Patent ID: 8485331

Claim:
A clutched device comprising: a clutch assembly comprising a first rotary clutch portion, a second rotary clutch portion, a drive member, a wrap spring and an actuator, the first and second rotary clutch portions being rotatably disposed about a rotary axis of the clutched device, the drive member being disposed about the rotary axis and having an interior clutch surface, the wrap spring having a first end, a second end and a plurality of helical coils that extend axially between the first and second ends, the first end being fixed to the first rotary clutch portion, the second end contacting the second rotary clutch portion, the helical coils being received against the interior clutch surface, the actuator comprising an actuator member that is coupled to the first rotary clutch portion for rotation therewith, the actuator member being axially movable along the rotary axis between a first position and a second position to control rotary drag forces within the clutch assembly to effect engagement and disengagement, respectively, of the clutch assembly; wherein the actuator further comprises an electromagnet that is configured to generate a magnetic field for attracting the actuator member, repulsing the actuator member or both, and wherein at least one of the actuator member and a component of the clutch device that is configured to limit axial movement of the actuator member includes a material that is configured to contact the other one of the actuator and the component of the clutch device, the material being configured to improve wear resistance, reduce noise and/or stabilize dynamics of one or more components of the clutch assembly during engagement, disengagement or both engagement and disengagement of the clutch assembly; wherein the wrap spring is formed of wire and wherein at least a portion of the rotary power input to the wrap spring is transmitted longitudinally through the wire and is output from the wire through an axial end face of the second end of the wrap spring, and wherein the axial end face of the second end of the wrap spring abuts a surface of the second rotary clutch portion so that rotary power is transmitted from the axial end face to the surface of the second rotary clutch portion.