Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an isolating pulley, and
more particularly, to an isolating pulley having a clutch
spring releasably engaged with an inertia carrier inner
surface upon a pressing contact of the pulley with the
clutch spring.
Background of the Invention
Diesel engine use for passenger car applications is
increasing due to the benefit of better fuel economy.
Further, gasoline engines are increasing compression
ratios to improve the fuel efficiency. As a result,
diesel and gasoline engine accessory drive systems have
to overcome the vibrations of greater magnitude from
crankshafts due to above mentioned changes in engines.
Due to increased crankshaft vibration plus high
acceleration/deceleration rates and high alternator
inertia the engine accessory drive system is often
experiencing belt chirp noise due to belt slip. This will
also reduce the belt operating life.
Crankshaft isolators/decouplers and alternator
decouplers/isolators have been widely used for engines
with high angular vibration to filter out vibration in
engine operation speed range and to also control belt
chirp .
Representative of the art is US serial number
13/541,216 which discloses an isolator decoupler having a
pulley temporarily engagable with an end of the wrap
spring one way clutch in an unwinding direction whereby a
temporary contact between the wrap spring one way clutch
end and the pulley will temporarily diminish the
frictional engagement of the wrap spring one way clutch
from the shaft.
What is needed is an isolating pulley having a
clutch spring releasably engaged with an inertia carrier
surface upon a pressing contact of the pulley with the
clutch spring. The present invention meets this need.
Summary of the Invention
The primary aspect of the invention is an isolating
pulley having a clutch spring releasably engaged with an
inertia carrier surface upon a pressing contact of the
pulley with the clutch spring.
Other aspects of the invention will be pointed out
or made obvious by the following description of the
invention and the accompanying drawings.
The invention comprises an isolating pulley
comprising a hub comprising an inertia carrier, the
inertia carrier having an inner surface, a spring carrier
journalled to the hub, the spring carrier having a
releasable driving engagement with the inertia carrier, a
pulley journalled to the hub, a spring drivingly engaged
between the spring carrier and the pulley, a clutch
spring having a frictional engagement with the inner
surface, and which frictional engagement is partially
releasable upon a temporary, pressing contact of the
pulley upon the clutch spring.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in
and form a part of the specification, illustrate
preferred embodiments of the present invention, and
together with a description, serve to explain the
principles of the invention.
Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the inventive
device .
Figure 2 is a cross-section view of the device.
Figure 3 is an exploded view of the device.
Figure 4a is a front elevation view of the spring
carrier .
Figure 4b is a rear elevation view of the spring carrier.
Figure 5a is a front elevation view of the pulley.
Figure 5b is a rear elevation view of the pulley.
Figure 6 is an elevation view of the interior of the
device .
Figure 7a is an elevation view of the front of the
inertia mass.
Figure 7b is an elevation view of the rear of the inertia
mass.
Figure 8 is an elevation view of the interior of the
inertia carrier.
Figure 9a is a detail of the spring.
Figure 9b is a detail of the spring.
Figure 9c is a detail of the spring.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the
inventive device. The device is typically attached to
the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine (not
shown) .
Figure 2 is a cross-section view of the device. The
inventive device comprises hub 1 . Hub 1 further
comprises a crankshaft sprocket 110 having a toothed
surface. Crankshaft sprocket 110 can be used to drive an
engine timing belt 900. Timing belt 900 is referred to as
a toothed or synchronous belt.
Thrust bearing 2 engages shoulder 60 on hub 1 .
Pulley 3 is journalled to hub 1 on bushing 11. Pulley 3
comprises a profile 300 for engaging a multi-ribbed belt
800. The multi-ribbed belt may be used to drive an
engine accessory system (not shown) . Spring 4 is engaged
between pulley 3 and spring carrier 14. Clutch spring 5
is engaged between spring carrier 14 and inertia carrier
16. Spring carrier 14 bears upon thrust bearing 6 .
Spring carrier 14 is journalled to hub 1 upon bushing 7 .
Inertia mass 17 is mounted to inertia carrier 16 by
rubber member 8 . Rubber member 8 comprises a natural or
synthetic elasotmeric or polymeric resilient material
suitable for damping axial and torsional vibrations which
arise from operation of the engine. Fasteners 9 attach
inertia carrier 16 to hub 1 .
Figure 3 is an exploded view of the device. Hub 1
is fixedly attached to an engine crankshaft (not shown) .
Dowel pin 10 is fixedly attached to hub 1 . Thrust
bearing 2 is located between pulley 3 and hub 1 . Bushing
11 is fixed to pulley 3 .
Figure 4a is a front elevation view of the spring
carrier. Figure 4b is a rear elevation view of the
spring carrier. Spring carrier 14 comprises a spring
receiving portion 140. Spring end 45 is received by slot
141. Spring surface 46 engages with spring receiving
portion 140. Spring surface 46 interfaces with spring
carrier portion 140.
Clutch spring 5 engages slot 142. End 56 of clutch
spring 5 engages slot 141 whereby clutch spring 5 is
retained .
Pulley 3 comprises a spring receiving portion 30,
see Figure 5a. Figure 5a is a front elevation view of
the pulley. Figure 5b is a rear elevation view of the
pulley. Slot 31 receives an end 40 of spring 4 . Spring
surface 41 interfaces with spring receiving portion 30.
Figure 6 is an elevation view of the interior of the
device. Release 13 is engaged with slot 32 of pulley 3
and is fastened in place via fastener 12. The position
of release member 13 can be adjusted in slot 32 to adjust
the release torque. Slot 32 comprises an arc having a
constant radius centered on the axis of rotation A-A.
Bumper 15 comprises elongate portion 151 and
elongate portion 152 joined by connecting member 153.
Bumper 19 comprises elongate portion 191 and elongate
portion 192 joined by connecting member 193.
Figure 7a is an elevation view of the front of the
inertia mass. Figure 7b is an elevation view of the rear
of the inertia mass. Connecting member 153 of bumper 15
nests in slot 167 and around tab 161. Elongate member
151 and elnongate member 152 are disposed on opposing
sides of tab 161. Connecting member 193 of bumper 19
nests in slot 166 and around tab 160. Elongate member
191 and elongate member 192 are disposed on opposing
sides of tab 190. Bumper 15 and bumper 19 comprise any
suitable resilient, compliant or compressible material
for absorbing the force of engagement with tabs 33 and
34. Tabs 33, 34 comprise projecting members.
Figure 8 is an elevation view of the interior of the
inertia carrier. Inertia carrier 16 has tab 160 and tab
161. Tab 160 and tab 161 are configured with slot 166
and slot 167 respectively. Tab 160 comprises face 162
and face 163. Tab 161 comprises face 164 and face 165.
Spring carrier tabs 33 and 34 engage bumpers 15 and 19.
Figure 9a is a detail of the spring. Spring 4
comprises a tab 45 at a first end and a tab 40 at a
second end. Flat surface 46 allows more of the spring
coil to seat on the spring carrier and thereby avoid
distortion. Flat surface 41 allows more of the spring
coil to seat on the pulley and thereby avoid distortion.
Each of flat surface 41 and 46 causes the respective end
of spring 4 to have a tapered form.
Figure 9b is a detail of the spring. Figure 9c is a
detail of the spring. Spring 4 comprises a coil spring.
Spring 4 may be loaded in either the winding or unwinding
direction. The torsional spring rate is in the range of
approximately 2 Nm/deg to approximately 5 Nm/deg.
In normal operation the engine drives the accessory
drive with torque flowing from pulley 3 to the accessory
drive belt and system. The system can comprise an
alternator, water pump, AC compressor or power steering.
During normal operation an operational condition known as
overrun also occurs. Overrun occurs when there is a
deceleration of the engine from a higher rpm, such as
slowing or approaching a stop light. Although engine
speed decreases the accessories will momentarily continue
operating at a higher speed of rotation due to their
combined inertia. The overrun condition causes the
accessory belt to reverse its loading on the crankshaft
such that it temporarily drives the crankshaft.
In driving operation torque transmission in the
inventive device is from hub 1 to inertia carrier 16, to
tabs 160 and 161, to bumpers 15 and 19, then to spring
carrier 14 through spring 4 to pulley 3 and then to a
belt to drive the accessories (not shown) . Spring 4 is
typically driven in an unwinding direction, but may also
be driven in a winding direction with equal success.
Tabs 160 and 161 apply force to bumpers 15 and 19 which
in turn apply force to spring carrier 14 through tabs 33
and 34. Tabs 33, 34 project from spring carrier 14.
Spring carrier 14 applies force to spring 4 through tab
45 engaged with slot 141. Spring 4 applies force to
pulley 3 via engagement of tab 40 with slot 31.
In the overrun condition torque transmission
reverses. Torque transmission is from pulley 3 to spring
4 to spring carrier 14 to clutch spring 5 to inertia
carrier 16 to hub 1 .
During overrun conditions the device limits overrun
torque applied to pulley 3 to levels that do not exceed a
predetermined release amount, for example, 15Nm. Pulley
3 applies torque to spring 4 . Spring 4 applies the
torque to spring carrier 14 which applies it to clutch
spring 5 which in turn applies it to inertia carrier 16.
Reverse rotation of pulley 3 allows release member 13 to
rotate toward clutch spring tab 55 until contact is made.
Overrun protection is then accomplished through the
release of engagement of clutch spring 5 from inner
surface 168 of inertia carrier 16. Inner surface 168 has
a cylindrical form and faces radially inward toward the
axis of rotation.
Clutch spring 5 is released from surface 168 upon
pressing contact of release 13 with clutch spring tab 55
because clutch spring 5 is thereby wound in a winding
direction which causes clutch spring 5 to radially
contract, which in turn causes clutch spring 5 to
disengage from surface 168 of inertia carrier 16.
Disengagement allows pulley 3 , spring 4 , spring carrier
14 and clutch spring 5 to rotate in unison relative to
inertia carrier 16. This in turn causes spring carrier
tabs 33 and 34 to lose contact with bumper 15 and bumper
19. However, clutch spring 5 does not completely
disengage from inertia carrier 16. Through frictional
drag there continues to be overrun or release torque
applied to inertia carrier 16 through clutch spring 5 . If
the torque drops below the predetermined release torque,
spring 5 locks to surface 168 and the relative rotational
motion stops.
The position of release member 13 is adjustable
within slot 32. The position of release member 13
determines the torque at which the release member 13
engages end 55. Adjustment can be used to either
increase or decrease the torque threshhold at which
release of clutch spring 5 occurs.
If the overrun torque continues, pulley 3 , spring 4 ,
spring carrier 14 and clutch spring 5 rotate with respect
to inertia carrier 16. Relative motion can continue
until spring carrier tab 33 and tab 34 come into contact
with the opposite sides of bumpers 15 and 19 after
approximately 180° of rotation from the drive position.
Contact between the tabs 33, 34 and bumpers 15, 19 limits
the amount of overrun rotation in the inventive device.
Upon return to normal operation wherein the engine
is driving the accessories, inertia carrier 16 rotates
relative to pulley 3 , spring 4 , spring carrier 14 and
clutch spring 5 until spring carrier tab 33 and tab 34
come back into contact with bumpers 15 and 19. This
represents approximately 180° of rotation from the
overrun position.
An advantage of the device is control of the
effective inertia torque of all driven components on the
crankshaft pulley due to engine deceleration so that
system problems such as noise and vibration are
significantly reduced. Further, dynamic belt slip, span
vibration and tensioner arm vibration are reduced or
eliminated. Further, controlled overrun reduces the
crankshaft rotational vibration or speed fluctuation
which is the primary excitation of the belt drive system.
Numerical information is provided by way of example
and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
Although a form of the invention has been described
herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art
that variations may be made in the construction and
relation of parts without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention described herein.

Claims
We claim:
1 . An isolating pulley comprising:
a hub (1) comprising an inertia carrier (16), the
inertia carrier having an inner surface (168);
a spring carrier (14) journalled to the hub, the
spring carrier having a releasable driving engagement
with the inertia carrier;
a pulley (3) journalled to the hub;
a spring (4) drivingly engaged between the spring
carrier and the pulley;
a clutch spring (5) having a frictional engagement
with the inner surface; and
which frictional engagement is partially releasable
upon a temporary, pressing contact of the pulley upon the
clutch spring.
2 . The isolating pulley as in claim 1 further comprising
an inertia member engaged with the inertia carrier, a
damping member disposed between the inertia carrier and
the inertia member.
3 . The isolating pulley as in claim 1 , wherein the hub
further comprises a toothed surface.
4 . The isolating pulley as in claim 1 , wherein the
spring is driven in an unwinding direction.
5 . The isolating pulley as in claim 1 , wherein the
pulley comprises an adjustable release member to adjust
an engagement torque with the clutch spring.
6 . An isolating pulley comprising:
a hub comprising an inertia carrier, the inertia
carrier having an inner surface;
a spring carrier journalled to the hub, the spring
carrier having a releasable driving engagement with the
inertia carrier;
a pulley journalled to the hub, the pulley
comprising an adjustable release member to adjust an
engagement torque with the clutch spring;
a spring drivingly engaged between the spring
carrier and the pulley;
a clutch spring having a frictional engagement with
the inner surface; and
which frictional engagement is partially releasable
upon a temporary, pressing contact of the pulley upon the
clutch spring.
7 . The isolating pulley as in claim 6 further comprising
an inertia member engaged with the inertia carrier, a
damping member disposed between the inertia carrier and
the inertia member.
8 . The isolating pulley as in claim 7 , wherein the hub
further comprises a toothed surface.
9 . The isolating pulley as in claim 8 , wherein the
spring is driven in an unwinding direction.
10. An isolating pulley comprising:
a hub comprising an inertia carrier, the inertia
carrier having an inner surface;
an inertia member engaged with the inertia carrier,
a damping member disposed between the inertia carrier and
the inertia member;
a spring carrier journalled to the hub, the spring
carrier having a releasable driving engagement with the
hub;
a pulley journalled to the hub, the pulley
comprising an adjustable release member to adjust an
engagement torque with an end of the clutch spring;
a spring drivingly engaged between the spring
carrier and the pulley;
a clutch spring having a frictional engagement with
the inner surface; and
which frictional engagement is partially releasable
upon a temporary, pressing contact of the pulley upon the
clutch spring in a winding direction.
11. The isolating pulley as in claim 10, wherein:
the spring carrier comprises a projecting member
engagable with a cooperating member projecting from the
hub .
12. The isolating pulley as in claim 11, wherein:
the cooperating member projecting from the hub
comprises a resilient material.
13. The isolating pulley as in claim 12, wherein the
pulley comprises an adjustable release member to adjust
an engagement torque with the clutch spring.
14. The isolating pulley as in claim 13, wherein the
spring is driven in an unwinding direction.
15. The isolating pulley as in claim 14, wherein the hub
comprises a toothed surface.
16. The isolating pulley as in claim 15, wherein the
pulley comprises a multi-ribbed surface.