is preferably prevented from the intruding into the clearance C between the input pulley 1 and the output hub 7.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An electromagnetic spring clutch comprising:

a driven device comprising a rotary shaft,
an input-side member,
an electromagnetic coil,
an armature reversibly coupled to the input-side member by the electromagnetic coil,
an output-side member that transmits a driving force to the rotary shaft of the driven device, wherein the output-side member and the rotary shaft are unitarily constructed and
a coil spring extending from the outer circumference of the input-side member to the outer circumference of the output-side member, wherein one end of the coil spring is coupled to the armature and the other end of the coil spring is coupled to the output-side member.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electromagnetic spring clutches

Life of this patent

Electromagnetic spring clutches

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16