Slip band electromechanical clutch
First Claim
1. In a clutch, a pair of coaxial, relatively rotatable members comprising a driving member and a driven member, a band wrapped around one of said members, electromagnetic means carried by said one member for urging the band into driving engagement with said one member, said band including means securing said band to said other member but permitting said band to slip relative to the other member upon engagement of the clutch, said securing means thereafter providing a driving connection between said members.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electromechanical clutch for vehicle engine cooling fans includes a driving member mounted for rotation by the vehicle engine and a driven member rotatably mounted on the driving member. The driven member carries the engine cooling fan, and the driving member houses a magnetic coil which is energized to actuate the clutch. The driving and driven members define a circumferentially extending gap therebetween. A band is disposed within the gap, and includes an inner band member made of electromagnetic material and an outer band member comprising a resilient member with a frictional material attached to the outer circumference thereof. The inner and outer band members are joined together so that the inner and outer band members may move radially relative to one another while actuation forces may be transmitted from the inner to the outer band to the connection therebetween. When the clutch is engaged, the inner band member is drawn into driving engagement with the driving member by energization of the electromagnetic coil. Accordingly, actuation forces are transmitted from the driving member to the driven member through the inner band member and the outer band member. However, since only a frictional engagement exists between the outer band member and the driven member, the outer band member is permitted to slip relative to the driven member, thereby accommodating any torque overload condition.
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Citations
21 Claims
- 1. In a clutch, a pair of coaxial, relatively rotatable members comprising a driving member and a driven member, a band wrapped around one of said members, electromagnetic means carried by said one member for urging the band into driving engagement with said one member, said band including means securing said band to said other member but permitting said band to slip relative to the other member upon engagement of the clutch, said securing means thereafter providing a driving connection between said members.
- 14. In a clutch, a pair of inner and outer, coaxial, relatively rotatable members comprising a driving member and a driven member, said inner and outer members defining a radially extending gap therebetween, a band located in said gap, said band including inner and outer surfaces, electromagnetic means carried by said inner member for drawing the inner surfaces of the band into driving engagement with the outer circumferential surface of the inner member when the clutch is engaged, said outer surface of the band being secured to said outer member through a friction connection.
Specification