Clutch system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fan clutch device for removably mounting to a drive member, the fan clutch device comprising:
- an output member to selectively rotate with a drive member when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive member, the output member having one or more mounting members to receive one or more fan blades, wherein the output member comprises;
a hub portion being selectively movable in a rotational direction relative to a drive member and substantially stationary in an axial direction relative to the drive member, and a piston portion being selectively movable in the axial direction relative to the drive member, the piston portion being adjustable between a first operative position and a second operative position; and
a clutch ring arranged radially outward of the output member having the one or more mounting members to receive the one or more fan blades, the clutch ring including an engagement surface to selectively engage an opposing surface so that, when the clutch ring engages the opposing surface and the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive member, the output member rotates with the drive member,wherein, when the clutch ring engages the opposing surface and the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive member, the torque required to cause slippage between the output member and the drive member is about 3000 in-lbs or greater.
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Accused Products
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.
93 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A fan clutch device for removably mounting to a drive member, the fan clutch device comprising:
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an output member to selectively rotate with a drive member when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive member, the output member having one or more mounting members to receive one or more fan blades, wherein the output member comprises;
a hub portion being selectively movable in a rotational direction relative to a drive member and substantially stationary in an axial direction relative to the drive member, and a piston portion being selectively movable in the axial direction relative to the drive member, the piston portion being adjustable between a first operative position and a second operative position; anda clutch ring arranged radially outward of the output member having the one or more mounting members to receive the one or more fan blades, the clutch ring including an engagement surface to selectively engage an opposing surface so that, when the clutch ring engages the opposing surface and the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive member, the output member rotates with the drive member, wherein, when the clutch ring engages the opposing surface and the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive member, the torque required to cause slippage between the output member and the drive member is about 3000 in-lbs or greater. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A fan clutch device that is removably mountable to a drive member, the fan clutch device comprising:
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an input member mountable to the drive member so as to rotate with the drive member; an output member to selectively engage with the input member when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive member, the output member having one or more mounting members to receive one or more fan blade devices, wherein the output member comprises; a hub portion selectively movable in a rotational direction relative to the input member and substantially stationary in an axial direction relative to the input member, and a piston portion slidably coupled to the hub portion, the piston portion being selectively movable in the axial direction relative to the input member; and a frusto-conical clutch ring arranged radially outward of the output member and radially inward of the input member, the frusto-conical clutch ring including an engagement surface that is at least partially defined by one of an inner frusto-conical face and an outer frusto-conical face, wherein each of the inner frusto-conical face and the outer frusto-conical face has an increasingly larger radius as the engagement surface extends away from the drive member when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive member. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification