Clutch device

Claim 2

For use with an automotive accessory unit, a belt-type clutch device comprising a drive pulley, a driven pulley operatively connected to said accessory unit, an endless belt initially loosely mounted around said drive and driven pulleys, a torqueresponsive arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof within the perimeter of said endless belt, a belt-tensioning pulley rotatably mounted on the other end of said arm and contacting the inside surface of said endless belt, a spring connected to said arm urge said belt-tensioning pulley away from said inside surface of said endless belt, an actuating device, and a linkage member connected between said actuating device and said arm adapted to pivot said arm against the force of said spring and into a predetermined angular relationship with said belt upon the application of a relatively small force by said actuating device on said linkage member, said angular relationship being such that the resultant tractive action of said belt on said belttensioning pulley urges said arm into a substantially perpendicular relationship with the initial path of said belt to cause said belt-tensioning Pulley to fully tighten said belt on said drive and driven pulleys to drive said accessory unit.

Claim 3

For use with an automotive air-conditioning compressor, a belt-type clutch device comprising a drive pulley, a driven pulley operatively connected to said air-conditioning compressor, an endless belt of a predetermined circumferential length so as to be mountable loosely around said drive and driven pulleys, a torque-responsive arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof within the perimeter of said endless belt, a belt-tensioning pulley rotatably mounted on the other end of said arm and contacting the inside surface of said endless belt, a spring connected to said arm to urge said belt-tensioning pulley away from said inside surface of said endless belt, a first stop means for limiting the movement of said spring, an actuating device, a linkage member connected between said actuating device and said arm adapted to pivot said arm against the force of said spring and into a predetermined angular relationship with said belt upon the application of a relatively small force by said actuating device on said linkage member, said angular relationship being such that the resultant tractive action of said belt on said belt-tensioning pulley urges said arm into a substantially perpendicular relationship with the initial path of said belt to cause said belt-tensioning pulley to fully tighten said belt on said drive and driven pulleys to drive said air-conditioning compressor, and a second stop means for limiting the movement of said linkage member.

Claim 4

For use with an automotive air-conditioning compressor, a belt-type clutch device comprising a drive pulley, a driven pulley operatively connected to said air-conditioning compressor, an endless belt of a predetermined circumferential length so as to be mountable loosely around said drive and driven pulleys, a torque-responsive arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof within the perimeter of said endless belt, a belt-tensioning pulley rotatably mounted on the other end of said arm and contacting the inside surface of said endless belt, a spring connected to said arm to urge said belt-tensioning pulley away from said inside surface of said endless belt, a first stop means for limiting the movement of said spring, an actuating device, a linkage member connected between said actuating device and said arm adapted to pivot said arm against the force of said spring and into a predetermined angular relationship with said belt upon the application of a relatively small force by said actuating device on said linkage member, said angular relationship being such that the resultant tractive action of said belt on said belt-tensioning pulley urges said arm into a substantially perpendicular relationship with the initial path of said belt to cause said belt-tensioning pulley to fully tighten said belt on said drive and driven pulleys to drive said air-conditioning compressor, and a second stop means for limiting the movement of said linkage member.

Claim 5

For use with an automotive air-conditioning compressor, a belt-type clutch device comprising a drive pulley, a driven pulley operatively connected to said air-conditioning compressor, an endless belt of a predetermined circumferential lenth so as to be mountable loosely around said drive and driven pulleys, a torque-responsive arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof within the perimeter of said endless belt, a belt-tensioning pulley rotatably mounted on the other end of said arm and contacting the inside surface of said endless belt, a spring connected to said arm to urge said belt-tensioning pulley away from said inside surface of said endless belt, an actuating device, a linkage member connected between said actuating device and said arm, a first stop member for limiting the movement of said linkage member and said spring in the spring-compressing direction, a source of power for said actuating device, the application thereof being sufficient to pivot said arm against the force of said spring and into a predetermined angular relationship with said belt, said angular relationship being such that the resultant tractive action of said belt on said belt-tensioning pulley thereupon urges said arm into a belt-tensioning relationship with said belt to fully tighten said belt on said drive and driven pulleys to drive said air-conditioning compressor, and a second stop member for limiting the movement of said linkage member in the spring-tensioning direction such that said arm maintains a maximum belt-tensioning substantially perpendicular relationship with the initial path of said belt until said application of actuating power from said source of power subsides.

Claim 6

For use with an automotive air-conditioning compressor, a belt-type clutch device comprising a drive pulley, a driven pulley operatively connected to said air-conditioning compressor, an endless belt of a predetermined circumferential lenth so as to be mountable loosely around said drive and driven pulleys, a torque-responsive arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof within the perimeter of said endless belt, a belt-tensioning pulley rotatably mounted on the other end of said arm and contacting the inside surface of said endless belt, a spring connected to said arm to urge said belt-tensioning pulley away from said inside surface of said endless belt, an actuating device, a linkage member connected between said actuating device and said arm, a first stop member for limiting the movement of said linkage member and said spring in the spring-compressing direction, a source of power for said actuating device, the application thereof being sufficient to pivot said arm against the force of said spring and into a predetermined angular relationship with said belt, said angular relationship being such that the resultant tractive action of said belt on said belt-tensioning pulley thereupon urges said arm into a belt-tensioning relationship with said belt to fully tighten said belt on said drive and driven pulleys to drive said air-conditioning compressor, and a second stop member for limiting the movement of said linkage member in the spring-tensioning direction such that said arm maintains a maximum belt-tensioning substantially perpendicular relationship with the initial path of said belt until said application of actuating power from said source of power subsides.

Claim 7

The belt-type clutch device described in claim 3, wherein said actuating device is a vacuum-actuator mechanism.

Claim 8

The belt-type clutch device described in claim 4, wherein said vacuum-actuator mechanism includes a housing, a diaphragm retained at its outer edge in said housing, said linkage member being connected to the center portion of one side of said diaphragm, and an inlet from a source of vacuum into said housing on the other side of said diaphragm.