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:
Oct. 10, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 13, 1998
Warner Electric Technology, Inc., Richmond, VA (US);
Abstract
An armature assembly for a selectively engageable and disengageable electromagnetic coupling is provided. The armature assembly includes a hub having a central axis that is disposed radially outwardly, and mounted for rotation with, a shaft used to drive an air-conditioning compressor. The assembly also includes a resiliently flexible spider disposed radially outwardly of the hub. The spider is fixed against rotation relative to the hub, but is able to flex axially relative to the hub at a hinge. The armature assembly further includes an annular armature disc disposed radially outwardly of the hub and connected to a first side of the spider. Finally, the armature assembly includes a counterweight disposed on a second side of the spider. The counterweight may be integral with the spider or connected to the hub. An armature assembly in accordance with the present invention balances the dynamic loads present in the electromagnetic coupling without substantially affecting the living hinge of the resiliently flexible spider. The armature assembly is also able to retain the armature disc in the event of a failure of the spider.