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US 9,038,799 B2Granted
Driven component with clutch for selective operation of component
AssigneeLitens Automotive Partnership
InventorsPierre A. Mevissen, Jacek Stepniak, Roman Tracz, John Danciu, Scott Parsons
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A component, such as an engine accessory for an automotive engine, that has clutch with a helical clutch coil and an axially movable armature. The helical clutch coil is normally engaged so as to transmit rotary power between a driving member and a driven member. The armature can be moved to apply a force to a tang of the helical clutch coil that causes the helical clutch coil to disengage to an extent where full rotary power is not passed through the clutch to drive the component.
Claims21
A component comprising:
- a clutch assembly with a driving member, a driven member, a wrap spring and an actuator, the driving member having a clutch surface and being configured to be coupled to a source of rotary power, the wrap spring comprising a plurality of helical coils, a tang and an engaging portion, at least a portion of the helical coils being engaged to the clutch surface, the tang extending from a first axial end of the wrap spring, the engaging portion being disposed on a second, opposite axial end of the wrap spring, the engaging portion extending over an arc that is less than 360 degrees, the actuator having an electromagnet, which is mounted coaxially about the driving member, and an armature that is axially movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the driven member includes a carrier to which the engaging portion of the wrap spring is rotatably coupled;
- wherein the wrap spring is configured to transmit rotary power between the driving member and the driven member when the electromagnet is not operated and the armature is in the first position;
- wherein the driving member is a shaft having an input portion, which is adapted to receive rotary power, and a power transferring portion, the power transferring portion defining the clutch surface;
- and
- wherein the clutch assembly further comprises an actuator housing and a bearing assembly, the electromagnet being mounted on the actuator housing, the bearing assembly being mounted to the actuator housing and the input portion and being the sole means for supporting the driving member for rotation relative to the actuator housing, the bearing assembly being disposed at a location that is spaced apart from the power transferring portion axially along a rotational axis of the driving member.
2 more elements
A component comprising:
- a clutch assembly with a housing, a driving shaft, a first bearing, a wrap spring, an electromagnet, an armature, a driven member and a second bearing, the driving shaft having an input portion, a support portion and a power transferring portion located axially between the input portion and the support portion, the input portion being configured to be coupled to a source of rotary power, the first bearing being mounted to the housing and the input portion to support the driving shaft for rotation about a rotational axis, the power transferring portion extending from the input portion such that the power transferring portion and the support portion are cantilevered, the power transferring portion having a clutch surface, the wrap spring comprising a plurality of helical coils, a tang and an engaging portion, at least a portion of the helical coils being engaged to the clutch surface, the tang extending from a first axial end of the wrap spring, the engaging portion being disposed on a second, opposite axial end of the wrap spring, the engaging portion extending over an arc that is less than 360 degrees, the electromagnet being coupled to the housing coaxially about the driving member, the armature being axially movable between a first position and a second position, the driven member comprising a carrier to which the engaging portion of the wrap spring is rotatably coupled, the second bearing being mounted to the support portion and the driven member such that the driven member is supported by the second bearing for rotation on the support portion;
- wherein the wrap spring is configured to transmit rotary power between the driving shaft and the driven member when the electromagnet is not operated and the armature is in the first position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.