Alternator pulley unit with a built-in one-way clutch

• US 6,394,250 B1
• Filed: 07/10/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NSK Limited
• Original Assignee: NSK Limited
• Inventors: Ouchi, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lorence, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US09/612,966
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 192/41 R,45,110 B 474/70,74 310/100
• US Class Current: 192/45
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2300/08 Details or arrangements of sealings not provided for in group F16D3/84
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 41/00 Freewheels or freewheel clutches cycle brakes controlled by back-pedalling B62L5/00 ; one-way linear clutches F16B7/16
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 41/067 and the members being distributed by a separate cage encircling the axis of rotation

Abstract

One-way clutch 18 has a spring the elastic modulus of which is limited up to a predetermined value, seal rings 36a, 36b have a sliding resistance with respect to the inner rings 22 which is limited up to a predetermined value, and support bearings 17a, 17b have a rotation resistance which is limited up to a predetermined value. The torque required to rotate the driven pulley 7a relative to the sleeve 8a in the direction for overrun condition is limited up to 0.5N·m. Accordingly, the power generating efficiency of the alternator is secured while abnormal sounds are prevented from occurring with the life of endless belt being prevented from reducing.

Claims

1. An alternator pulley unit with a built-in-one-way clutch comprising a sleeve that can be freely externally fitted and secured to a rotation shaft of the alternator;

a driven pulley disposed concentric with the sleeve around the sleeve;

a one-way clutch provided between an axially intermediate portion on an outer peripheral face of the sleeve and an axially intermediate portion on an inner peripheral face of the driven pulley, which can freely transmit a turning force between the driven pulley and the sleeve, only when the driven pulley tends to rotate relative to the sleeve in a predetermined direction; and

a pair of support bearing provided between the outer peripheral face of the sleeve an the inner peripheral face of the driven pulley to hold the one-way clutch from the axially opposite sides, which enable free rotation of the sleeve and the driven pulley relative to each other, while rotatably supporting a radial load applied to the driven pulley, wherein a torque necessary for rotating the driven pulley relative to the sleeve in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction is limited up to 0.5N·

m.

2. The alternator pulley unit with a built-in one-way clutch of claim 1, wherein the torque necessary for rotating the driven pulley relative to the sleeve in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction is 0.3N·

m or less.

3. The alternator pulley unit with a built-in one-way clutch of claim 2, wherein the pair of support bearings are ball bearings.

4. The alternator pulley unit with a built-in one-way clutch of claim 1, wherein the pair of support bearings are ball bearings.