Dana Corporation

Daniel L DeYoung

Dwight E Booth

Steven A Kruger

One face of a coupling disc (i.e., the armature or rotor) of an electromagnetic coupling such as a clutch or brake is formed with a plurality of radially spaced and circumferentially extending grooves. The other face of the disc is formed with a plurality of radially spaced rows of circumferentially extending slots which communicate with the grooves so as to form air gaps completely through the disc. In the preferred embodiment, each groove is circumferentially continuous while each row of slots is defined by circumferentially spaced slots which are separated by short bridges. By virtue of forming the grooves in the disc, only a small thickness of material need be removed from the disc in order to form the slots.

Electromagnetic coupling discs and method of making the same

An armature assembly for an electromagnetic clutch includes a plastic spider having a central sleeve which is joined to a central driven hub by insert molding. A circular web is molded integrally with and extends radially from the sleeve and carries an annular armature disc which is adapted to coact with the electromagnetic rotor of the clutch. When the clutch is energized, the web flexes adjacent the sleeve in the manner of a living hinge to enable the armature disc to move axially into engagement with the rotor. Upon de-energization of the clutch, the resilient memory of the plastic retracts the armature disc from the rotor. In addition to eliminating the need for separate springs and other components, the plastic spider provides torsional and acoustical dampening.

Armature assembly for an electromagnetic coupling

The non-working face of a coupling disc (i.e., the armature or rotor) of an electromagnetic coupling such as a clutch or brake is formed with radially spaced rows of angularly spaced grooves separated by radially extending bridges. The grooves terminate short of the working face of the disc and delineate magnetic poles in the disc. In some embodiments, radially spaced rows of grooves also are formed in the working face of the disc. In still other embodiments, excess metal resulting from rolling of the grooves in the non-working face of the disc is used to form integral locating flanges or the like adjacent the disc.

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Roscoe, IL, United States of America

Daniel L DeYoung