Clutch system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fan clutch device for vehicular use comprising:
- an input member mountable to a drive pulley so as to rotate with the drive pulley;
an output member including an axially movable component that adjusts from a first position to a second position in which the output member is rotationally coupled with the input member, the output member comprising an output surface to removably couple with a fan blade device,a spring device to urge the axially movable component toward one of the first position and the second position;
a fluid-receiving space to receive pressurized fluid that causes adjustment of the axially movable component to the other of the first position and the second position; and
a clutch ring arranged radially outward of the output member for frictionally engaging the output member with the input member with a torque transfer capability of at least 3000 in-lbs without slippage between the input member and the output member when the axially movable component of the output member is arranged in the second position, the clutch ring having a clutch ring maximum outer radius that is no greater than an input member maximum outer radius of the input member,wherein the clutch ring includes an outer frusto-conical surface and an inner frusto-conical surface that are generally parallel to one another, the clutch ring including a frictional engagement surface that is at least partially defined by one of the outer and inner frusto-conical surfaces.
1 Assignment
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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.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A fan clutch device for vehicular use comprising:
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an input member mountable to a drive pulley so as to rotate with the drive pulley; an output member including an axially movable component that adjusts from a first position to a second position in which the output member is rotationally coupled with the input member, the output member comprising an output surface to removably couple with a fan blade device, a spring device to urge the axially movable component toward one of the first position and the second position; a fluid-receiving space to receive pressurized fluid that causes adjustment of the axially movable component to the other of the first position and the second position; and a clutch ring arranged radially outward of the output member for frictionally engaging the output member with the input member with a torque transfer capability of at least 3000 in-lbs without slippage between the input member and the output member when the axially movable component of the output member is arranged in the second position, the clutch ring having a clutch ring maximum outer radius that is no greater than an input member maximum outer radius of the input member, wherein the clutch ring includes an outer frusto-conical surface and an inner frusto-conical surface that are generally parallel to one another, the clutch ring including a frictional engagement surface that is at least partially defined by one of the outer and inner frusto-conical surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A fan clutch device that is removably mountable to a drive member, the fan clutch device comprising:
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a mounting member that is secured to and rotates with a drive pulley when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive pulley; a hub portion selectively movable in a rotational direction relative to the drive pulley when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive pulley; a piston portion selectively movable in an axial direction relative to the drive pulley when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive pulley; a spring member to bias the piston portion toward a first axial position, the spring member being disposed between a first spring-engaging surface and a second spring engaging surface, wherein the spring, the first spring-engaging surface, and the second spring engaging surface rotate with the piston portion; a channel in fluid communication with a fluid-receiving space at least partially defined by a surface of the piston portion; an output portion to removably couple with a fan blade device; and a friction clutch ring that is engaged between the mounting member and an opposing surface so that the output portion rotates with the mounting member when the piston portion is in the first axial position, wherein the friction clutch ring is arranged radially outward of the output portion. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A fan clutch device for vehicular use comprising:
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an input member mountable to a drive pulley so as to rotate with the drive pulley; an output member including an axially movable component that adjusts from a first position to a second position in which the output member is rotationally coupled with the input member, the output member comprising an output surface to removably couple with a fan blade device; a biasing member to urge the axially movable component toward one of the first position and the second position; a fluid-receiving space to receive pressurized fluid that causes adjustment of the axially movable component to the other of the first position and the second position; and a clutch member for frictionally engaging the output member with the input member when the axially movable component of the output member is arranged in the second position, wherein said output member includes an annular portion with an inner circumferential surface opposing an outward facing circumferential surface of said input member, and wherein said clutch member includes a frusto-conical clutch ring mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the output member which engages an inner frusto-conical surface of the input member. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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24. A fan clutch device for vehicular use comprising:
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an input member mountable to a drive pulley so as to rotate with the drive pulley; an output member including an axially movable component that adjusts from a first position to a second position in which the output member is rotationally coupled with the input member, the output member comprising an output surface to removably couple with a fan blade device; a biasing member to urge the axially movable component toward one of the first position and the second position; a fluid-receiving space to receive pressurized fluid that causes adjustment of the axially movable component to the other of the first position and the second position; and a clutch member for frictionally engaging the output member with the input member when the axially movable component of the output member is arranged in the second position, wherein the axially movable component is wholly located within an enclosure formed between said output surface and said input member and is an integral metallic structure, and wherein said clutch member includes a frusto-conical clutch ring mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the output member which engages an inner frusto-conical surface of the input member.
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25. A fan clutch device for vehicular use comprising:
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an input member mountable to a drive pulley so as to rotate with the drive pulley; an output member including an axially movable component that adjusts from a first position to a second position in which the output member is rotationally coupled with the input member, the output member comprising an output surface to removably couple with a fan blade device; a biasing member to urge the axially movable component toward one of the first position and the second position; a fluid-receiving space to receive pressurized fluid that causes adjustment of the axially movable component to the other of the first position and the second position, wherein said fluid-receiving space has generally flat axial surfaces; and a clutch member for frictionally engaging the output member with the input member when the axially movable component of the output member is arranged in the second position, wherein said clutch member includes a frusto-conical clutch ring mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the output member which engages an inner frusto-conical surface of the input member, and wherein the input member includes a first annular section, a second radially extending portion, and a third frusto-conical section including the inner frusto-conical surface of the input member, the first annular section and the second radially extending portion being radially inside of the third frusto-conical section.
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26. A fan clutch device for vehicular use comprising:
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an input member mountable to a drive pulley so as to rotate with the drive pulley; an output member including an axially movable component that adjusts from a first position to a second position in which the output member is rotationally coupled with the input member, the output member comprising an output surface to removably couple with a fan blade device; a biasing member to urge the axially movable component toward one of the first position and the second position; a fluid-receiving space to receive pressurized fluid that causes adjustment of the axially movable component to the other of the first position and the second position; and a clutch member for frictionally engaging the output member with the input member when the axially movable component of the output member is arranged in the second position, wherein said input member includes a plurality of notches adapted to receive a pulley and an outer circumferential surface which does not extend radially inward further than said notches, wherein said clutch member includes a frusto-conical clutch ring mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the output member which engages an inner frusto-conical surface of the input member, and wherein the input member includes a first annular section, a second radially extending portion, and a third frusto-conical section including the inner frusto-conical surface of the input member, the first annular section and the second radially extending portion being radially inside of the third frusto-conical section.
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Specification