Horton, Inc.

Horton Industries, Inc.

Kent Carlson

John B Davis

Robert C Bredt

Rick Vatsaas

David Walberg

Darren Reasy

Integral steel-aluminum ring for eddy current activated friction clutch

Rotational control apparatus in the forms of fan clutches (A, A') are shown including an eddy current drive (224). Specifically, the eddy current drive (224) includes a plurality of permanent magnets (226) mounted circumferentially spaced and with alternating polarity by a holder (228) to the input or output of the clutch (A, A') and a magnetically conductive ring (242) mounted to the other of the input or output of the clutch (A, A'). Thus, the output portion and the fan blades mounted thereto are driven at engine speeds when the clutch (A, A') is air actuated and are driven at a rotational speed less than engine speed by the eddy current drive (224) when the clutch (A, A') is not air actuated and without separate controls for the eddy current drive (224). A housing (62) comprises the output portion of the clutch (A) which is rotatably mounted by a bearing (58) to the hub portion (24) of a friction disc (28) which comprises the input portion of the clutch (A). In other forms, the output portion of the clutch (A') is in the form of a hub (20') rotatably mounted on a stationary shaft (24') and the input portion is in the form of a sheave (50') rotatable relative to the hub (20') and the shaft (24'). Additionally, the hub (20') can be braked by rotatably relating the hub (20') to the shaft (24'). In one form, the friction ring (252) includes peripheral gear teeth (256) in slideable gearing relation with gear teeth (250) formed in the housing (62) and is formed of fiber brake material to act as a dampener between the friction disc (28) and the housing (62) to absorb torsional vibration.

Rotational control apparatus

A device (110) for protecting a clutch (C) against overheating from externally caused problems such as rapid cycling is disclosed including a heat conductive plug (120) sealed in an escape port (116) of a fitting (112) by fuse material (124) such as lead. The fitting (112) is threadably, sealably received in a bore (104) formed in the friction interface disc (12) of the clutch (C). The bore (104) is in fluid communication with the cylinder (30) of the clutch (10) which slideably mounts a piston (10) connected to the friction interface disc (12). Fluid pressure introduced into the cylinder (30) by conventional conduits (42) moves the piston (10) therein against the bias of a spring (56) when fluid flow from the cylinder (30) through the bore (104) is blocked by the overheating protection device (110). When heat resulting from clutch temperatures exceeding normal operating temperatures and conducted to the fitting (112) and the device (110) is sufficient to melt the fuse material (124), the plug (120) is ejected from the escape port (116) by the fluid pressure communicated from the cylinder (30) to the bore (104). The fluid pressure of the cylinder (30) will be insufficient to move the piston (10) against the bias of the spring (56) when the escape port (116) is not sealed by the plug (120) and fuse material (124).

Overheating protection device for rotational control apparatus

Growing community of inventors

Britton, SD, United States of America

Kent Carlson