Patent ID: 6375442
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: F02B

Abstract:
A rotary blower of either the backflow or compression type comprising a housing assembly including a main housing and a clutch housing, said main housing defining a blower chamber; blower rotor assemblies disposed in said blower chamber for effecting transfer of volumes of fluid in response to rotation of an input shaft; one of said blower rotor assemblies being operably mounted on a rotor shaft and having an input portion disposed adjacent said input shaft; and a clutch assembly disposed in said clutch housing and in driven relationship with said input shaft, and in driving relationship with said input portion, said clutch assembly being selectively operable between an engaged condition, operable to transmit torque from said input shaft to said input portion, and a disengaged condition; said clutch assembly including a first set of clutch discs fixed for rotation with said input shaft and a second set of clutch discs fixed for rotation with a clutch cage which is fixed for rotation with said input portion; stationary biasing means normally biasing said first and second sets of clutch discs toward said engaged condition; a stationary piston member cooperating with said clutch housing to define a pressure chamber, said piston member being axially moveable, in response to the presence of relatively high pressure fluid in said pressure chamber to a position releasing said biasing means and permitting said clutch assembly to move to said disengage d condition; characterized by:(a) said clutch cage including a cylindrical portion fixed for rotation with said input portion while being axially moveable relative thereto; (b) said stationary biasing means including a plate member disposed axially adjacent said clutch cage and a spring member disposed to bias said plate member toward said clutch cage; said plate member including a cylindrical portion; and (c) a bearing set disposed radially between said cylindrical portion of said clutch cage and said cylindrical portion of said plate member, whereby an axial clutch loading force transmitted to said plate member by said spring is transmitted by said p late member through said bearing set to said clutch cage, thus loading said clutch assembly, without the occurrence of sliding rotary engagement between stationary and rotating members.