US3905458A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electro-magnetically actuated spring clutch
Assignee: Marquette Metal Products Co
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Filing: 1974-06-26
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Granted: 1975-09-16
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Expires: 1994-06-26
Abstract
Abstract The electro-magnetically actuated spring clutch has coaxially arranged input and output drums, coil spring, control sleeve and a field coil of an electro-magnetic device disposed and supported within a stationary housing. The coil spring is in engagement with the input and output drums to transmit rotation from the input drum to the output drum. The coil spring is also connected at one end portion to the control sleeve to cause, when the latter is held against rotation, the expansion of the coils of the coil spring and thereby interruption of transmission of rotation from the input drum to the output drum. An armature of washer-like configuration is spline connected to the housing to be fixed against rotation but capable of axial movement toward and away from the field coil and control sleeve. Biasing means is provided to urge the armature in a direction away from the field coil and control sleeve, this biasing force being overcome by the magnetic force generated upon energization of the field coil. The armature and control sleeve have stop members which alternately engage and disengage upon energization and de-energization of the electro-magnetic device and the consequent axial movement of the armature to thereby effect engagement and disengagement of the control sleeve and transmission or cessation of rotation from the input drum to the output drum.
Inventors
- 👤 Alphonso W Mehrbrodt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:21
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D13/00; F16D13/02; F16D13/025; F16D27/00; F16D27/10; F16D27/105; F16D2027/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
An electro-magnetically actuated spring clutch comprising: a. a stationary housing; b. an input drum mounted for rotation in said housing; c. an output drum disposed in said housing and supported for rotation adjacent and coaxial to the input drum; d. a coil spring disposed to surround said input and output drums; e. a control member arranged to surround said coil spring and in engagement with the coil spring to effect, in one operative position, contraction of the coil spring to grip the input and output drums and thereby transmission of rotation from the input to the output drums and in another operative position, expansion of the coil spring to interrupt such rotary transmission; f. an electro-magnetic means disposed within said housing in close spaced coaxial relationship with and surrounding said control member; g. a ring-shaped armature supported against rotation by the housing adjacent said electro-magnetic means and free to move axially relative to the housing so as to be capable of slidable movement toward and away from said control sleeve and electromagnetic means upon energization and de-energization of said electro-magnetic means; h. said control member and armature having means coacting together to effect engagement of the control member and said armature to prevent rotation of the control member in one of said operative positions of the armature; and i. biasing means for urging the armature in a direction away from said electro-magnetic means when the latter is deenergized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
An electro-magnetically actuated spring clutch comprising: a. a stationary housing; b. an input drum mounted for rotation in said housing; c. an output drum disposed in said housing and supported for rotation adjacent and coaxial to the input drum; d. a coil spring disposed to surround said input and output drums; e. a control member arranged to surround said coil spring and in engagement with the coil spring to effect, in one operative position, contraction of the coil spring to grip the input and output drums and thereby transmission of rotation from the input to the output drums and in another operative position, expansion of the coil spring to interrupt such rotary transmission; f. an electro-magnetic means disposed within said housing in close spaced coaxial relationship with and surrounding said control member; g. a ring-shaped armature supported against rotation by the housing adjacent said electro-magnetic means and free to move axially relative to the housing so as to be capable of slidable movement toward and away from said control sleeve and electromagnetic means upon energization and de-energization of said electro-magnetic means; h. said control member and armature having means coacting together to effect engagement of the control member and said armature to prevent rotation of the control member in one of said operative positions of the armature; and i. biasing means for urging the armature in a direction away from said electro-magnetic means when the latter is deenergized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coacting means of said control member and armature comprises a means forming a first abutment on said control sleeve and a complementary second abutment on said armature which in one operative position of said armature contact each other to prevent rotation of the control member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first abutment is located at one end portion of the control sleeve and said control is a sleeve and has a third abutment disposed at the opposite end portion thereof so that end-to-end reversal of the control sleeve relative to the armature permits the spring clutch to alternately function either as normally engaged spring clutch or a normally disengaged spring clutch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first abutment and third abutments are radially extending lugs and the second abutment is a slot in the armature dimensioned to receive said lugs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first abutment is located at one end portion of the control member and said control member has a third abutment disposed at the opposite end portion thereof so that end-to-end reversal of the control member relative to the armature provides alternately either abutment of said first and second abutments when the electro-magnetic means is energized or disengagement of said second and third abutments when the electro-magnetic means is energized.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coil spring has a tang end portion and said control member has an opening therein to receive said tang end portion to thereby effect engagement of the coil spring and control member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electro-magnetic means comprises a field coil and electrical connecting means for connecting said field coil to a source of electrical current.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said armature is of flat washer-like, configuration which is spline connected at the periphery thereof to the housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said coacting means of said control member and armature comprises a radially extending lug on said control member and a slot in the inner periphery of the armature for receiving said lug.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input and output drums have peripheral surfaces coextensive with each other with a crossover gap therebetween which is spanned by the coil spring.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-15 | 1979-03-17 | 1979-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-15 | 1983-03-17 | 1983-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-15 | 1987-03-17 | 1987-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |