×

Electromagentic compressor clutch with combined torque cushion and armature cooling

  • US 5,642,798 A
  • Filed: 03/22/1996
  • Issued: 07/01/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. An electromagnetic clutch assembly in combination with an automotive air conditioning compressor having a central drive shaft and a powered rotor supported for free rotation about said drive shaft, said powered rotor having a generally annular friction disk coaxial to said drive shaft and facing in one axial direction ralative a generative to said compressor, said clutch assembly comprising,a generally cylindrical, central hub fixed to said drive shaft,a generally annular armature of magnetic material having an outer edge with a diameter comparable to said friction disk so as to be capable of being supported in an operative position generally coaxial thereto with an outer face exposed to ambient air and an inner face axially spaced from said friction disk with a predetermined gap sufficiently small to allow said armature inner face to be electromagnetically pulled into engagement with said friction disk so as to rotate therewith when said clutch is actuated,a multi lobed, substantially rigid armature support having an inner edge fixed to said hub and a plurality of rigid, generally radially directed lobes extending continuously from said inner edge, radially outwardly and along said armature outer face to outer ends located substantially at the outer edge of said armature, each of said lobes further being sufficiently axially thick to disturb a substantial volume of ambient air as they rotate but being sufficiently narrow to leave most of said armature outer face exposed to ambient air, and,axially flexible and circumferentially and radially stiff spring means fixing said armature non turnably to said armature support lobes in said operative position such that said armature may be pulled electromagnetically against said friction disk and released to return to said operative position,whereby, when said clutch is actuated and said armature engages and rotates with said friction disk, said armature support lobes co rotate to translate power to said shaft and concurrently disturb and pull ambient air toward and into said armature outer face in fan like fashion, thereby cooling said armature.

View all claims
  • 3 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×