Patent ID: 11892038
Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  B | IPC F

Claim 16:
17. A method of driving an accessory shaft of an accessory, comprising:
a) providing a clutch system that includes a rotary input member, a rotary output member that is operatively connected to the accessory shaft, and a wrap spring clutch having a first helical end, a second helical end, and a plurality of coils therebetween, wherein the first helical end is operatively engaged with the rotary output member, wherein the plurality of coils have a coil engagement surface that is one of a radially outer surface of the plurality of coils and a radially inner surface of the plurality of coils, wherein the second helical end is rotationally connected to the armature;
b) moving the armature to engage the rotary input member so as to drive the armature rotationally;
c) transmitting a first torque from the rotary input member to the armature, from the armature to the second helical end of the wrap spring clutch, from the second helical end of the wrap spring clutch to the first helical end of the wrap spring clutch and from the first helical end of the wrap spring clutch into the rotary output member to drive the rotary output member through a first range of motion, without moving the wrap spring clutch to a coil engagement position, thereby initiating rotation of the rotary output member from a stationary position without engagement of the coil engagement surface of the wrap spring clutch with the rotary input member;
d) after step c), transmitting a coil engagement torque that is higher than the first torque, thereby driving the coil engagement surface of the wrap spring clutch to engage the rotary input member; and
e) after step d), transmitting a second torque that is higher than the coil engagement torque to drive the accessory shaft to carry out an operation of the accessory.