Clutch/brake assembly with electrical generation system

A clutch assembly for mounting co-axially with an engine crankshaft comprising:

• a clutch housing;
• an input shaft rotatable with the crankshaft and relative to the clutch housing;
• a rotor shell coupled to the input shaft and rotatable therewith, the rotor shell including a magnet coupled to the rotor shell and radially spaced apart from the input shaft, wherein the rotor shell and the input shaft are disposed at a first end of the crankshaft;
• an electrical coil positioned with respect to the magnet to generate electrical current upon rotation of the rotor shell,
• wherein the rotating magnet generates an alternating current in the coil and further wherein the alternating current is delivered to a drive system external of the clutch assembly;
• an input disk coupled to the input shaft and rotatable therewith;
• and
• an output disk axially movable relative to the clutch housing upon manual actuation by an operator, the output disk being rotatable relative to the input shaft,
• wherein the output disk is selectively axially movable between a first position, such that the output disk is disengaged from the input disk, and a second position, such that the output disk is engaged with the input disk, and
• further wherein the input disk is selectively axially movable relative to the clutch housing between a first position, in which the input disk is disengaged from the output disk, and a second position, in which the input disk engages the output disk.

A mobile unit comprising:

• a chassis;
• an engine for driving a remotely mounted implement, the engine including a crankshaft;
• a clutch assembly mounted co-axially to the crankshaft, the clutch assembly including
• a clutch housing;
• an input shaft rotatable with the crankshaft of the engine relative to the clutch housing,
• an input disk coupled to the input shaft and rotatable therewith,
• an output disk axially movable relative to the clutch housing to selectively engage the input disk upon manual actuation by an operator, and
• an electrical generation system including a rotor shell coupled to the input shaft and rotatable therewith, the rotor shell including a magnet coupled to the rotor shell, and an electrical coil supported by a coil support that is stationary with respect to the clutch housing, the coil positioned with respect to the magnet to generate electrical current upon rotation of the rotor shell, wherein the rotating magnet generates an alternating current in the coil;
• a regulator/rectifier assembly for receiving the alternating current from the electrical generation system and converting the alternating current to a direct current;
• and
• an electric motor interconnected to an object, wherein the electric motor uses the direct current for power,
• wherein the input shaft and the rotor shell of the electrical generation system are disposed at a first end of the crankshaft.

A clutch assembly for mounting co-axially with an engine crankshaft, the clutch assembly comprising:

• a clutch housing;
• an input shaft rotatable with the crankshaft and relative to the clutch housing;
• an input disk coupled to the input shaft and rotatable therewith;
• an output disk axially movable relative to the clutch housing to selectively engage the input disk, the output disk being coupled to a mower blade;
• and
• an electrical generation system including a rotor shell coupled to the input shaft and rotatable therewith, a magnet coupled to the rotor shell, and a coil positioned with respect to the magnet to generate electrical current upon rotation of the rotor shell, wherein the electrical generation system and the input shaft are disposed at a first end of the crankshaft.