Patent ID: 7040473

Claim:
Electromagnetic friction clutch for a vehicle door or a vehicle access cover, for arrangement inside a driveline connecting a drive motor ( 2 ) and one of a vehicle door and a vehicle access cover, comprising a clutch ( 5 ), which is arranged in a housing ( 3 ), said clutch ( 5 ) comprising a rotor part ( 16 ), which is provided with a friction lining ( 17 ) and is rotationally locked to a first shaft ( 15 ), and on which an electrical coil ( 19 ) is arranged on a side remote from the friction lining ( 17 ), and an armature plate ( 14 ) which is rotationally locked to but axially displaceable on a second shaft ( 8 ) and which when the clutch ( 5 ) is energized is drawn against the friction lining ( 17 ) of the rotator part ( 16 ) on the first shaft ( 15 ), establishing a frictional connection between the two shafts ( 8 , 15 ), wherein the armature plate ( 14 ) is acted upon in an axial direction by at least one elastic element ( 21 ), in such a way that when the clutch ( 5 ) is de-energized the armature plate ( 14 ) is pressed against friction lining ( 17 ) of the rotor part ( 16 ) with a force which in operation is sufficient to maintain the vehicle door or the vehicle access cover securely in the respective position assumed when the clutch ( 5 ) was de-energized, and that the frictional connection between the armature plate ( 14 ) and the friction lining ( 17 ) can be overcome on subsequent manual operation of the vehicle door or vehicle access cover.