Compressor clutch

Claim 2

A friction clutch comprising a rotatable input hub having a clutch surface, a rotatable output hub having a clutch surface, a pressure ring composed of at least three segments and enclosing portions of the input and output hubs, said pressure ring segments having a pair of beveled faces directed toward one another and each opposing an oppositely beveled face on different ones of said input and output hubs whereby pressure on outer surfaces of the pressure ring segments will urge said ring segments into torque transmitting engagement with said clutch surfaces with forces directed generally towards each other, a helical spring surrounding but normally out of engagement with the pressure ring and having one end attached to one of the hubs, and means selectively acting on the other end of the helical spring to cause said spring to wrap down on the pressure ring, thereby exerting pressure on the outer surfaces of the pressure ring segments to urge said ring segments and the clutch surfaces into engagement.

Claim 3

The friction clutch of claim 1 in which a key is provided for each of the pressure ring segments in one of the hubs in order to hold the position of the segments relative to that hub.

Claim 4

The friction clutch of claim 2 in which the keys provided are located between the ends of the segments.

Claim 5

The friction clutch of claim 3 in which the keys are fixed in the output hub.

Claim 6

In a helical spring device a reference frame, an input hub rotatable relative to the reference Frame, an output hub rotatable relative to said reference frame, a helical spring of magnetic material engageable with at least one of said hubs but normally out of contact therewith and having one end connected with the other hub, magnetic drag means, including a selectively actuatable magnetic field generating means and a magnetic circuit positioned to be energized thereby, and to include as an armature that end of said helical spring which is not connected with said other hub and effective to attract said spring to the thus selectively magnetized hub, thereby imposing a drag on the spring due to relative motions of said other hub to cause the spring to engage the at least one hub with which it is engageable, and a rigid tubular cover with a lining of sound dampening material placed around the hubs and supported from one of the hubs in a position to contain and support the spring device and prevent its ever expanding to a fully unstressed condition when the clutch is disengaging.

Claim 7

In a helical spring device a reference frame, an input hub rotatable relative to the reference Frame, an output hub rotatable relative to said reference frame, a helical spring of magnetic material engageable with at least one of said hubs but normally out of contact therewith and having one end connected with the other hub, magnetic drag means, including a selectively actuatable magnetic field generating means and a magnetic circuit positioned to be energized thereby, and to include as an armature that end of said helical spring which is not connected with said other hub and effective to attract said spring to the thus selectively magnetized hub, thereby imposing a drag on the spring due to relative motions of said other hub to cause the spring to engage the at least one hub with which it is engageable, and a rigid tubular cover with a lining of sound dampening material placed around the hubs and supported from one of the hubs in a position to contain and support the spring device and prevent its ever expanding to a fully unstressed condition when the clutch is disengaging.

Claim 8

The helical spring device of claim 5 in which the tubular cover has a lining of resilient material providing a sound dampening effect.

Claim 9

In a helical spring device a reference frame, an input hub rotatable relative to the reference frame, an output hub rotatable relative to the reference frame, and a helical spring connected at one end to one of said hubs and displaceable relative thereto at its other end in order to effectively change the spring diameter to engage the other hub, said means of connection including a spring tang engagable in a slot in the hub to which said one end of such spring is attached permitting a limited amount of relative rotation between the tang and the hub, said tang slot extending for an arc of on the order of 90* around the circumference of the hub.

Claim 10

In a helical spring device a reference frame, an input hub rotatable relative to the reference frame, an output hub rotatable relative to the reference frame, and a helical spring connected at one end to one of said hubs and displaceable relative thereto at its other end in order to effectively change the spring diameter to engage the other hub, said means of connection including a spring tang engagable in a slot in the hub to which said one end of such spring is attached permitting a limited amount of relative rotation between the tang and the hub, said tang slot extending for an arc of on the order of 90* around the circumference of the hub.

Claim 11

A friction clutch comprising input and output hubs disposed end to end and relatively rotatable about a common axis, a helical spring concentric with said axis, telescoped with said hubs and having one end free and a tang on the other end, means actuatable to engage the clutch and thereby hold the free end of said spring for rotation in one direction with one hub, second means holding said tang against movement in said one direction relative to the other hub so that when said first means is actuated said spring flexes to engage with said hubs to hold said hubs for rotation together about said axis, said second means including an elongated arcuate slot formed in said other hub and loosely receiving said tang so that the tang engages one end of the slot and is blocked thereby against movement in said one direction relative to said other hub when said first means is actuated, said tang floating in the opposite direction in said slot when said first means is deactuated to disengage the clutch thereby freeing both ends of the spring so that the spring can flex away from engagement with said hubs, a tubular housing supported on one of said hubs concentric with said axis, and including a wall surface spaced radially from said hubs with said spring being telescoped into the space between the wall surface and the hubs for flexing from contact with said hubs to a position in which said housing constrains said spring against attaining a relaxed diameter and keeps the tang within said slot when said first means is deactuated, and a lining of resilient material disposed between said spring and said wall surface to cushion the spring as the latter flexes into said position.

Claim 12

A friction clutch comprising input and output hubs disposed end to end and relatively rotatable about a common axis, a helical spring concentric with said axis, telescoped with said hubs and having one end free and a tang on the other end, means actuatable to engage the clutch and thereby hold the free end of said spring for rotation in one direction with one hub, second means holding said tang against movement in said one direction relative to the other hub so that when said first means is actuated said spring flexes to engage with said hubs to hold said hubs for rotation together about said axis, said second means including an elongated arcuate slot formed in said other hub and loosely receiving said tang so that the tang engages one end of the slot and is blocked thereby against movement in said one direction relative to said other hub when said first means is actuated, said tang floating in the opposite direction in said slot when said first means is deactuated to disengage the clutch thereby freeing both ends of the spring so that the spring can flex away from engagement with said hubs, a tubular housing supported on one of said hubs concentric with said axis, and including a wall surface spaced radially from said hubs with said spring being telescoped into the space between the wall surface and the hubs for flexing from contact with said hubs to a position in which said housing constrains said spring against attaining a relaxed diameter and keeps the tang within said slot when said first means is deactuated, and a lining of resilient material disposed between said spring and said wall surface to cushion the spring as the latter flexes into said position.