Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100101909 | Overrunning Decoupler With Locking Mechanism - An overrunning accessory decoupler with a locking mechanism provides the desired overrunning accessory decoupler functionality and also permits torque to be transferred from the accessory to which the decoupler is installed to the drive of the engine when desired. In one embodiment, the decoupler includes a locking mechanism that is controlled by centrifugal forces developed in the decoupler to lock the decoupler to permit the accessory to transfer torque to the drive to start or boost the engine. In another embodiment, the decoupler locking mechanism includes an electromagnet that can be energized to lock and/or unlock the decoupler. | 04-29-2010 |
20100178990 | DECOUPLER WITH SPRING TRAVEL LIMITER - A decoupler having an output member, a one-way clutch, a spring and a spring limiter. The spring is disposed between an output portion of the one-way clutch and the output member to bias the output portion in a predetermined rotational direction relative to the output member. The spring limiter can be configured to lock an output of the one-way clutch to the output member to transmit rotary power between the one-way clutch and the output member without stressing the spring beyond a predetermined point and/or to limit rotational movement of the output portion and an associated end of the spring relative to the output member in the predetermined rotational direction. A method for operating a decoupler is also provided. | 07-15-2010 |
20100252387 | Torque Limited Decoupler - A decoupler assembly is provided for allowing an alternator to be rotatably driven by a serpentine belt in an engine of an automotive vehicle and for allowing the speed of the belt to oscillate relative to the alternator. A hub is fixedly carried by a drive shaft from the alternator for rotation therewith. A pulley is rotatably journaled to the hub by a ball bearing assembly. A bare, helical clutch spring is operatively coupled between the hub and pulley for transferring rotational movement from the pulley to the hub during acceleration of the pulley relative to the hub by the serpentine belt and for allowing the hub to overrun the pulley during deceleration of the pulley relative to the hub. A torque limiter, preferably a spring or sleeve, is wrapped about the torsion limiting outward expansion of the torsion isolating the torsion spring from torques above a predetermined limit. | 10-07-2010 |
20110162938 | Torque Limited Decoupler - A decoupler assembly with a torsional damping system and a torque limiter. The torsional damping system has a torsion spring that facilitates transfer of rotary power into a hub. The torque limiter is wrapped about the torsion spring and radially expands with the torsion spring as a magnitude of the rotary power transmitted through the torsion spring increases. Contact between the torque limiter and another structure in the decoupler assembly halts radial expansion of the torsion spring. | 07-07-2011 |
20120299415 | DEVICE WITH INTEGRATED DECOUPLER - An accessory that include a machine, an input shaft, a drive member and a decoupler. The machine has a housing and a rotor that is supported for rotation in the housing. The machine effects work in response to driving rotation of the rotor. The input shaft is at least partly received in the housing. The drive member is coupled to the input shaft for common rotation and is configured to drivingly engage an endless power transmitting element to transmit rotary power between the endless power transmitting element and the input shaft. The decoupler is spaced axially apart from the drive member and couples the input shaft and the rotor in a mode that permits rotary power to be transmitted from the input shaft to the rotor in a predetermined rotational direction except when the input shaft decelerates relative to the rotor beyond a predetermined extent. | 11-29-2012 |
20130056328 | CRANKSHAFT TORQUE MODULATOR - A decoupler with driven and driving members, a clutch, a torsional vibration damper and a lubricant. The clutch is received in a bore in the driven member and includes a carrier, a wrap spring and at least one spring. The wrap spring is formed of spring wire and has a plurality of coils disposed between a first end, which is received in a groove in the carrier, and a second end. The portion of the wrap spring outside the carrier has an outer circumferential spring surface that is abutted against the inner circumferential surface of the bore. The at least one spring is disposed between the carrier and the driving member to transmit rotary power from the driving member to the carrier. The torsional vibration damper is coupled to the driving member for rotation therewith. The lubricant is disposed on the remaining portion of the wrap spring. | 03-07-2013 |
20130217524 | DECOUPLER WITH TUNED DAMPING AND METHODS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH - In an aspect, the invention relates to a decoupler that is positionable between a shaft (eg. for an alternator) and an endless power transmitting element (eg. a belt) on an engine. The decoupler includes a hub that mounts to the shaft, and a pulley that engages the endless power transmitting element, an isolation spring between the hub and the shaft. The decoupler provides at least a selected damping torque between the hub and the pulley. | 08-22-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080220919 | Low Profile Tensioner with Arcuate Spring - A tensioner operable to substantially maintain a specified tension in a flexible drive, such as a belt or chain, includes a spring, mounted laterally to the pivot shaft of the tensioner, which biases the tensioner arm towards the flexible drive. The spring is arcuate in shape and is maintained in a correspondingly arc-shaped spring retainer on a mounting plate of the tensioner. The arcuate shape of the spring and spring guide on the tensioner arm follows as the tensioner arm pivots towards and away from the flexible drive. The tensioner also has a wear take up mechanism to maintain the friction bushing in continuous engagement with the tensioner arm. | 09-11-2008 |
20090176583 | One-way Isolator For High Torque Devices - A one way isolator for high torque devices, such as alternator-starters, driven by a flexible drive means includes a hub and a sheave each of which includes at least one stop member. The hub and sheave are linked by a isolating spring and, via a bearing and/or bushing, can rotate with respect to each other to provide isolation, through the spring, from torque variations when torque is transferred from the flexible drive means to the device. When substantial amounts of torque are transferred from the device to the flexible drive means, the sheave rotates with respect to the hub to bring the stop members into contact such that the isolator then acts like a solid pulley to facilitate the transfer of the torque from the device. | 07-09-2009 |
20090191999 | Dust Shield For A Pulley Bearing And A Pulley With A Dust Shield - A dust shield to inhibit the ingress of foreign materials into a pulley bearing is disclosed as is a pulley including such a dust shield. The dust shield is press fit to one side of the bearing such that it is captive during assembly and/or installation of the pulley. A second dust shield can be provided on the opposite side of the bearing to further inhibit the ingress of foreign materials. Preferably, at least one of the dust shields includes a bolt retention feature which holds an installation bolt captive to the pulley prior to installation. The dust shields can be fabricated from selected materials with desired thermal characteristics to insulate the bearing from sources of undesired heat and/or to assist the removal of waste heat from the bearing. | 07-30-2009 |
20100122882 | DRIVEN ACCESSORY WITH LOW-POWER CLUTCH FOR ACTIVATING OR DE-ACTIVATING SAME - A driven accessory having a clutch that permits selective operation of an accessory portion. The clutch employs rotational inertia to control driving engagement of a wrap spring to an interior clutch surface on a drive member and/or driving disengagement of the wrap spring from the interior clutch surface. | 05-20-2010 |
20100234155 | Tensioner For Flexible Drives - A tensioner in accordance with the present invention employs a spindle and a tensioner arm which are preferably manufactured by a suitable manufacturing process, such as die casting, negating a requirement for machining operations. The biasing spring of the tensioner is wound with wire having a non-circular cross section to increase the spring force of the spring compared to a similar spring wound with wire of circular cross section and, as the tensioner arm is moved away from the flexible drive, the diameter of the biasing spring expands and the coils press a dampening shoe into contact with a wall of the tensioner arm producing a dampening force. The tensioner is simple to assemble and requires a relatively small package volume for the biasing force it can produce. | 09-16-2010 |
20110315502 | DECOUPLER FEATURING HELICAL WRAP CLUTCH SPRING AND COIL DAMPER SPRINGS - A decoupler having a hub, a drive member and an isolator. The drive member is disposed about the hub for rotation about a rotational axis and includes an inner clutch surface. The isolator couples the hub and the drive member and includes a carrier, a plurality of arcuate springs, and a wrap spring. The carrier is received between the hub and the drive member and includes a carrier member, which defines a pair of apertures, and a pair of reaction blocks that are mounted in the apertures. The arcuate springs are mounted in the carrier member and are disposed between the hub and an associated one of the reaction blocks. The wrap spring has an end and a plurality of helical coils that are engaged to the inner clutch surface of the drive member. The end has an end face that is abutted against one of the reaction blocks. | 12-29-2011 |
20120055436 | ENGINE STARTER - An engine starter that employs a clutch between a flywheel or flex plate and a plate structure that is configured to receive rotary power from a starter motor through a transmission. The transmission may include ring and pinion gears or a belt that transmits rotary power between pulleys. | 03-08-2012 |
20120115657 | TENSIONER FOR FLEXIBLE DRIVES - A tensioner in accordance with the present invention employs a spindle and a tensioner arm which are preferably manufactured by a suitable manufacturing process, such as die casting, negating a requirement for machining operations. The biasing spring of the tensioner is wound with wire having a non-circular cross section to increase the spring force of the spring compared to a similar spring wound with wire of circular cross section and, as the tensioner arm is moved away from the flexible drive, the diameter of the biasing spring expands and the coils press a dampening shoe into contact with a wall of the tensioner arm producing a dampening force. The tensioner is simple to assemble and requires a relatively small package volume for the biasing force it can produce. | 05-10-2012 |
20130008758 | DRIVEN ACCESSORY WITH LOW-POWER CLUTCH FOR ACTIVATING OR DE-ACTIVATING SAME - A driven accessory having a clutch that permits selective operation of an accessory portion. The clutch employs rotational inertia to control driving engagement of a wrap spring to an interior clutch surface on a drive member and/or driving disengagement of the wrap spring from the interior clutch surface. | 01-10-2013 |
20130087428 | ISOLATION PULLEY WITH OVERRUNNING AND VIBRATION DAMPING CAPABILITIES - A decoupler having an input hub, an output member, a one-way clutch, and at least one isolation spring. Rotary power is transmitted in a predetermined rotational direction from the input hub, through the one-way clutch, through the isolation spring and to the output member. A method for forming a decoupler is also provided. | 04-11-2013 |
20130098727 | OVERRUNNING DECOUPLER - A decoupler having an input member, an output member and a combination one-way clutch and torsional isolator that couples the input and output members. The combination one-way clutch and torsional isolator includes a single helical coil spring. The decoupler being designed to provide torsional damping through a range of torque transmitted through the decoupler, the range including a maximum rated torque for the decoupler. | 04-25-2013 |
20130098733 | DECOUPLER WITH INTEGRATED TORSIONAL VIBRATION DAMPER - A decoupler assembly with an input hub, an output member, and a one-way clutch. In one form, the decoupler assembly includes an annular bearing mount with a needle bearing disposed between the bearing mount and the input hub to support the output member for rotation on the input hub. In another form the decoupler assembly further comprises a torsional vibration damper that is received within an internal cavity that is bounded on opposite axial ends by the output member and a cover that is coupled to the output member. | 04-25-2013 |
20130172137 | INTELLIGENT BELT DRIVE SYSTEM AND METHOD - In one aspect, the invention relates to a tensioner that is capable of precognitively anticipating when it is desirable to increase the tension in a belt or other endless drive element so as to prevent belt slip prior to events that would raise the risk of it. | 07-04-2013 |
20130319814 | CLUTCHED DEVICE WITH THRUST RING - A clutched device that includes a driving member, a driven member and a clutch assembly that is disposed between the driving and driven members. The clutch assembly includes a carrier, a wrap spring and a spacer. The carrier is configured to coupled the wrap spring to one of the driving and driven members to permit the transmission of rotary power there between. The spacer is configured to limit elongation of the wrap spring in an axial direction. | 12-05-2013 |
20140309882 | INTELLIGENT BELT DRIVE SYSTEM AND METHOD - In one aspect, a tensioner that incorporates a fluid actuated cylinder and that is capable of precognitively anticipating when it is desirable to increase the tension in a belt or other endless drive element so as to prevent belt slip prior to events that would raise the risk of it. | 10-16-2014 |
20150057117 | INTELLIGENT BELT DRIVE SYSTEM AND METHOD - In one aspect the invention relates to a tensioner that is capable of precognitively anticipating when it is desirable to increase the tension in a belt or other endless drive element so as to prevent belt slip prior to events that would raise the risk of it. | 02-26-2015 |