Electromagnetic clutch

Claim 2

For use with an air-conditioning compressor including a casing having a hub member extending from an end face thereof, an electromagnetic clutch comprising a sheet metal pulley assembly, said pulley assembly having a cylindrical end portion freely mounted around an end portion of said compressor casing, an output shaft extending into said compressor casing, an electromagnetic coil mounted on said hub member closely adjacent said compressor end face and the inner surfaces of said pulley assembly such that said hub member, said compressor end face and said pulley assembly serve as a portion of the magnetic flux path when said coil is energized, first clutch means mounted closely adjacent said hub member, bearing means for rotatably mounting said first clutch means on said output shaft, second clutch means, resilient means operatively cOnnected to said output shaft and to said second clutch means for urging said second clutch means away from said first clutch means, a first plurality of annular slots formed in said first clutch means, a second plurality of annular slots formed in said second clutch means, said first and second pluralities of annular slots forming a sixpole magnetic clutch field between said first and second clutch means to complete said flux path.

Claim 3

For use with an air-conditioning compressor including a casing having a hub member extending from an end face thereof, an electromagnetic clutch comprising a sheet metal pulley assembly, said pulley assembly having a cylindrical end portion freely mounted around an end portion of said compressor casing, an output shaft extending into said compressor casing, an electromagnetic coil mounted on said hub member closely adjacent said compressor end face and the inner surfaces of said pulley assembly such that said hub member, said compressor end face and said pulley assembly serve as a portion of the magnetic flux path when said coil is energized, first clutch means mounted closely adjacent said hub member, bearing means for rotatably mounting said first clutch means on said output shaft, second clutch means, resilient means operatively cOnnected to said output shaft and to said second clutch means for urging said second clutch means away from said first clutch means, a first plurality of annular slots formed in said first clutch means, a second plurality of annular slots formed in said second clutch means, said first and second pluralities of annular slots forming a six-pole magnetic clutch field between said first and second clutch means to complete said flux path.

Claim 4

For use with an air-conditioning compressor including a casing having a hub member extending from an end face thereof, an electromagnetic clutch comprising a sheet metal pulley assembly, said pulley assembly having a cylindrical end portion freely mounted around an end portion of said compressor casing, an output shaft extending into said compressor casing, an electromagnetic coil mounted on said hub member closely adjacent said compressor end face and the inner surfaces of said pulley assembly such that said hub member, said compressor end face and said pulley assembly serve as a portion of the magnetic flux path when said coil is energized, first clutch means mounted closely adjacent said hub member, bearing means for rotatably mounting said first clutch means on said output shaft, second clutch means, resilient means operatively cOnnected to said output shaft and to said second clutch means for urging said second clutch means away from said first clutch means, a first plurality of annular slots formed in said first clutch means, a second plurality of annular slots formed in said second clutch means, said first and second pluralities of annular slots forming a six-pole magnetic clutch field between said first and second clutch means to complete said flux path.

Claim 5

For use with an air-conditioning compressor having a casing, an electromagnetic clutch comprising a sheet metal pulley assembly having first and second cylindrical end portions formed thereon and an intermediate radially inwardly positioned pulley groove, said first pulley cylindrical end portion being freely mounted around an end portion of said compressor casing, first and second concentric cylindrical hub members formed on an end face of said compressor casing, an electromagnetic coil mounted so as to abut against the outer surfaces of said first cylindrical hub member and said compressor end face and to be spaced slightly apart from said first pulley cylindrical end portion and said pulley groove of said pulley assembly, a first clutch element secured at the outer periphery thereof to the inner surface of said second pulley cylindrical end portion, a sleeve member secured to the inner periphery of said second pulley cylindrical end portion and extending axially intermediate said first and second cylindrical hub members a minimal annular gap width away from said first cylindrical hub member, a bearing mounted intermediate said second cylindrical hub member and said sleeve member, an output shaft extending axially through said second cylindrical hub member, sealing means mounted intermediate said output shaft and the inner surface of said second cylindrical hub member, a support member mounted on the end of said output shaft, a second clutch element mounted for axial resilient movement on said output shaft, first, second and third pluralities of equally spaced arcuate slots formed in said first clutch element, fourth and fifth pluralities of equally spaced arcuate slots formed in said second clutch element in alternate radial locations relative to said first, second and third pluralities of arcuate slots for providing a six-pole magnetic flux path between said first and second clutch elements.

Claim 6

For use with an air-conditioning compressor having a casing, an electromagnetic clutch comprising a sheet metal pulley assembly having first and second cylindrical end portions formed thereon and an intermediate radially inwardly positioned pulley groove, said first pulley cylindrical end portion being freely mounted around an end portion of said compressor casing, first and second concentric cylindrical hub members formed on an end face of said compressor casing, an electromagnetic coil mounted so as to abut against the outer surfaces of said first cylindrical hub member and said compressor end face and to be spaced slightly apart from said first pulley cylindrical end portion and said pulley groove of said pulley assembly, a first clutch element secured at the outer periphery thereof to the inner surface of said second pulley cylindrical end portion, a sleeve member secured to the inner periphery of said second pulley cylindrical end portion and extending axially intermediate said first and second cylindrical hub members a minimal annular gap width away from said first cylindrical hub member, a bearing mounted intermediate said second cylindrical hub member and said sleeve member, an output shaft extending axially through said second cylindrical hub member, sealing means mounted intermediate said output shaft and the inner surface of said second cylindrical hub member, a support member mounted on the end of said output shaft, a second clutch element mounted for axial resilient movement on said output shaft, first, second and third pluralities of equally spaced arcuate slots formed in said first clutch element, fourth and fifth pluralities of equally spaced arcuate slots formed in said second clutch element in alternate radial locations relative to said first, second and third pluralities of arcuate slots for providing a six-pole magnetic flux path between said first and second clutch elements.