Clutch system and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fan clutch device to be removably mounted to a drive pulley, the fan clutch device comprising:
- an input portion that rotates with a drive pulley when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive pulley;
an output portion for receiving a fan blade device and having a friction ring that reciprocates in an axial direction relative to the input portion between an engaged position in which the friction ring frictionally engages with an opposing surface of the input portion to drive the output portion to rotate with the input portion and a disengaged position in which the friction ring is spaced apart from the opposing surface of the input portion; and
a self-activating, clutch shut-off system that causes continuous friction engagement between the friction ring and the opposing surface of the input portion in response to the friction ring wearing down below a threshold thickness.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Some embodiments of a clutch system or method include a fan clutch device having a clutch shut-off system permits a cooling fan to continue to provide airflow even when the friction ring is worn down to a level that requires replacement.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A fan clutch device to be removably mounted to a drive pulley, the fan clutch device comprising:
-
an input portion that rotates with a drive pulley when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive pulley; an output portion for receiving a fan blade device and having a friction ring that reciprocates in an axial direction relative to the input portion between an engaged position in which the friction ring frictionally engages with an opposing surface of the input portion to drive the output portion to rotate with the input portion and a disengaged position in which the friction ring is spaced apart from the opposing surface of the input portion; and a self-activating, clutch shut-off system that causes continuous friction engagement between the friction ring and the opposing surface of the input portion in response to the friction ring wearing down below a threshold thickness. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A fan clutch system, comprising:
-
a drive pulley that rotates about a rotational axis; a clutch device removably mounted to the drive pulley, the clutch device comprising; an input portion that rotates with a drive pulley; an output portion having a friction ring that reciprocates in an axial direction relative to the input portion between an engaged position in which the friction ring frictionally engages with an opposing surface of the input portion to drive the output portion to rotate with the input portion and a disengaged position in which the friction ring is spaced apart from the opposing surface of the input portion; and an internal mechanical shut-off system that is housed in the output portion and that is automatically activated, in response to the friction ring wearing down below a selected level, to prevent movement of the friction ring from the engaged position to the disengaged position; a fan blade device mounted to the output portion of the clutch device so as to rotate when the friction ring is in the engaged position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of operating a fan clutch device that is removably mounted to a drive pulley, the method comprising:
-
rotating an input portion of a fan clutch device with a drive pulley; reciprocating a friction ring of an output portion of the fan clutch device in an axial direction between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein when the friction ring is in the engaged position, the friction ring frictionally engages with an opposing surface of the input portion to drive the output portion to rotate with the input portion, and wherein when the friction ring is in the disengaged position, the friction ring is spaced apart from the opposing surface of the input portion; and in response to the friction ring wearing down below a threshold thickness, automatically shutting off the fan clutch device without user intervention while the friction ring is in the engaged position such that friction ring is hindered from moving to the disengaged position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification