Electromagnetic clutch assembly for four wheel drive systems
US5107972A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 13, 1991 |
| Grant date | Apr 28, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 13, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16D27/112
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An electromagnetic clutch assembly (40) especially suitable for use in motor vehicle four wheel drive systems selectively provides power to the front drive components (26, 28, 30). The clutch assembly (40) includes a through drive shaft (42) about which a clutch armature (100), clutch rotor (110), output drive sprocket (76) and other components are coaxially disposed. The drive shaft (42) receives a plurality of spring biased fingers (56) which selectively couple the shaft (42) to the drive sprocket (76). The fingers are translated axially by a like plurality of cam lobes (122) on the rotor (110). A torsion spring (154) maintains the cam lobes (122) in alignment with the fingers (56). When an electromagnetic coil (130) adjacent the rotor (110) is activated, the drag from the associated front wheel drive components (26, 28, 30) slows the clutch armature (100) and the rotor (110), rotating the rotor (110) and cam lobes (122) relative to the drive shaft (42) and allowing the fingers (56) to translate axially, thereby coupling the output drive sprocket (76) to the drive shaft (42).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.