The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 26, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 02, 1994
James M Gruden, Centerville, OH (US);
Robert B Brooks, Jr, Washington Township, OH (US);
ITT Automotive Electrical Systems, inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
A centrifugal clutch for use with a power door lock actuator. The centrifugal clutch includes an independently rotatable pinion cup having an integral pinion gear which meshes with a jack screw, and a driver rotatably secured to an output shaft of a drive motor. The driver has at least one radially outwardly opening recess formed therein with at least one slider slidably retained within the recess. The slider is biased in a radially inward direction by magnetic lines of force which are provided by a permanent magnet mounted within the driver. Alternatively, a number of sliders can be formed of magnetic material such that the magnetic sliders are mutually attracted to one another in a radially inward direction. A centrifugal force is generated when the driver is rotated. The centrifugal force overcomes the magnetic attractive force to throw the sliders radially outwardly into positive driving engagement with the pinion cup. When the driver is no longer rotatably driven, the centrifugal force is eliminated and the magnetic attractive force then urges the sliders radially inwardly to break the positive driving engagement with the pinion cup.