Abstract: The invention is an electromagnetic clutch with a novel sealing means to prevent dirt and lint particles from entering the working surfaces of the clutch, resulting in substantial increase in the life of the clutch as well as eliminating the need for lubrication during the useful life of the clutch.

Abstract: A solid state switching circuit for an electromagnetic pump is disclosed herein. The circuit comprises a Darlington amplifier controlling the current flow through the pump's solenoid in response to the state of a piston position sensitive electrical switch, a Zener diode and capacitance in the base circuit of the Darlington amplifier in parallel with the electrical switch and an inductive clamp circuit in parallel with the pump's solenoid coil.

Abstract: An electromagnetically operated engine cooling fan drive assembly is disclosed having a configuration particularly suited for retrofit applications, including a central shaft adapted to be mounted to an existing fan drive flange to be driven thereby. The fan is mounted on a fan hub member rotatably mounted on the central shaft, with a temperature responsive electromagnetic clutch arrangement controlling drive to the fan hub which arrangement includes an inner body keyed to the central shaft, an armature connected by spring connection to the fan hub, and a fixed electromagnetic coil energized by a temperature switch at high engine temperatures and adapted to urge the armature into clutching engagement with the inner body and cause the fan to be rotated.

Abstract: A portable fluid transfer pump is disclosed herein. The pump comprises a small electromagnetically activated fluid pump embodying a highly reliable blocking oscillator cyclically activating a solenoid coil in the fluid pump, and an electrical power cord assembly including an electrical connector adapted to be received in a convenient source of electrical power. In the preferred embodiment, the electrical connector is a male connector adapted to be received in the cigarette lighter receptacle of a vehicle such as an automobile, recreational vehicle, truck, or boat.

Abstract: The invention is an engine starting mechanism comprising first and second frictional gripping members carried by a sleeve member mounted to the shaft of a starting motor. The first and second frictional gripping members are adapted to engage an engine flywheel disc which is beveled to provide angular disposed opposed faces. Upon initiation of rotation of the starter shaft by the starter motor, the first frictional gripping member is adapted to move along an axial spline between the sleeve member and the frictional member thereby engaging one face of the beveled engine flywheel disc. The second frictional gripping member is caused to move axially with respect to the first member by the same helical spline on the sleeve member, thereby gripping the opposite face of the engine flywheel disc and causing the rotary movement of the starter motor shaft to be imparted to the flywheel disc.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an on-demand fluid pump having a solenoid actuated reciprocating piston. The pump's electrical circuit comprises an oscillator generating at predetermined intervals short duty cycle sample signals which are applied to the solenoid. The reciprocating piston is nonresponsive to the applied sample signals, however, the sample signals induce a signal in a position sensor. The value of the signal induced in the position sensor is a function of the piston's position. A detector circuit generates a signal switching a bi-stable electronic switch to a SET state in response to an induced signal having a value indicative of the piston being at the end of its spring actuated pump stroke. The bi-stable switch in the SET state activates the solenoid to retract the piston against the force of the spring. The next sequential sample signal resets the bi-stable switch to its RESET state deactivating the solenoid.

Abstract: A hybrid blocking oscillator for an electromagnetic fuel pump is disclosed herein. The blocking oscillator embodies a temperature regulated bias control and two current dissipators for controlled dissipation of the currents induced in the solenoid and detection coils when the oscillator is in a blocked state. The disclosed hybrid circuit is capable of 5,000 hours of operation with a 99 percent reliability.

Abstract: A single surface electromagnetic clutch or braking device is disclosed which transmits torque from an input means to an output means utilizing a plurality of spherical members located in mutually opposing conical recesses within the output member and the armature, respectively. The maximum amount of torque is translated from the input means to the output means directly through the spherical members without the need of a secondary frictional torque translating surface.

Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel pump embodying a blocking oscillator relatively insensitive to breakdown under overvoltage conditions is disclosed. The blocking oscillator embodies an overvoltage protection circuit which renders the amplifier in the blocking oscillator portion of the circuit nonconductive during any overvoltage conditions. As a result, the Darlington amplifier only has to withstand the overvoltage and the probability of current mode failure is significantly reduced. A filter circuit surpresses the generated RFI to levels below industrial and military standards.

Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch device for transmitting torque from an input means to an output means. The clutch actuating means includes an electromagnetic means, a driving means, an armature coaxially disposed with the input means and threadedly connected to a driving friction ring member, said armature responsive to said electromagnetic winding and said friction ring member being allowed to adjust with respect to said armature for driving the output means. The relative position between the armature and the driving friction ring member is maintained by a retarder disposed coaxially with the armature. The retarder permits relative rotational motion between the driving friction ring member and the armature in one direction and prevents relative motion between said armature and ring member in the other opposite direction. The fail-safe feature is such that when the electromagnetic means is energized no torque is transmitted from the input means to the output means.

Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch has a driving member and a driven member with rollers positioned between opposing non-parallel surfaces on the members. An armature operated by an electromagnet has fingers for moving the rollers into frictional engagement with the surfaces when the electromagnet is energized to engage the clutch and for moving the rollers out of engagement with at least one opposing surface when the electromagnet is deenergized to disengage the clutch.

Abstract: A direct cranking starter drive for an internal combustion engine has a driven member drivably connected to the engine crank shaft and a driving unit drivably connected to the starting motor. A clutch between the driving unit and the driven member is engaged when the engine runs below a running speed for drivably connecting the driving unit to the driven member and is disengaged when the engine runs above the running speed for disconnecting the driving unit from the driven member. Bearings are provided for permitting relative rotation of the driving unit and driven member when the engine is running and the clutch is disengaged.

Abstract: The present invention relates to starter gearing of the positive shift dentil type overrunning clutch wherein provisions are made for the resilient means to absorb the torsional loads on the housing body after the starter gearing has become engaged with the engine ring gear, thereby enabling the elimination of a bearing sleeve member under the pinion gear and enabling the use of smaller sized pinion gears, resulting in the use of said starter gearing on smaller pinion gear applications.

Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch has a toothed driving clutch member and a toothed driven clutch member which are moved together upon energization of an electromagnet with their teeth in engagement. A spring disengages the teeth when the electromagnet is deenergized. The spring provides a relatively large spring force for initial breakaway to overcome residual magnetism and metal to metal contact of the teeth. After initial breakaway the spring provides only sufficient force to further separate the members. With this arrangement a small magnet may be used to engage the clutch because the large force of the spring must be overcome only during final engagement of the clutch.

Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch device for transmitting torque from an input means to an output means. The clutch actuating means includes an electromagnetic winding, a driving plate, an armature coaxially disposed with the input means and threadedly connected to a driving friction ring member, said armature responsive to said electromagnetic winding and said friction ring member being allowed to advance on said armature for driving the ouput means. The relative rotational motion between the armature and the driving friction ring member causes the friction ring member to advance on the thread until full engagement with the drive output means is attained. The relative position between the armature and the driving friction ring member is maintained by a retarder disposed between the armature and the driving plate.

Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch has a driving clutch member and a driven clutch member with an armature on one of the members and an electromagnet having a pair of poles on the other of the members for providing a driving engagement between the members when the electromagnet is energized. The poles are attached to one another by resilient material or by splines to provide relative axial movement between the poles to enable both poles to engage the armature with substantially equal force.The invention relates to electrically operated friction devices and more particularly to electromagnetic clutches.

Abstract: A starter drive for an internal combustion engine has a plunger pole starting motor drivably connected to a pinion adapted to engage the ring gear on the engine when cranking the engine. A shift fork is pivotally mounted on a lever arm connected to the plunger pole and a single spring urges the shift fork to position the pinion in cranking position when the motor is energized and returns the shift fork to position the pinion in non-cranking position when the motor is deenergized. Space is made available for a cushioning device between the motor and pinion to absorb starting torque.

Abstract: A differential pressure indicating device includes a piston responsive to the differential between inlet and outlet pressures. The piston is retained in a normal position by the force of spring means, and which spring means releases the piston at a predetermined excessive differential pressure condition, whereupon the piston actuates an indicating member for indicating the condition. The device is reset by manually re-engaging the piston and the spring means subsequent to correcting the condition.

Abstract: A porous laminate is disclosed consisting of a plurality of lamina each having a parallel slot series formed therein, stacked with the respective adjacent slot series overlapping and extending transversely to each other and bonded to each other to form the porous laminate. Variations disclosed include tapering the slots in one or more of the lamina to create a variable porosity and the inclusion of tying sections at intermediate points along the slots for reinforcement purposes.The disclosed process includes the steps of photoetching metal sheets to create the slot pattern, stacking a plurality of the sheets together with the slots in adjacent sheets extending transversely to each other, diffusion bonding the stacked sheets to form a porous laminate, and calendering the finished sheet to modify or adjust permeability.