Centrifugal clutch with vibration dampening means

• US 5,048,657 A
• Filed: 12/26/1989
• Issued: 09/17/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trachtech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dyneer Corp. (Titan International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dissett, Walter L., Kent, Terry L., Bawks, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herrmann, Allan D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Whitelaw, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US07/456,488
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 192/30 V, 192/103 B, 192/104 B, 192/105 CD, 192/106.1, 74/661, 464/85, 464/90, 464/92
• US Class Current: 192/105.0CD
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2043/145 the centrifugal masses being pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/76 shaped as an elastic ring centered on the axis, surrounding a portion of one coupling part and surrounded by a sleeve of the other coupling part
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 43/18 with friction clutching members
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 47/02 of which at least one is a coupling

Abstract

A centrifugal clutch apparatus includes an annular adapter assembly adapted for colinear connection with a rotatable driving member, an independent pulley member connected with a colinearly arranged driven member having an annular portion extending toward the adapter assembly, and centrifugal weight members connected with the adapter assembly for engagement with the inner surface of the annular portion when the rotational velocity of the driving member exceeds a given value, the adapter assembly including at least one vibration dampening device including an annular resilient member connected between annular inner and outer concentrically-arranged portions of the adapter assembly for isolating the centrifugal weight members from the driving member.

Claims

1. Centrifugal clutch means comprising:

(a) internal combustion engine drive means (72) including a flywheel (36);

(b) a refrigeration compressor (69) having a driven shaft (66);

(c) an adapter assembly (22) arranged colinearly intermediate said driven shaft and said flywheel, and including;

(1) a rigid annular outer member (22a);

(2) a rigid annular inner member (22b) arranged in concentrically spaced relation within said outer member;

(3) resilient means (22c) connecting said inner member with said outer member and operable to dampen relative vibrational movement therebetween, said resilient means consisting of a continuous annular resilient member arranged concentrically between and connected to said inner and outer annular members; and

(4) means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced bolts (34) connecting said annular outer member with said flywheel;

(d) a generally cylindrical pulley housing (26) arranged colinearly between said adapter assembly and said driven shaft, said housing including;

(1) a first portion (26a) connected with said compressor driven shaft;

(2) an annular second portion (26b) extending coaxially relative to the axis of said pulley housing toward said adapter assembly;

(3) said pulley housing and said adapter assembly being completely independent of each other, whereby the use of ball bearing connecting means is avoided, and

(4) a pulley belt portion (26c) including cylindrical belt-receiving means arranged concentrically at least partially about said annular portion; and

(e) centrifugal clutch means operable to connect said adapter assembly with said pulley housing when the rotational velocity of said flywheel exceeds a given value, said centrifugal clutch means including a plurality of rotational velocity-responsive weight members (50) movably connected with said adapter assembly inner member and extending within said pulley housing annular portion for frictional cooperation with the inner surfaces thereof, whereby when the rotational velocity of the flywheel is less than said given value, said pulley housing is disconnected from said adapter assembly to permit driving of the pulley housing by an auxiliary motor via drive belt means connected with said pulley belt portion.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said friction members are pivotally connected at one end with said inner member, said weight members each including a friction shoe pad that is operable to engage the inner surface of said pulley housing annular portion;

and further including spring means biasing said weight members inwardly away from engagement with said annular portion inner surface.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said inner member is provided with a plurality of axially extending pivot shafts (48) about which said weight members pivot, respectively, and further including annular resilient vibration dampening bushing means (54) arranged concentrically between said pivot shafts and said weight members, respectively, and a stabilizing plate (64) connected between said pivot shafts.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said inner and outer members is formed by stamping from sheet metal.