Clutch System and Method
First Claim
1. A fan clutch device to be removably mounted to a drive member, the fan clutch device comprising:
- a hub portion that, when the fan clutch device is mounted to a drive member, is selectively movable relative to the drive member, the hub portion having a first spring-engaging surface; and
a piston portion adjustable in an axial direction relative to the drive member when the fan clutch device is mounted to a drive member, the piston portion being adjustable between first and second positions, the piston portion having a second spring-engaging surface that opposes the first spring-engaging surface; and
a single spring device abutting against the first spring-engaging surface of the hub portion and the second spring-engaging surface of the piston portion to urge the piston portion toward one of the first position and the second position, wherein the single spring device is coaxially arranged with at least one of the hub portion and the piston portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A clutch system may include in certain embodiments a clutch body attached to a drive member such as a drive pulley, wherein the clutch body may be removed from the drive member without disassembling the clutch body. In various embodiments, the clutch body may include two clutch plates which enclose a spring-loaded pneumatic reciprocating assembly that in operation causes the plates to selectively separate and engage one another. In certain embodiments, the clutch body may be readily attached to a associated drive pulley in a single step by installation of a single set of fasteners.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A fan clutch device to be removably mounted to a drive member, the fan clutch device comprising:
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a hub portion that, when the fan clutch device is mounted to a drive member, is selectively movable relative to the drive member, the hub portion having a first spring-engaging surface; and
a piston portion adjustable in an axial direction relative to the drive member when the fan clutch device is mounted to a drive member, the piston portion being adjustable between first and second positions, the piston portion having a second spring-engaging surface that opposes the first spring-engaging surface; and
a single spring device abutting against the first spring-engaging surface of the hub portion and the second spring-engaging surface of the piston portion to urge the piston portion toward one of the first position and the second position, wherein the single spring device is coaxially arranged with at least one of the hub portion and the piston portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A fan clutch system, comprising:
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a drive member that rotates about a rotational axis;
a clutch device removably mounted to the drive member, the clutch device comprising;
a hub portion that is selectively movable relative to the drive member, the hub portion having a spring-engaging surface;
a piston portion adjustable in an axial direction relative to the drive member between a first position and a second position, the piston portion having an opposing spring-engaging surface; and
a single spring device arranged between the spring-engaging surface of the hub portion and the opposing spring-engaging surface of the piston portion to urge the piston portion toward one of the first position and the second position, wherein the single spring device is axially aligned with the rotational axis of the drive member. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A fan clutch system, comprising:
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a drive member that rotates;
a clutch device removably mounted to the drive member, the clutch device comprising;
a hub portion that is selectively movable relative to the drive member;
a piston portion adjustable in an axial direction relative to the drive member between first and second positions, wherein the piston portion includes a clutch surface that selectively couples with the drive member; and
a fan blade device mounted to the piston portion, the fan blade device being rotated with the drive member when the clutch engagement surface of the piston portion selectively couples with the drive member. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A fan clutch device for removably mounting to a drive member, the fan clutch device comprising:
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a hub portion that is selectively movable relative to a drive member when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive member; and
a piston portion adjustable in an axial direction relative to the drive member between a first position and a second position when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive member; and
wherein, when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive member, the fan clutch device is removable from the drive member without disassembly of the hub portion from the piston portion. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification