Decoupler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9682621-B2
Application number	US-201414653380-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2014
Priority date	Jan 31, 2013
Publication date	Jun 20, 2017
Grant date	Jun 20, 2017

Abstract

In an aspect, a decoupler is provided, and included a driver having a clutch surface a hub that is disposed within the driver, and at least one torsionally-compliant member and a wrap spring clutch that are disposed in series between the hub and the clutch surface. The driver comprises a pulley and a cover that is received into a cavity in the pulley. The pulley has a belt-engagement surface and is fixedly coupled to the cover for rotation therewith. The cover defines the clutch surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A decoupler, comprising:
a driver having a clutch surface;
a hub that is disposed within the driver; and
at least one torsionally-compliant member and a wrap spring clutch that are disposed in series between the hub and the clutch surface,
wherein the driver comprises a pulley and a cover that is received into a cavity in the pulley, wherein the pulley has a belt-engagement surface and is fixedly coupled to the cover for rotation therewith, the cover defining the clutch surface;
wherein one of the pulley and cover has a first surface with a securing feature comprising at least one of knurls and reeds, formed thereon that engages a second surface on the other one of the pulley and cover in a press fit manner.

2. A decoupler as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the clutch surface is painted.

3. A decoupler as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the decoupler further comprises a liquid lubricant and wherein the cover comprises a plurality of vanes that are configured to direct the liquid lubricant in a radially inward direction when the cover rotates in a predetermined rotational direction relative to the hub.

4. A decoupler as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cover has an inwardly facing surface that faces the cavity, and wherein the decoupler further comprises a cover lip seal that seals an aperture between the cover and the hub, wherein the lip seal has a flange that engages the inwardly facing surface to prevent the lip seal from being passed through the aperture.

5. A decoupler as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cover is hardened.

6. A decoupler as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one torsionally compliant member includes a plurality of arcuate springs.

7. A decoupler as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the hub includes a plurality of hub tabs, each hub tab extending across a corresponding one of the arcuate springs along a path that intersects a centerline of the corresponding one of the arcuate springs.

8. A decoupler as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the hub is a stamping and is part of a hub assembly that includes a shaft member to which the hub is mounted.

9. A decoupler, comprising:
a driver defining a clutch surface;
a hub that is disposed within the driver; and
a torsionally-compliant member and a one-way clutch that are disposed in series in a torque path between the hub and the driver, the one-way clutch permitting rotary power to be transferred from one of the driver and the hub to the other one of the driver and the hub in a first rotary direction, the one-way clutch also permitting the other one of the driver and the hub to overrun the one of the driver and the hub in the first rotary direction, the one-way clutch having a carrier assembly, a wrap spring clutch and a spring limiter, the wrap spring clutch being formed of wire and having a first end, a plurality of helical coils, and a second end that is opposite the first end, the first end is coupled to the carrier assembly for rotation therewith, the plurality of helical coils being engaged to the clutch surface, the spring limiter being configured to limit axial elongation of the wrap spring clutch by limiting movement of the second end, wherein the spring limiter is non-rotatably but axially movably coupled to the carrier assembly,
wherein a plurality of latch mechanisms couple the spring limiter to the carrier assembly.

10. A decoupler as claimed in claim 9 , wherein each latch mechanism includes a lock tab and a latch that is engaged to the lock tab.

11. A decoupler as claimed in claim 10 , wherein each lock tab comprises a stem and a tab member, a first end of the stem being fixedly coupled to one of the carrier assembly and the spring limiter, the tab member being fixed to a second, opposite end of the stem and being received into a corresponding one of the latches.

12. A decoupler as claimed in claim 11 , wherein each latch comprises a plurality of fingers that are fixedly coupled to the other one of the carrier assembly and the spring limiter.

13. A decoupler as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the fingers define abutting walls and wherein contact between the tab members and abutting walls limits axial movement of the spring limiter in a direction away from the carrier assembly.

14. A decoupler, comprising:
a driver having a clutch surface;
a hub that is disposed within the driver; and
at least one arcuate spring and a wrap spring clutch that are disposed in series between the hub and the clutch surface, wherein the at least one arcuate spring has a generally circular cross-sectional shape and having a center axis
wherein the hub includes a hub body defining a plane and at least one hub tab extending away from the plane at an angle that is less than 90 degrees, wherein each hub tab extends across an axial end of a corresponding one of the at least one arcuate spring along a path that intersects the center axis of the corresponding one of the at least arcuate spring.

15. A decoupler as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the at least one hub tab extends away from the plane at about 45 degrees.

Assignees

• Litens Automotive Inc

Inventors

• Dell James W
• Antchak John R

Classifications

• F02B67/06

  driven by means of chains, belts, or like endless members · CPC title

• F16H2055/366

  with means providing resilience or vibration damping · CPC title

• F16D41/206

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

• F16D13/76

  specially adapted to incorporate with other transmission parts, i.e. at least one of the clutch parts also having another function, e.g. being the disc of a pulley · CPC title

• F16H55/36

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