Power Transmission Technology, Inc.

Power Transmission Tech., Inc.

Keith A Nichols

David C Heidenreich

A multiple disc torque limiting clutch has an output hub in interference fit upon an output shaft. After being so assembled, as by a heat shrink fit, the output hub and shaft can be received by the remainder of the torque limiting clutch, consisting of interleaved friction discs and separator discs maintained between end plates. A pressure plate urges the friction discs and separator discs toward a fixed friction disc which is secured to the output hub. The force upon the pressure plate is attained by a Belleville spring and circumferentially spaced spring cup assemblies.

Torque limiter clutch

A torque limiting clutch for use with a hollow shafted motor has an input hub in operative connection with the hollow input shaft. A back plate is disposed at a fixed distance from the input hub. A plurality of interleaved friction disks and separator plates are interposed between the input hub and the back plate. A pressure plate is interposed between the input hub and the interleaved friction disks and separator plates. Spring cup assemblies are operatively interposed between the input hub and the pressure plate, urging the pressure plate toward the back plate and urging the friction disks and separator plates into frictional engagement. An output hub is connected to the friction disks and supported by a bearing from the back plate. An output shaft is connected to the output hub and extends through at least part of the hollow input shaft.

Multiple disk torque limiter for hollow shaft motors

A compact torque limiting clutch provides spring cup bolt assemblies for interengaging a pressure plate and input plate and input flange on opposite sides of a friction flange of an output hub. The spring cup assemblies include bolts employed for securing the clutch elements together, such bolts being restricted from rotating during the assembly process by engagement with noncircular apertures passing through the retainer plate. The torque limiting clutch is of a pancake design, contained between axially displaced planar surfaces defined by an input flange on one side and a pressure plate on the other.

Compact torque limiting clutch

A torque limiter has an input flange connected to an output hub through a force generating subassembly which includes a pressure plate and a cover plate having a plurality of springs interposed therebetween. The cover plate is fixedly secured to the input hub in fixed spaced apart relationship. A friction material is secured to opposite faces of a circumferential flange which is integral with the output hub. The friction surfaces engage the pressure plate and input hub, establishing the force transmitting interface. The force generating subassembly has a characteristic spring force associated therewith which is slightly increased when the assembly is completed. The total degradation of characteristic torque diminishes by only ten percent over the useful life of the clutch. The springs are color coded and visually verifiable.

Torque limiting clutch having set torque range over its useful life

A torque limit for interconnecton with a pair of coaxial shafts includes a stack of friction and separator discs alternately splined to drive shaft and to a housing affixed to a driven shaft. In a first embodiment, an annular ring receives a plurality of spring pistons for forcefully engaging the discs with each other. An inner separator disc is secured to an end of the drive shaft and an end plate is fixedly secured to the housing, such plates being in frictional contacting engagement with each other. With the inner disc being affixed to the drive shaft, restricted from both lateral and radial movement with respect thereto, bearing and spline corrosion and wear is minimized such that repair and maintenance costs are significantly reduced. In another embodiment, the discs are interposed between a pair of end plates fixed to an input hub. A bearing is interposed between one such end plate and an end plate of the output hub. The end plate of the output hub is fixedly secured to a stationary end friction plate. A plurality of torque pins interconnect the pair of end plates of the input hub and interconnect separator plates of the disc stack. A plurality of spring cup assemblies within the disc stack define the characteristic break away torque.

Friction disc torque limiter

A multiple disc torque limiting clutch is presented. A stack of friction discs are splined to an output hub with a stack of separator discs interposed therebetween and keyed to a housing. Spring cup assemblies are positioned through openings in the separator discs to urge the separator discs into forceful contacting engagement with the friction discs. The spring cup assemblies include a compressed helical spring maintained within a cylindrical member and transmitting the spring force through the cylindrical member against the stack of separator and friction discs. The housing elements are of substantially unitary construction, with no relative movement capable therebetween. A wear indicator passes through the housing and indicates the degree of wear of the disc elements, while clearances between the interior of the clutch and the exterior are maintained at a minimum to provide a substantially explosion proof unit.

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North Canton, OH, United States of America

Keith A Nichols