Clutch system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fan clutch device to be removably mounted to a drive pulley, the fan clutch device comprising:
- a mounting member that directly engages with a drive pulley when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive pulley;
a hub portion that is selectively movable relative to the drive pulley when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive pulley; and
a piston portion that reciprocates in an axial direction relative to the drive pulley between a first position and a second position when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive pulley;
a fluid-receiving chamber that is at least partially defined by a surface of the piston portion, wherein a single sealed leak path borders a periphery of the fluid-receiving chamber to seal the fluid-receiving chamber from ambient air; and
a face seal that is arranged between the fluid-receiving chamber and a stationary support shaft when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive pulley; and
wherein, when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive pulley, the fan clutch device is removable from the drive pulley without disassembly of the hub portion, the piston portion, the mounting member, and the face seal.
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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
20 Claims
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1. A fan clutch device to be removably mounted to a drive pulley, the fan clutch device comprising:
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a mounting member that directly engages with a drive pulley when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive pulley; a hub portion that is selectively movable relative to the drive pulley when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive pulley; and a piston portion that reciprocates in an axial direction relative to the drive pulley between a first position and a second position when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive pulley; a fluid-receiving chamber that is at least partially defined by a surface of the piston portion, wherein a single sealed leak path borders a periphery of the fluid-receiving chamber to seal the fluid-receiving chamber from ambient air; and a face seal that is arranged between the fluid-receiving chamber and a stationary support shaft when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive pulley; and wherein, when the fan clutch device is mounted to the drive pulley, the fan clutch device is removable from the drive pulley without disassembly of the hub portion, the piston portion, the mounting member, and the face seal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification