Electromagnet clutch or brake, twisted torsion spring therefor

Claim 2

In an electromagnetic friction clutch, or brake respectively: a rotary shaft; an annular housing of channel-shaped cross section made of magnetically conductive material and fixed to said shaft; a magnet coil arranged within said channel-shaped housing connected to an electric energy source across slip-rings encompassing said housing; an axially nonshiftable reaction flange coaxially aligned relative to said housing; an annular armature disc disposed between said reaction flange and said housing coaxially aligned with and shiftable between said reaction flange and said housing; an annular friction disc provided between said armature disc and said housing secured to either one of said members; and annular torsion spring means disposed between and secured alternately to said armature disc and said reaction flange at angularly evenly spaced points and twisted in alternately opposite directions out of the radial plane, the zones of greatest twist being disposed at said securing points.

Claim 3

A friction clutch or brake according to claim 1, wherein the width of said torsion spring means is progressively decreasing towards the midzone between said securing points thereby varying the moment of resistance in the radial direction.

Claim 4

A friction clutch or brake according to claim 1, wherein said torsion spring means is deformed prior to its assembly so as to retract said armature disc against an abutment of said reaction flange when assembled.

Claim 5

A friction clutch or brake according to claim 3, wherein a recess is formed in the radial surface of said reaction flange thereby providing a radial shoulder forming said abutment and an axially extending circumferential centering flange projecting beyond the outer circumferential surface of said armature disc.

Claim 6

A friction clutch or brake according to claim 1, wherein said torsion spring means consists of an annular integral disc said mounting points being formed by holes provided on a concentric pitch circle disposed between the outer and inner circumference of said disc.

Claim 7

A friction clutch or brake according to claim 1, wherein the inner opposed radial surfaces of said armature disc and said reaction flange have conical surface portions formed at the mounting points for said torsion spring means extending alternately radially inclined in opposite directions including an angle between 4* and 10* with the radial plane, thereby twisting said torsion spring means when mounting the same.

Claim 8

In an electromagnetic friction clutch, or brake respectively: a rotary shaft; an annular housing of channel-shaped cross section made of magnetically conductive material and fixed to said shaft; a magnet coil arranged within said channel-shaped housing connected to an electric energy source across slip-rings encompassing said housing; an axially nonshiftable reaction flange coaxially aligned relative to said housing; an annular armature disc disposed between said reaction flange and said housing coaxially aligned with and shiftable between said reaction flange and said housing; an annular friction disc provided between said armature disc and said housing secured to either one of said members; and torsion spring means disposed between and secured alternately to said armature disc and said reaction flange at angularly evenly spaced points and twisted in alternately opposite directions out of the radial plane, the zones of greatest twist being disposed at said securing points, said torsion spring means comprising a plurality of individual sections having mounting holes disposed on concentric circles of different diameters.

Claim 9

In an electromagnetic friction clutch, or brake respectively: a rotary shaft; an annular housing of channel-shaped cross section made of magnetically conductive material and fixed to said shaft; a magnet coil arranged within said channel-shaped housing connected to an electric energy source across slip-rings encompassing said housing; an axially nonshiftable reaction flange coaxially aligned relative to said housing; an annular armature disc disposed between said reaction flange and said housing coaxially aligned with and shiftable between said reaction flange and said housing; an annular friction disc provided between said armature disc and said housing secured to either one of said members; and torsion spring means disposed between and secured alternately to said armature disc and said reaction flange at angularly evenly spaced points and twisted in alternately opposite directions out of the radial plane, the zones of greatest twist being disposed at said securing points, said torsion spring means comprising a plurality of individual sections having mounting holes disposed on concentric circles of different diameters.

Claim 10

A friction clutch or brake according to claim 7, wherein said torsion spring sections are formed by ring sectors.

Claim 11

In an electromagnetic friction clutch, or brake respectively: a rotary shaft; an annular housing composed of an inner and an outer member made of magnetically conductive material, said inner member being fixEd to said shaft while said outer member is journaled on said inner member and fixed to a stationary member; a magnetic coil arranged within an axially extending annular recess of said outer housing member, said inner housing member having a radially outwardly extending flange separated from said outer member by an airgap; an axially nonshiftable reaction flange coaxially aligned relative to said housing; an annular armature disc disposed between said reaction flange and the flange of said inner housing member coaxially aligned with and shiftable between said reaction flange and said inner housing member; and torsion spring means disposed between and secured alternately to said armature disc and said reaction flange at angularly evenly spaced points and twisted in alternately opposite directions out of the radial plane, the zones of greatest twist being disposed at said securing points, said torsion spring means comprising a plurality of individual sections having mounting holes disposed on concentric circles of different diameters.

Claim 12

In an electromagnetic friction clutch, or brake respectively: a rotary shaft; an annular housing composed of an inner and an outer member made of magnetically conductive material, said inner member being fixEd to said shaft while said outer member is journaled on said inner member and fixed to a stationary member; a magnetic coil arranged within an axially extending annular recess of said outer housing member, said inner housing member having a radially outwardly extending flange separated from said outer member by an airgap; an axially nonshiftable reaction flange coaxially aligned relative to said housing; an annular armature disc disposed between said reaction flange and the flange of said inner housing member coaxially aligned with and shiftable between said reaction flange and said inner housing member; and torsion spring means disposed between and secured alternately to said armature disc and said reaction flange at angularly evenly spaced points and twisted in alternately opposite directions out of the radial plane, the zones of greatest twist being disposed at said securing points, said torsion spring means comprising a plurality of individual sections having mounting holes disposed on concentric circles of different diameters.

Claim 13

A friction clutch or brake according to claim 9, wherein said torsion spring sections are formed by ring sectors.

Claim 14

In an electromagnetic friction clutch, or brake respectively: a rotary shaft; an annular housing composed of an inner and an outer member made of magnetically conductive material, said inner member being fixed to said shaft while said outer member is journaled on said inner member and fixed to a stationary member; a magnetic coil arranged within an axially extending annular recess of said outer housing member, said inner housing member having radially outwardly extending flange separated from said outer member by an airgap; an axially nonshiftable reaction flange coaxially aligned relative to said housing; an annular armature disc disposed between said reaction flange and the flange of said inner housing member coaxially aligned with and shiftable between said reaction flange and said inner housing member; and annular torsion spring means disposed between and secured alternately to said armature disc and said reaction flange at angularly evenly spaced points and twisted in alternately opposite directions out of the radial plane, the zones of greatest twist being disposed at said securing points.

Claim 15

In an electromagnetic friction clutch, or brake respectively: a rotary shaft; an annular housing composed of an inner and an outer member made of magnetically conductive material, said inner member being fixed to said shaft while said outer member is journaled on said inner member and fixed to a stationary member; a magnetic coil arranged within an axially extending annular recess of said outer housing member, said inner housing member having radially outwardly extending flange separated from said outer member by an airgap; an axially nonshiftable reaction flange coaxially aligned relative to said housing; an annular armature disc disposed between said reaction flange and the flange of said inner housing member coaxially aligned with and shiftable between said reaction flange and said inner housing member; and annular torsion spring means disposed between and secured alternately to said armature disc and said reaction flange at angularly evenly spaced points and twisted in alternately opposite directions out of the radial plane, the zones of greatest twist being disposed at said securing points.

Claim 16

A friction clutch or brake according to claim 11, wherein the width of said torsion spring means is progressively decreasing towards the midzone between said securing points thereby varying the moment of resistance in the radial direction.

Claim 17

A friction clutch or brake according to claim 12, wherein said torsion spring means is deformed prior to its assembly so as to retract said armature disc against an abutment of said reaction flange when assembled.

Claim 18

A friction clutch or brake according to claim 13, wherein a recess is formed in the radial surface of said reaction flange thereby providing a radial shoulder forming said abutment and an axially extending circumferential centering flange projecting beyond the outer circumferential surface of said armature disc.

Claim 19

A friction clutch or brake according to claim 11, wherein said torsion spring means consists of an annular integral disc, said mounting points being formed by holes provided on a concentric pitch circle disposed between the outer and inner circumference of said disc.

Claim 20

A friction clutch or brake according to claim 11, wherein the inner opposed radial surfaces of said armature disc and said reaction flange have conical surface portions formed at the mounting points for said torsion spring means extending alternately radially inclined in opposite directions including an angle between 4* and 10* with the radial plane, thereby twisting said torsion spring means when mounting the same.