Power transmitting device with overrunning decoupler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9441681-B2
Application number	US-201314395300-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2013
Priority date	Apr 18, 2012
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

A decoupler that includes a hub, a drive member and a one-way clutch and torsionally resilient coupling. The drive member is configured to engage an endless power transmitting element. The one-way clutch and torsionally resilient coupling is disposed in series in a torque path and has a carrier and a wrap spring. The carrier defines a groove. The wrap spring is formed of wire and has an engagement end and a plurality of helical coils. The engagement end is being shorter in overall length than a length of one of the helical coils. The engagement end is received in the groove. The carrier is received in a pocket formed in a rotary member that can be the hub, the drive member, or a component in a torque path between the hub and the drive member. An axial end face of the wire that forms the wrap spring is abutted against an edge of the pocket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A decoupler comprising:
a hub;
a drive member that is configured to engage an endless power transmitting element; and
a one-way clutch and torsionally resilient coupling having a carrier, a wrap spring, a clutch surface, and at least one spring, the carrier defining a groove, the wrap spring being formed of wire and having an engagement end and a plurality of helical coils, the engagement end being shorter in overall length than a length of one of the helical coils, the engagement end being received in the groove, the helical coils being engaged to the clutch surface and being wound such that the helical coils tend to uncoil against the clutch surface when rotary power is transmitted from a first one of the hub and the drive member to a second one of the hub and the drive member, wherein the carrier is received in a pocket formed in a rotary member selected from a group consisting of the hub, the drive member, and a component in a torque path between the hub and the drive member, wherein an axial end face of the wire that forms the wrap spring is abutted against an edge of the pocket when rotary power is transmitted from the first one of the hub and the drive member to the second one of the hub and the drive member so that at least a portion of the rotary power is transmitted between the axial end face of the wire that forms the wrap spring and the edge of the pocket.

2. The decoupler according to claim 1 , wherein an annular retainer is fixedly coupled to the rotary member, the annular retainer is abutted to the carrier and is configured to limit movement of the carrier axially away from the rotary member so that the carrier does not move out of the pocket.

3. The decoupler according to claim 1 , wherein the edge of the pocket extends along a first radially extending axis that intersects a rotational axis of the rotary member.

4. The decoupler according to claim 3 , wherein an opposite edge of the pocket is defined by a second radially extending axis that intersects the rotational axis of the rotary member.

5. The decoupler according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one spring consists of a single torsion spring that is disposed about a rotational axis of the hub.

6. The decoupler according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one spring comprises a plurality of arcuate compression springs.

7. The decoupler according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier is formed of plastic.

8. The decoupler according to claim 1 , wherein the pocket is shaped as an annular segment.

9. The decoupler according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement end of the wrap spring is held firmly by the carrier.

10. The decoupler according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier is loose fit to the rotary member to allow the wrap spring some compliance.

11. The decoupler according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier is configured to permit movement of the wrap spring to reduce bending moments and stress concentrations.

12. The decoupler according to claim 1 , wherein the pocket extends less than 360 degrees about the rotary member.

13. The decoupler according to claim 1 , further comprising a spring support that is fixed to the drive member for common rotation, wherein the at least one spring comprises a torsion spring that extends axially along a rotational axis of the hub, and wherein a first end of the torsion spring is drivingly coupled to the spring support.

14. The decoupler according to claim 13 , further comprising a spring flange that is mounted to an axial end of the torsion spring opposite the spring support, and wherein a second end of the torsion spring is drivingly engaged to the spring flange.

15. The decoupler according to claim 13 , wherein one of the spring flange and the spring support has a leg and wherein the other one of the spring flange and the spring support has a slotted aperture into which the leg is received, wherein the leg and the slotted aperture cooperate to limit rotation of the spring flange relative to the spring support.

Assignees

• Litens Automotive Inc

Inventors

• Williams Warren

Classifications

• F16D3/12

  specially adapted for accumulation of energy to absorb shocks or vibration (by making use of fluid elements F16D3/80) · CPC title

• F16D41/206

  having axially adjacent coils, e.g. helical wrap-springs · CPC title

• B60K25/02 Primary

  directly from an engine shaft · CPC title

• F16H55/36

  Pulleys (with features essential for adjustment F16H55/52) · CPC title

• F16D43/24

  controlled by acceleration or deceleration of angular speed · CPC title