Patent ID: 7775337
Filing Date: 2010-08-17
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
1. A rotatable magnetic clutch, comprising: a shaft including a clutch region and a flange, with the clutch region including a predetermined cross-sectional geometry; one or more shaft washers configured to fit onto the clutch region of the shaft, with a shaft washer of the one or more shaft washers including an aperture that substantially conforms to the predetermined cross-sectional geometry of the clutch region; a hub housing installed on the clutch region of the shaft, with the hub housing including a working region on an exterior of the hub housing, the working region adapted to transfer power to or from the hub housing, a chamber in an interior of the hub housing, and one or more hub washers in the chamber, with the one or more hub washers being configured to rotate with the hub housing and with the hub housing being configured to slide axially on the clutch region by a predetermined amount; a cap including a bearing device rotatably engaging the shaft, the cap installed to the hub housing, wherein the cap and the hub housing form a magnetic clutch hub when assembled and wherein the cap traps the flange in the chamber; one or more drag washers configured to rotatably fit within the chamber of the magnetic clutch hub and configured to rotatably fit onto the clutch region of the shaft, with a drag washer of the one or more drag washers being interposed between a corresponding shaft washer and a corresponding hub washer; and an actuator member axially movable on the shaft to magnetically compress the one or more hub washers, the one or more drag washers, and the one or more shaft washers between the magnetic clutch hub and the flange of the shaft in order to transfer rotational power between the magnetic clutch hub and the shaft, thereby rotating the hub housing and the shaft.