Electromagnetic clutch and brake

Claim 2

An electromagnetic clutch assembly for selectively coupling a motor shaft to a utilization device, the assembly comprising: a flywheel to be axially mounted to the motor shaft; an output shaft to be mounted to the utilization device; an annular brake member disposed in spaced coaxial relation with the flywheel and permitting passage of the output shaft therethrough; an armature having clutch disc and brake disc components slidably keyed in coaxial adjacent relation to the output shaft; frictional linings secured to the clutch and brake discs for controlled frictional engagement with the flywheel and the brake member, respectively; first and second coils selectively energizable and being respectively disposed in radially aligned relation with the clutch and brake discs; and stator means coaxially mounted in intermediate relation between the discs and the coils for selectively creating a first magnetic path through the clutch disc and the flywheel for causing frictional engagement therebetween resulting in the driving of the output shaft, or a second magnetic path through the brake disc and the brake member for causing frictional engagement therebetween resulting in braking of the output shaft, wherein the stator means includes peripheral leg portions for coaxially surrounding at least part of the flywheel and the brake member with a resultant surrounding radial airgap therebetween for effecting efficient first and second magnetic paths.

Claim 3

The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein energization of a coil and generation of a resultant magnetic path causes both the clutch and brake discs to be magnetically urged in The same direction.

Claim 4

The assembly set forth in claim 2 wherein the frictional linings are located radially outwardly of their respective discs which function as magnetic armatures thereby maximizing the frictionally engaging areas.

Claim 5

The assembly set forth in claim 3 together with intermediate ring members for removably mounting the frictional linings to their respective discs.

Claim 6

The assembly of claim 4 wherein the ring members may be spaced from the discs to permit the insertion of shimming means therebetween for compensating the decreasing axial distance between the clutch and brake discs.

Claim 7

The assembly of claim 5 wherein the flywheel, the discs, and the brake member include communicating passageways therein for allowing the flow of cooling air therethrough.

Claim 8

The assembly set forth in claim 9 together with fan blades integrally attached to the flywheel for forcing cooling air through the communicating passageways.

Claim 9

The assembly set forth in claim 1, said annular brake member being stationary.

Claim 10

The assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein said fly wheel, clutch and brake discs and the frictional linings are of equal diameter to maximize frictionally engaging areas.

Claim 11

An electromagnetic clutch assembly enclosed in a housing and comprising first and second control windings located in the housing and selectively energized in response to control signals; a solenoid armature being positioned concentric with the windings and including clutch and brake discs with oppositely disposed friction linings having first and second frictional surfaces, the armature moving in first and second directions in response to energization of the first and second windings, respectively; an output shaft fixed to the armature and rotating therewith for causing the driving of a utilization device; a flywheel adapted for connection to a motor shaft, the flywheel being positioned adjacent the first armature frictional surface for engagement thereby upon displacement of the armature in the first direction for causing driving operation of the output shaft; and a brake member being positioned adjacent the second armature frictional surface for engagement thereby upon displacement of the armature in the second direction for causing braking operation of the output shaft, wherein the flywheel, clutch and brake discs, and the frictional linings are of equal diameter to maximize frictionally engaging areas; and further wherein the stator means includes peripheral leg portions for coaxially surrounding at least part of the flywheel and the brake member with a resultant surrounding radial air gap therebetween for effecting efficient first and second magnetic paths.

Claim 12

An electromagnetic clutch assembly enclosed in a housing and comprising first and second control windings located in the housing and selectively energized in response to control signals; a solenoid armature being positioned concentric with the windings and including clutch and brake discs with oppositely disposed friction linings having first and second frictional surfaces, the armature moving in first and second directions in response to energization of the first and second windings, respectively; an output shaft fixed to the armature and rotating therewith for causing the driving of a utilization device; a flywheel adapted for connection to a motor shaft, the flywheel being positioned adjacent the first armature frictional surface for engagement thereby upon displacement of the armature in the first direction for causing driving operation of the output shaft; and a brake member being positioned adjacent the second armature frictional surface for engagement thereby upon displacement of the armature in the second direction for causing braking operation of the output shaft, wherein the flywheel, clutch and brake discs, and the frictional linings are of equal diameter to maximize frictionally engaging areas; and further wherein the stator means includes peripheral leg portions for coaxially surrounding at least part of the flywheel and the brake member with a resultant surrounding radial air gap therebetween for effecting efficient first and second magnetic paths.