Warner Electric Technology, Inc.

Michael Humy

Brian K Holmbeck

James A Pardee

George Patrick Gill

Clinton Lee McClellan

Brian Holmbeck

A rotational coupling includes a hub assembly configured for rotation about a rotational axis. The hub assembly includes a hub disposed about the axis and configured to receive a shaft and a disc extending radially outwardly from the hub. An armature and electromagnet are disposed on opposite axial sides of the disc. The electromagnet is fixed against rotation. A bearing is disposed between the hub and the electromagnet. The hub assembly and electromagnet are separated by an air gap on an outboard side of the bearing. A debris shield is axially aligned with, and extends across the radial length of, the air gap and, in some embodiments, is at least partially disposed within the air gap. The shield has a fixed end coupled to one of the hub assembly and electromagnet during assembly and a free end configured to engage the other through a spring force and/or electromagnetic attraction.

Rotational coupling device with bearing shield

A rotational coupling includes a rotor configured for rotation about a rotational axis. The rotor includes a hub disposed about the axis and configured to receive a shaft and a disc extending radially outwardly from the hub. An armature and electromagnet are disposed on opposite axial sides of the disc. The electromagnet is fixed against rotation. A bearing is disposed between the hub and the electromagnet. The hub and electromagnet engage the inner and outer races, respectively of the bearing on opposite axial sides of the bearing. A spacer is disposed radially inwardly of the electromagnet and engages the inner race of the bearing on the same axial side of the bearing as the electromagnet. An air gap separates the spacer from the electromagnet. A shield is supported by the spacer and extends radially outwardly therefrom such that a portion of the shield is axially aligned with the air gap.

Rotational coupling device with flux conducting bearing shield

A rotational coupling includes a coupling disc configured to be disposed about a shaft having a rotational axis. An electromagnet assembly on one side of the coupling disc includes a housing and a conductor within the housing. An armature is disposed on an opposite side of the coupling disc opposite the conductor and the coupling disc, electromagnet assembly and armature form an electromagnetic circuit when current is supplied to the conductor to urge the armature towards engagement with the coupling disc. An anti-rotation mechanism for the electromagnet assembly includes one or more coupling permanent magnets and one or more fixed permanent magnets configured to be mounted to an outer surface of the housing of the electromagnet assembly and a fixed support structure, respectively. The coupling and fixed permanent magnets are arranged to inhibit movement of the coupling permanent magnets and electromagnet assembly in either rotational direction about the rotational axis.

Rotational coupling device with non-contact anti-rotation mechanism

A rotational coupling device is provided that minimizes flux leakage from a magnetic circuit that engages the device. The device includes a rotor and an armature defining opposed engagement surfaces. The rotor, the armature and a field shell disposed on one side of the rotor and housing an electrical conductor comprise members of a magnetic circuit that, upon energization of the conductor, draws the armature into engagement with the rotor. A torque transmission member is coupled to the armature and supported by a bearing. In one embodiment a sleeve is disposed radially inwardly of the bearing. To prevent flux leakage through the torque transmission member, the sleeve has a magnetic permeability that is lower than a magnetic permeability of the members of the magnetic circuit. In another embodiment, a support cup of the torque transmission member has a radially outwardly turned flange to distance the cup from the rotor.

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Roscoe, IL, United States of America

Michael Humy