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AssigneeHutchinson
InventorHenri Kamdem
Estimating the term…
The invention seeks to provide a transmission system, in particular for a starter-alternator, capable both of damping large variations in torque under starting conditions (drive from the alternator) and of providing effective decoupling under running conditions (alternator driven). In an embodiment, the decoupling located between a central hub and a rim over which a drive belt (not shown) is tensioned, is provided by at least one decoupler element designed to provide optimized stiffness. In addition, the decoupler assembly is associated with at least one deflection limiter having two components: a central plate secured to an outside face of the central hub and coupled to abutments that are regularly distributed around the periphery of an inside face of the rim, the abutments and the plate being shaped so as to come into deforming contact. The resilient assembly provides two stiffness values, whether in the drive direction or in the driven direction. The invention is applicable to starter-alternators, crankshafts, and other power transmission members (compressors, etc.).
A pulley for a member for transmitting power by means of a belt at a starting speed and then at a started speed, the torque of said member being a function of angular deformation in said pulley, the pulley including at least one resilient decoupler element operating between a central hub and a rim over which the drive belt is tensioned, wherein the resilient decoupler element is associated with a progressive deflection limiter element to form a resilient decoupling assembly that provides two stiffness values in each of a drive phase and a driven phase of the said member for transmitting power between said central hub and said rim, a first basic stiffness value being provided by the resilient decoupler element that is active at starting speed or at started speed as a result of the rotational deflection angle between said rim and said hub being less than a pre-determined deflection angle, and an additional stiffness value being provided by the progressive deflection limiter as a result of said rotational deflection angle being above said pre-determined rotational deflection angle, the resilient decoupling assembly thus providing a stiffness value greater than said first basic stiffness value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.