Title
Isolating Decoupler
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an isolating decoupler, and
more particularly, to an isolating decoupler comprising a
wrap spring engaged between the carrier and the shaft,
the wrap spring comprising a cylindrical inner portion
and a planar outer portion connected by a tapered
portion, and the inner portion frictionally engaged with
the shaft in a winding direction.
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 decoupler comprising
a wrap spring engaged between the carrier and the shaft,
the wrap spring comprising a cylindrical inner portion
and a planar outer portion connected by a tapered
portion, and the inner portion frictionally engaged with
the shaft in a winding direction. The present invention
meets this need.
Summary of the Invention
The primary aspect of the invention is an isolating
decoupler comprising a wrap spring engaged between the
carrier and the shaft, the wrap spring comprising a
cylindrical inner portion and a planar outer portion
connected by a tapered portion, and the inner portion
frictionally engaged with the shaft in a winding
direction .
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 isolator decoupler
comprising a shaft, a pulley journalled to the shaft, a
torsion spring engaged between the pulley and a carrier,
the torsion spring loaded in an unwinding direction, a
wrap spring engaged between the carrier and the shaft,
the wrap spring comprising a cylindrical inner portion
and a planar outer portion connected by a tapered
portion, and the inner portion frictionally engaged with
the shaft in a winding direction.
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.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device.
Fig. 2 is a cross-section view of the device.
Fig. 3 is a detail of the cross-section view of the
device.
Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the device.
Fig. 5A is a perspective view of the interior of the
device .
Fig. 5B is a perspective cross-sectional view of the
device.
Fig. 6 is a back perspective view of the carrier.
Fig. 7 is a front perspective view of the carrier.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the wrap spring and the
pulley .
Fig. 9 is a detail of the transition portion of the wrap
spring .
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device. Fig. 2 is a
cross-section view of the device. Isolating decoupler 100
comprises a pulley 2 which is journalled to a shaft 1 by
a bearing 7 . Thrust washer 3 is disposed between pulley
2 and end cap 5 . Thrust washer 6 is disposed between
pulley 2 and shaft 1 . Torsion spring 10 is engaged
between pulley 2 and carrier 9 . Wrap spring 11 is
engaged between carrier 9 and shaft 1 . Thrust washer 22
is disposed between carrier 9 and radial member 2 1 of
shaft 1 . Carrier 9 bears upon thrust washer 22 due to
compression of torsion spring 10 between carrier 9 and
pulley 2 . Carrier 9 and wrap spring 11 comprise the one
way clutch assembly 50. Fig. 6 is a back perspective view
of the carrier. Fig. 7 is a front perspective view of
the carrier.
Pulley 2 is axially located on shaft 1 between
thrust washers 3 and 6 , and retained thereon by end cap
5 . Upon installation of the device on the shaft of an
alternator (not shown) , end cap 5 becomes sandwiched
between an alternator bearing inner race and shaft 1 .
This axially fixes the location of the inventive device
100 on the alternator shaft. Shaft 1 can be threadably
fastened to the alternator shaft.
Fig. 6 is a back perspective view of the carrier.
Fig. 7 is a front perspective view of the carrier. Oneway
clutch assembly 50 comprises carrier 9 and wrap
spring 11. Carrier 9 comprises a face 77. End 78 of
torsion spring 10 bears upon face 77. The other end 79
of torsion spring 10 engages pulley 2 .
Wrap spring 11 comprises an outer planar spiral
coiled portion 93 and an inner cylindrical coiled portion
94, see Fig. 8 . Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the wrap
spring and the pulley. Planar outer portion 93 and
cylindrical inner portion 94 are connected by a
tangential portion 155. Portion 155 extends radially
outward from and tangentially from inner portion 94.
Portion 93 comprises coils having a radius which
increases radially outward such that the coils are
stacked radially outward one on the next in a radially
outward spiraling manner, namely, the coils are coplanar
within a plane that extends normally to an axis of
rotation A-A. Wrap spring end 85 is torque limiting and
end 89 is for receiving torque input.
Wrap spring 11 is engaged between carrier 9 and
shaft 1 . Wrap spring portion 110 of inner portion 94
frictionally engages shaft surface 53 of shaft 1 . Wrap
spring outer portion 93 engages carrier 9 in receiving
portion 91.
In the inventive device, torque is transmitted from
pulley 2 through torsion spring 10 through one-way clutch
assembly 50 to shaft 1 in the direction of rotation of
pulley 2 . Torque is transmitted by wrap spring 11 in the
winding direction. Torsion spring 10 is loaded in the
unwinding direction. In the unloaded or overrunning
direction end 78 may disengage from face 77 or from
pulley 2 or both, although this is not preferable since
it can cause noise and damage to the device.
Fig. 9 is a detail of the transition portion of the
wrap spring. The length of each zone in Figure 9 is not
to scale. Wrap spring 11 comprises a variable crosssection
along the axial length of the spring wire. The
variable cross-section characteristic comprises three
portions or zones: constant cross-section zone 110,
variable or tapered cross-section zone 120, and constant
cross-section zone 130. The cross-sectional dimension of
zone 130 is approximately 1.5 mm x 2.5 mm. The crosssectional
dimension of zone 110 is approximately 0.6 mm x
1.2 mm. The numerical values given in this specification
are examples only and are not intended to limit the scope
of the invention.
Zone 130 takes load from carrier 9 at end 89.
Carrier 9 is in contact with torsion spring 10 at contact
face 77. Zone 130 is wound on a spiral. The spiral
nature of zone 130 acts as an energy absorbing interface.
For example, as the pulley rotates the coils of zone 130
partially wind and unwind depending on the direction of
rotation or acceleration of the pulley. Zone 130 must be
fully "wound up" before full torque is transmitted to
shaft 1 . In this way the wrap spring acts as a compliant
member to isolate the alternator from shocks that may be
caused by abrupt engine speed changes. This is also the
manner in which the torsion spring operates, namely, to
allow the alternator shaft to overrun when an engine
deceleration occurs.
Wrap spring 11 comprises constant cross-section zone
110 and variable cross-section zone 120. Zone 130
connects to zone 120 at portion 1213. Zone 120 connects
to zone 110 at portion 1112. Zone 120 is tapered
comprising a cross-sectional dimension that varies from
1.5 mm x 2.5 mm at portion 1213 to 0.6 mm x 1.2 mm at
portion 1112. This transition in cross section occurs
gradually from the end of zone 130 through tangential
portion 155 and continues through the next two to three
coils of inner portion 94. Fig. 9 is a detail of the
transition portion of the wrap spring.
Maximum torque for an alternator is in the range of
16-20 N-m. At the connection point between tangential
portion 155 and zone 120 operational tension will
generate approximately 16 to 2 0 N-m torque at zone 120.
At connection 1120 between zone 120 and zone 110
operational tension will generate torque approximately
6.5 to 10 times less than the maximum torque delivered by
torsion spring 10.
For example, the tension in wrap spring 11 can be
determined by the following formula:
T1/T2=e
Where
T1/T2 = tension ratio.
m = coefficient of friction between wrap spring and
shaft .
f = angle of contact between wrap spring and shaft in
radians .
For the given example, with a coefficient of
friction of 0.12 and an angle of contact representing
three coils 3*2*n = 18.85; tension ratio is 9.6. With a
coefficient of friction of 0.10; the tension ratio is
6.6. In practical terms since the coefficient of
friction may vary it is reasonable to expect the tension
ratio to be in the range of approximately 6.5 to 10.
The reduced torque is due to zone 120 generating 17
to 18 N-m torque on shaft 1 . At connection 1120 there
remains a tensile load within zone 120 that generates
about 2 to 3 N-m torque in zone 110. The cross-sectional
dimension of zone 110 is approximately 0.6 mm x 1.2 mm.
Zone 110 comprises 9-10 spring coils.
There is no interference or only a small
interference between variable cross-section zone 120 and
shaft 1 . This means that variable cross-section zone 120
can only transmit 1 to 2 N-m torque through frictional
engagement. Zone 110 works as a trigger or a switch for
variable cross-section zone 120. Zone 110 has an
interference fit with shaft 1 to transmit 2-3 N-m of
torque .
In normal operation end 85 of wrap spring 11 does
not come into contact with pulley 2 . As the torque input
through pulley 2 to the device increases the relative
distance between tab 68 of pulley 2 with respect to end
85 will decrease. Once contact occurs at a predetermined
torque input, further pressing contact (caused by
increasing torque) between tab 68 and end 85 will cause
wrap spring 11 to progressively disengage from shaft
surface 53 thereby allowing pulley 2 to "slip" past shaft
1 . This is because a further relative movement of tab 68
against end 85 causes wrap spring 11 to move in the
unwinding direction, which increases the diameter of wrap
spring 11, which progressively and incrementally
disengages wrap spring 11 from shaft surface 53. This
progressive or incremental contact causes the magnitude
of the frictional engagement between the wrap spring and
the shaft to be incrementally reduced by the incremental
pressure from the pulley. As the over-torque
increases the wrap spring is further and further unwound
from the shaft, thereby allowing the pulley greater
freedom to slip past the shaft, which in turn "bleeds"
off the high torque. This torque release function
protects the device and driven component from an overtorque
situation.
Wrap spring 11 is made from a continuous piece of
spring wire. The spring wire is produced from a wire
having an initial cross-sectional dimension of 1.5 mm x
2.5 mm, which is also the cross-section of zone 130. In
order to obtain the variable cross section of zone 120
and the smaller cross section of zone 110, each spring
wire must be processed. The first step is to cut the
spring wire to length. Next, multiple spring wires are
loaded in a fixture such that they are parallel, oriented
to rest on the 1.5mm side. The spring wires are then
gang ground to obtain a taper from 2.5 mm to 1.2 mm of
zone 120 and the 1.2 mm dimension of zone 110. Next the
spring wires are removed from the fixture and placed on a
magnetic table oriented such that they are parallel and
rest on the side formerly 2.5 mm in length (the newly
ground 1.2mm side) . The spring wires are then gang
ground to obtain the second transition from 1.5 mm to 0.6
mm along zone 120 and the final thickness of 0.6 mm for
zone 110. The machined spring wire is then processed on
typical spring manufacturing winding equipment into the
wound shape of wrap spring 11.
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 isolator decoupler comprising:
a shaft (1);
a pulley (2) journalled to the shaft;
a torsion spring (10) engaged between the pulley and
a carrier (9), the torsion spring loaded in an unwinding
direction;
a wrap spring (11) engaged between the carrier and
the shaft;
the wrap spring comprising a cylindrical inner
portion (94) and a planar outer portion (93) connected by
a tapered portion (155); and
the inner portion frictionally engaged with the
shaft in a winding direction.
2 . The isolator decoupler as in claim 1 , wherein the
tapered portion extends tangentially to the inner
portion .
3 . The isolator decoupler as in claim 1 , wherein the
inner portion comprises a plurality of coils.
4 . The isolator decoupler as in claim 1 , wherein the
pulley is temporarily engagable with the inner portion
such that the magnitude of a frictional engagement
between the inner portion and the shaft is progressively
reduced upon a pressing contact by the pulley.
5 . The isolator decoupler as in claim 1 , wherein the
outer portion is disposed within a carrier receiving
portion .
6 . The isolator decoupler as in claim 1 , wherein a
cross-section of the inner portion is less than the
cross-section of the outer portion.
7 . An isolator decoupler comprising:
a shaft;
a pulley journalled to the shaft;
a torsion spring engaged between the pulley and a
carrier, the torsion spring loaded in an unwinding
direction;
a wrap spring engaged between the carrier and the
shaft ;
the wrap spring comprising a cylindrical inner
portion extending axially and a coplanar outer portion
connected to the inner portion by a tapered portion;
the inner portion frictionally engaged with the
shaft in a winding direction; and
the pulley temporarily engagable with the inner
portion such that the magnitude of a frictional
engagement between the inner portion and the shaft is
incrementally reduced upon an increase in torque applied
to the pulley.
8 . The isolator decoupler as in claim 7 , wherein the
tapered portion extends tangentially to the inner
portion .
9 . The isolator decoupler as in claim 7 , wherein a
cross-section of the inner portion is dimensionally
smaller than the outer portion.
10. An isolator decoupler comprising:
a shaft;
a pulley journalled to the shaft;
a torsion spring engaged between the pulley and a
carrier, the torsion spring loaded in an unwinding
direction;
a wrap spring engaged between the carrier and the
shaft;
the wrap spring comprising a cylindrical inner
portion and a planar spiral outer portion connected by a
tangential portion;
the inner portion frictionally engaged with the
shaft in an inner portion winding direction; and
the inner portion incrementally releasable from the
frictional engagement with the shaft upon a pressing
contact by the pulley.
11. The isolator decoupler as in claim 10, wherein the
outer portion is disposed within a carrier receiving
portion .
12. The isolator decoupler as in claim 10, wherein a
cross-section of the inner portion is dimensionally
smaller than the outer portion.
13. The isolator decoupler as in claim 10 further
comprising :
a first thrust member and second thrust member
axially constraining the pulley on the shaft; and
an end member retaining the pulley on the shaft.
14. The isolator decoupler as in claim 10, wherein the
tangential portion is tapered.
15. The isolator decoupler as in claim 10, wherein the
inner portion comprises a plurality of coils extending
along a rotational axis A-A.
16. A method of forming a spring wire comprising:
cutting a spring wire having a cross-sectional
dimension of 1.5 mm x 2.5 mm to a predetermined length;
loading multiple spring wires into a fixture wherein
the spring wires are parallel and resting on the 1.5 mm
side ;
gang grinding the spring wires to obtain a portion
having taper from 2.5 mm to 1.2 mm;
removing the spring wires from the fixture and
placing them on a magnetic table so the spring wires are
parallel and rest on the 1.2 mm side;
gang grinding the spring wires to obtain a second
portion having a taper from 1.5 mm to 0.6 mm; and
winding each spring wire into a final shape.
17. The method as in claim 16, wherein:
winding each spring wire to comprise an inner
portion and an outer portion connected by a tangential
portion;
configuring the inner portion to be cylindrical;
configuring the outer portion to be coplanar; and
the coplanar portion being normally disposed to an
axis A-A of the inner portion.
18. An isolator decoupler comprising:
a shaft;
a pulley journalled to the shaft;
a spring engaged between the pulley and a carrier,
the spring loaded in an unwinding direction;
a wrap spring engaged between the carrier and the
shaft ;
the wrap spring comprising a cylindrical inner
portion and a planar spiral outer portion, the outer
portion engaged with the carrier;
the inner portion frictionally engaged with the
shaft in a winding direction; and
the inner portion frictional engagement
incrementally releasable from the shaft upon application
of an incremental pressure by the pulley to the inner
portion .