Clutch system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A clutch system comprising:
- a drive member rotatably mounted on a support shaft; and
a clutch member removably mounted to the drive member, the clutch member comprising;
a first member having a first engagement surface,a hub portion rotatably coupled to the first member,a piston portion slidably coupled to the hub portion, the piston portion being selectively movable in an axial direction relative to the hub portion and substantially rotationally stationary relative to the hub portion,a second engagement surface coupled to the piston portion to selectively contact the first engagement surface,a channel in fluid communication with the piston portion, anda biasing member to urge the second engagement surface against the first engagement surface;
wherein the clutch member is removable from the drive member without decoupling the hub portion from the piston portion.
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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.
97 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A clutch system comprising:
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a drive member rotatably mounted on a support shaft; and a clutch member removably mounted to the drive member, the clutch member comprising; a first member having a first engagement surface, a hub portion rotatably coupled to the first member, a piston portion slidably coupled to the hub portion, the piston portion being selectively movable in an axial direction relative to the hub portion and substantially rotationally stationary relative to the hub portion, a second engagement surface coupled to the piston portion to selectively contact the first engagement surface, a channel in fluid communication with the piston portion, and a biasing member to urge the second engagement surface against the first engagement surface; wherein the clutch member is removable from the drive member without decoupling the hub portion from the piston portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A clutch apparatus, comprising:
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a drive pulley; a clutch member removably mounted to the drive pulley, the clutch member having a hub portion and a piston portion, the hub portion being selectively movable in a rotational direction relative to the drive pulley and substantially stationary in an axial direction relative to the drive pulley, the piston portion being selectively movable in the axial direction relative to the hub portion and substantially stationary in the rotation direction relative to the hub portion; and wherein the clutch member is removable from the drive pulley without decoupling the hub portion from the piston portion. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification