Abstract: A power transmitting mechanism transmits power from an engine to a drive shaft of a compressor. A pulley is supported by the compressor and is coupled to the engine. A hub is attached to the drive shaft. Rollers are located on the pulley. Elastic transmission arms are located between the pulley and the hub. The distal end of each arm is curved, and the proximal end is coupled to the hub. When the rollers are engaged with the arms, power is transmitted between the pulley and the hub. When, due to excessive torque, the rollers escape from the corresponding arm, power transmission between the pulley and the hub is disconnected. The distal ends of the arms are movable in the radial direction. When the rollers disengage from the corresponding arms, the distal ends of the arms move radially such that the pulley and the hub relatively rotate without interference by the arms.

Abstract: A power transmission mechanism has a first rotating member rotating around an axis, a second rotating member rotating around the axis and an elastic member located between the first rotating member and the second rotating member. The first rotating member has a first rotating member surface, and the second rotating member has a second rotating member surface. The elastic member has at least a protrusion contacting at least the first rotating member surface. The protrusion extends in a circumferential direction of the first rotating member. The protrusion has gradually tapering shape toward the first rotating member surface. The elastic member is deformed by compression as the elastic member engages the first rotating member surface and the second rotating member surface by rotation of the first rotating member, thereby causing relative rotation of the first rotating member and the second rotating member.

Abstract: An engaging projection is engaged with an engaging recess to connect a pulley and a receiving member to each other so that power is transmitted. The engaging recess deforms with respect to the pulley and the receiving member. During the power transmission between the pulley and the receiving member, an elastic member permits engaging recess to deform, thereby enabling the pulley to rotate relative to the receiving member in a predetermined angular range. In this state, the engaging projection normally abuts against a sliding surface of the engaging recess at a neutral position, and the contact position of the engaging projection and the engaging recess separates from the neutral position in accordance with the increase of the load on the receiving member. As the contact position separates from the neutral position, the inclination angle of the sliding surface with respect to the circumferential direction of the rotary bodies gradually increases.

Abstract: A power transmission mechanism includes a first rotary body having an engagement recess, and a second rotary body, which is coaxial to the first rotary body, and an engagement projection. The position of at least one of the engagement recess and the engagement projection changes with respect to the associated rotary body. An elastic member elastically deforms in accordance with force based on a transmission torque during power transmission between the first rotary body and the second rotary body. The elastic deformation of the elastic member permits the position of at least one of the engagement recess and the engagement projection to be changed. Sliding of the engagement projection in the engagement recess permits relative rotation of the rotary bodies within a predetermined angle range.

Abstract: When power is transmitted from a pulley (32) of an engine (E) to a receiving member (35) of a compressor, a power transmitting arm (42) is elastically deformed by force generated by transmission torque. The power transmitting arm (42) thus permits an engaging recess (43) to change its position with respect to the receiving member (35). Accordingly, the pulley (32) and the receiving member (35) are permitted to rotate relative to each other in a predetermined angular range with a roller (39) sliding in the engaging recess (43) while rolling in the engaging recess (43) in a contact state.

Abstract: A torque limiting mechanism for transmitting power from an external drive source to the drive shat of a compressor. A pulley, which is coupled to the external drive source, has elastic members. A hub, which is attached to the drive shaft, has engaging portions. A coupler member is located between the pulley and the hub. The coupler member is engaged with the elastic members and with the engaging portions such that power is transmitted from the pulley to the hub. The urging members urge the coupler member such that the coupler member is disengaged from the engaging portions. When power is transmitted from the pulley to the hub, the elastic members maintain the coupler engaged with the elastic members and the engaging portions. When load generated due to power transmission exceeds a predetermined level, the elastic members are deformed such that the coupler member is disengaged from the elastic members. When disengaged from the elastic members, the coupler member is disengaged from the engaging portions.

Abstract: A power transmitting mechanism transmits power from an engine to a drive shaft of a compressor. A pulley is supported by the compressor and is coupled to the engine. A hub is attached to the drive shaft. Rollers are located on the pulley. Elastic transmission arms are located between the pulley and the hub. The distal end of each arm is curved, and the proximal end is coupled to the hub. When the rollers are engaged with the arms, power is transmitted between the pulley and the hub. When, due to excessive torque, the rollers escape from the corresponding arm, power transmission between the pulley and the hub is disconnected. The distal ends of the arms are movable in the radial direction. When the rollers disengage from the corresponding arms, the distal ends of the arms move radially such that the pulley and the hub relatively rotate without interference by the arms.

Abstract: A power transmission mechanism has a first rotating member rotating around an axis, a second rotating member rotating around the axis and an elastic member located between the first rotating member and the second rotating member. The first rotating member has a first rotating member surface, and the second rotating member has a second rotating member surface. The elastic member has at least a protrusion contacting at least the first rotating member surface. The protrusion extends in a circumferential direction of the first rotating member. The protrusion has gradually tapering shape toward the first rotating member surface. The elastic member is deformed by compression as the elastic member engages the first rotating member surface and the second rotating member surface by rotation of the first rotating member, thereby causing relative rotation of the first rotating member and the second rotating member.

Abstract: A power transmission mechanism for power-transmittably coupling a rotating unit of a compressor (11) composed of a drive shaft (17), a rotating support (23) and a swash plate (27) with an engine (62), comprising a pulley (56) and an armature (58), both of which constitute a first rotating body provided on a side of the engine, a hub (57), which serves as a second rotating body coupled to the drive shaft of the compressor, and a helical spring (64), couples the first and second rotating bodies. The use of the helical spring can easily set a resonant frequency of a power transmission system outside a frequency band for troque variation produced on a side of the compressor or the engine. As a result, it becomes possible to suppress resonance of the power transmission system to prevent generation of noises and damage to the internal mechanism of the compressor.

Abstract: A torque limiting mechanism includes a pulley and a hub. The pulley has a transmission spring. The hub has a groove. A transmission ring is engaged with the transmission spring such that power can be transmitted between the pulley and the hub. The transmission ring includes a coupler block and a coupler. The coupler block is engaged with the transmission spring and the groove. The coupler is connected to the coupler block. The coupler urges the coupler block in a direction disengaging the coupler block from one of the transmission spring and the groove. When the load between the pulley and the hub exceeds a predetermined level, the coupler block is disengaged from the pulley and the hub. Thereafter the coupler keeps the coupler block disengaged from the pulley and the hub. This positively discontinues power transmission according to an applied load and maintains the discontinuation.

Abstract: A torque limiting mechanism for transmitting power from an external drive source to the drive shat of a compressor. A pulley, which is coupled to the external drive source, has elastic members. A hub, which is attached to the drive shaft, has engaging portions. A coupler member is located between the pulley and the hub. The coupler member is engaged with the elastic members and with the engaging portions such that power is transmitted from the pulley to the hub. The urging members urge the coupler member such that the coupler member is disengaged from the engaging portions. When power is transmitted from the pulley to the hub, the elastic members maintain the coupler engaged with the elastic members and the engaging portions. When load generated due to power transmission exceeds a predetermined level, the elastic members are deformed such that the coupler member is disengaged from the elastic members. When disengaged from the elastic members, the coupler member is disengaged from the engaging portions.

Abstract: A torque limiting mechanism for transmitting power of an external drive source to the drive shaft of a compressor. A coupler member is a spring frame that can be engaged with and disengaged from first and second engaging portions. When the spring frame is engaged with the engaging portions, power is transmitted from a pulley to a hub. When the load on the hub is equal to or greater than a predetermined level, the engaging state between the engaging portions and the spring frame changes such that power transmission is discontinued. Thereafter, part of the first and second engaging portions is destroyed such that the spring frame rotates relative to the engaging portions without interfering with the engaging portions.

Abstract: A power transmission mechanism for power-transmittably coupling a rotating unit of a compressor (11) composed of a drive shaft (17), a rotating support (23) and a swash plate (27) with an engine (62), comprising a pulley (56) and an armature (58), both of which constitute a first rotating body provided on a side of the engine, a hub (57), which serve as a second rotating body coupled to the drive shaft of the compressor, and a spring (64), which serves as an elastic means for coupling the first and second rotating bodies. A spring constant of the spring (64) is set such that a resonant frequency (fR) determined by the spring constant and a sum of a moment of inertia of the rotating unit of the compressor and a moment of inertia of the second rotating body as dominant factors is made smaller than a minimum frequency (f1) of torque variation produced on the compressor and more preferably smaller than a minimum frequency (f2) of torque variation produced on the engine.

Abstract: A drive power transmission apparatus including a torsionally deformable spring capable of being torsionally deformed so as to permit a relative rotation between a rotor element and a drive shaft in response to a change in a load torque appearing in a drive-power-receiving unit, a releasing element operable to move the free outer end of the torsionally deformable spring from the power transmitting face of the rotor element when the relative rotation between the rotor element and the drive shaft increases due to an increase in the load torque beyond a predetermined limiting torque, and a mechanical elevation arranged in the rotor element for permitting the free outer end of the torsionally deformable spring to ride thereon to thereby promote separation of the spiral spring from the rotor element in order to interrupt the transmission of drive power.

Abstract: A power transmission mechanism having a pulley rotor and a release plate. The pulley rotor is coaxial with the release plate, and power from the pulley rotor is transmitted to the release plate to rotate the pulley rotor and the release plate in the same direction. A spiral spring is located between the pulley rotor and the release plate. The spiral spring is releasably engaged with the pulley rotor. A transmission surface is provided on the pulley rotor to oppose and engage a free end of the spiral spring. The transmission surface transfers power from the pulley rotor to the release plate, and relative rotation between the pulley rotor and the release plate is permitted due to deformation of the spiral spring. A release projection causes the free end of the spiral spring to move and separate from the transmission surface in accordance with relative rotation between the pulley rotor and the release plate when the load applied to the release plate exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A drive power transmission apparatus having an elastically deformable unit formed by combining at least one torque limiting coil spring arranged between a first rotating unit which includes a hub-like plate attached to a drive shaft supported for rotation on a housing of a rotation-receiving unit such as a compressor and a second rotating unit which includes a pulley element driven by a drive power source and supported for rotation on the housing of the rotation-receiving unit via an angular-contact bearing. The elastically deformable unit of the apparatus normally provides an operative interconnection between the first and second rotating units to transmit a drive power from the drive power source to the rotation receiving unit, but disengages one from the other when a load torque produced by the rotation-receiving unit exceeds a predetermined limiting torque in order to interrupt the transmission of the load torque from the rotation-receiving unit to the drive power source.