Coupling device

Abstract

A coupling device operatively arranged between a drive unit and a rotary driven unit including a housing having first and second housing shells, a flange and a clutch assembly arranged to controllably engage a damper. The clutch assembly and damper are positioned within the housing, and the clutch assembly is arranged to directly frictionally engage the flange and first and second housing shells. The damper includes ends bearing against a portion of the flange.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded front perspective view of a coupling device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded back perspective view of the coupling device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a back elevation view of a first embodiment of a coupling device of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling device shown in FIG. 3, taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the flange, piston and clutch plates shown in the encircled region 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial front perspective view of a first housing shell of FIG. 1 showing a combination fastener-damper stop fixedly secured within the housing shell;

FIG. 7 is a partial back perspective view of the housing shell of FIG. 6 showing a first damper bearing surface;

FIG. 8 is a partial front perspective view of a second housing shell of FIG. 1 having a second damper bearing surface;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a hub; and,

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a clutch pack.

Claims

1. A coupling device operatively arranged to connect a drive unit to a rotary driven unit, comprising: a housing comprising first and second housing shells;a flange; and,a clutch assembly operatively arranged to control functioning of a damper, wherein said clutch assembly, flange and damper are positioned within said housing and said clutch assembly is arranged to directly connect said flange and said first and second housing shells.

2. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein said damper further comprises an end bearing against a portion of said flange.

3. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein said clutch assembly further comprises: at least one first clutch plate non-rotatably engaged with said flange and axially displaceable relative to said flange; and,a piston operatively arranged to frictionally engage said at least one first clutch plate with at least one of said housing shells.

4. The coupling device of claim 3 further comprising at least one second clutch plate fixedly secured to one of said housing shells, said piston operatively arranged to frictionally engage said at least one first clutch plate, said at least one second clutch plate and said at least one housing shell.

5. The coupling device of claim 3 wherein said at least one first clutch plate further comprises at least two first clutch plates and each said at least two first clutch plates comprises respective pluralities of first protrusions, wherein said flange comprises a plurality of openings, and wherein at least one opening in said plurality of openings is engaged with a protrusion from each of said respective pluralities of first protrusions.

6. The coupling device of claim 1 further comprising at least one combination fastener-damper stop, wherein said first housing shell comprises at least one opening, said at least one combination stop is disposed within said at least one opening, and said combination stop is operatively arranged to receive a fastener associated with said drive unit and provide a bearing surface for said damper.

7. The coupling device of claim 6 wherein said at least one combination stop is fixedly secured to said first housing shell.

8. The coupling device of claim 6 further comprising a longitudinal axis; and, wherein said combination stop further comprises a radial surface, said combination stop is arranged to receive said fastener at a plurality of locations on said surface, and each of said locations is at a different radial distance from said axis.

9. The coupling device of claim 1 further comprising at least one damper stop; and, wherein said second housing further comprises at least one second protrusion, said at least one damper stop is arranged to engage said at least one second protrusion, and a position of said at least one damper stop is adjustable using said engagement.

10. The coupling device of claim 1 further comprising a shim to control liftoff through said clutch assembly.

11. The coupling device of claim 1 further comprising a spring and a hub having a shoulder; and wherein said spring is axially restrained by said shoulder.

12. A coupling device operatively arranged to connect a drive unit to a rotary driven unit, comprising: a housing comprising first and second housing shells;a damper; and,at least one combination fastener-damper stop, wherein said first housing shell comprises at least one opening, said at least one combination stop is disposed within said at least one opening, and said combination stop is operatively arranged to receive a fastener associated with said drive unit and provide a bearing surface for said damper.

13. The coupling device of claim 12 wherein said at least one combination stop is fixedly secured to said first housing shell.

14. The coupling device of claim 12 further comprising a longitudinal axis; and, wherein said combination stop further comprises a radial surface, said combination stop is arranged to receive said fastener at a plurality of locations on said surface, and each of said locations is at a different radial distance from said axis.

15. The coupling device of claim 12 further comprising at least one damper stop; and, wherein said second housing further comprises at least one second protrusion, said at least one damper stop is arranged to engage said at least one second protrusion, and a position of said at least one damper stop is adjustable using said engagement.

16. The coupling device of claim 12 further comprising a clutch assembly operatively arranged to control functioning of said damper, wherein said clutch assembly and damper are positioned within said housing and said clutch assembly is arranged to frictionally engage at least one of said housing shells.

17. The coupling device of claim 16 wherein said at least one of said housing shells is said first housing shell.

18. The coupling device of claim 16 wherein said at least one of said housing shells is said second housing shell.

19. The coupling device of claim 16 wherein said at least one of said housing shells is said first and second housing shells.

20. The coupling device of claim 16 wherein said clutch assembly further comprises: a flange;at least one first clutch plate non-rotatably engaged with said flange; and,a piston operatively arranged to frictionally engage said at least one first clutch plate with at least one of said housing shells.

21. The coupling device of claim 20 wherein said damper further comprises an end bearing against a portion of said flange.

22. The coupling device of claim 20 further comprising at least one second clutch plate fixedly secured to one of said housing shells, said piston operatively arranged to frictionally engage said at least one first clutch plate, said at least one second clutch plate and said at least one housing shell.

23. The coupling device of claim 20 wherein said at least one first clutch plate further comprises at least two first clutch plates and each said at least two first clutch plates comprises respective pluralities of first protrusions, wherein said flange comprises a plurality of openings, and wherein at least one opening in said plurality of openings is engaged with a protrusion from each of said respective pluralities of first protrusions.

24. The coupling device of claim 12 further comprising a shim to control liftoff through said clutch assembly.

25. The coupling device of claim 12 further comprising a spring and a hub having a shoulder; and wherein said spring is axially restrained by said shoulder.

26. A coupling device operatively arranged to connect a drive unit to a rotary driven unit, comprising: a flange;a first clutch plate non-rotationally engaged with said flange; and,a second clutch plate non-rotationally engaged with said first clutch plate.

27. The coupling device of claim 26 wherein said first and second clutches comprise respective pluralities of first protrusions, wherein said flange comprises a plurality of openings, and wherein at least one opening in said plurality of openings is engaged with a protrusion from each of said respective pluralities of first protrusions.

28. The coupling device of claim 26 further comprising: a housing comprising first and second housing shells; and,a piston operatively arranged to frictionally engage said first clutch plate, said second clutch plate and at least one of said housing shells.

29. The coupling device of claim 28 further comprising a damper having an end bearing against a portion of said flange.

30. The coupling device of claim 28 further comprising a third clutch plate fixedly secured to one of said housing shells, said piston operatively arranged to frictionally engage said first clutch plate, said second clutch plate, said third clutch plate and said at least one housing shell.

31. The coupling device of claim 30 further comprising: at least one combination fastener-damper stop, wherein said first housing shell comprises at least one opening, said at least one combination stop is disposed within said at least one opening, and said combination stop is operatively arranged to receive a fastener associated with said drive unit and provide a bearing surface for said damper.

32. The coupling device of claim 31 wherein said at least one combination stop is fixedly secured to said first housing shell.

33. The coupling device of claim 31 further comprising a longitudinal axis; and, wherein said combination stop further comprises a radial surface, said combination stop is arranged to receive said fastener at a plurality of locations on said surface, and each of said locations is at a different radial distance from said axis.

34. The coupling device of claim 26 further comprising at least one damper stop; and, wherein said second housing further comprises at least one second protrusion, said at least one damper stop is arranged to engage said at least one second protrusion, and a position of said at least one damper stop is adjustable using said engagement.

35. The coupling device of claim 26 further comprising a clutch assembly operatively arranged to control functioning of said damper, wherein said clutch assembly and damper are positioned within said housing and said clutch assembly is arranged to frictionally engage at least one of said housing shells.

36. The coupling device of claim 35 wherein said at least one of said housing shells is said first housing shell.

37. The coupling device of claim 35 wherein said at least one of said housing shells is said second housing shell.

38. The coupling device of claim 35 wherein said at least one of said housing shells is said first and second housing shells.

39. The coupling device of claim 26 further comprising a shim to control liftoff through said clutch assembly.

40. The coupling device of claim 26 further comprising a spring and a hub having a shoulder; and wherein said spring is axially restrained by said shoulder.