Clutch mechanism and decoupler device with same

• US 9,284,994 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2012
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Litens Automotive Partnership
• Original Assignee: Litens Automotive Partnership
• Inventors: Williams, Warren J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonck, Rodney H
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LILLIAN T
• Application Number:
  US14/009,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20140076683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,443 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/02 directly from an engine shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 67/06 driven by means of chains, belts, or like endless members
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 13/12 with an expansible band or coil co-operating with the inner surface of a drum or the like F16D13/02 takes precedence; similar brakes F16D51/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 13/76 specially adapted to incorporate with other transmission parts, i.e. at least one of the clutch parts also having another function, e.g. being the disc of a pulley
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 27/025 and with a helical band or equivalent member co-operating with a cylindrical coupling surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 27/105 with a helical band or equivalent member co-operating with a cylindrical coupling surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 41/206 having axially adjacent coils, e.g. helical wrap-springs

Abstract

A clutched device that includes a pulley, a shaft member, a first one-way clutch having a first wrap spring, and an actuator having an electromagnetic coil and an armature. The first one-way clutch rotationally couples the pulley and the shaft member when the actuator is actuated and rotary power is transmitted from a first one of the pulley and the shaft member to the other one of the pulley and the shaft member in a first rotational direction. A frictional force is applied to the armature when the actuator is activated. The frictional force is configured to resist rotation of the armature to cause the first wrap spring to radially expand into driving engagement with a clutch surface that is coupled to the pulley for common rotation.

Claims

1. A clutched device comprising:

a pulley;

a shaft member;

a first one-way clutch having a first wrap spring; and

an actuator having an electromagnetic coil and an armature;

wherein the first one-way clutch rotationally couples the pulley and the shaft member when the actuator is actuated and rotary power is transmitted from a first one of the pulley and the shaft member to the other one of the pulley and the shaft member in a first rotational direction; and

wherein a frictional force is applied to the armature when the actuator is activated, the frictional force being configured to resist rotation of the armature to cause the first wrap spring to radially expand into driving engagement with a clutch surface that is coupled to the pulley for common rotation.

2. The clutched device of claim 1, further comprising a second one-way clutch, wherein the second one-way clutch rotationally couples the pulley and the shaft member when rotary power is transmitted from the other one of the pulley and the shaft member to the one of the pulley and the shaft member in the first rotational direction.

3. The clutched device of claim 2, wherein the second one-way clutch comprises a second wrap spring.

4. The clutched device of claim 1, wherein a bushing is received radially between the shaft member and the armature such that the bushing abuts the shaft member and the armature.

5. The clutched device of claim 1, wherein the first one-way clutch further comprises a carrier that couples a first axial end of the first wrap spring to the shaft member.

6. The clutched device of claim 5, wherein the first one-way clutch further comprises a thrust ring that is disposed on a second axial end of the first wrap spring, the thrust ring abutting the armature.

7. The clutched device of claim 1, wherein the first and second one-way clutches axially overlap one another.

8. The clutched device of claim 1, wherein the first one-way clutch is disposed concentrically about the second one-way clutch.

9. The clutched device of claim 1, further comprising a vibration damper coupled to the shaft member for rotation therewith.

10. The clutched device of claim 1, further comprising an isolation spring positioned to transfer torque from said other one of the pulley and the shaft member towards said first one of the pulley and the shaft member in the first rotational direction when the actuator is not activated.

11. The clutched device of claim 10, further comprising a second one-way clutch, wherein the second one-way clutch rotationally couples the pulley and the shaft member for torque transfer through the isolation spring when rotary power is transmitted from the other one of the pulley and the shaft member to the one of the pulley and the shaft member in the first rotational direction when the actuator is not activated.

12. A clutched device comprising:

a pulley;

a shaft member;

a first one-way clutch having a first wrap spring; and

an actuator having an electromagnetic coil and an armature;

wherein the first one-way clutch rotationally couples the pulley and the shaft member when the actuator is actuated and rotary power is transmitted from a first one of the pulley and the shaft member to the other one of the pulley and the shaft member in a first rotational direction; and

wherein a frictional force is applied to the armature when the actuator is activated, the frictional force being configured to resist rotation of the armature to cause driving engagement of the first wrap spring with a clutch surface that is coupled to the pulley for common rotation with the pulley.