Abstract: An eddy current coupling 11 includes an input member 19, an output member 21 rotatable relative to the input member about an axis of rotation, a pole assembly 29, an inductor drum assembly 25 and a field coil 41 for coupling the input and output members. The inductor drum assembly 25 includes a generally cylindrically drum portion 27 and a radially extending drum portion 26. A heat dissipating member 71 integrally formed from a heat conductive material such as aluminum is attached to the radially extending portion 26 of the inductor drum assembly. The heat dissipating member includes heat dissipating fins 75 on one side thereof and rivet means 77 on the opposite side thereof for connecting the integrally formed heat dissipating member 71 to the radially extending portion 26 of the inductor drum assembly. The rivet means 77 act to transfer heat from the inductor drum assembly 25 to the heat dissipating member 71.

Abstract: An electromagnetic coupling device includes an input member, an output member rotatable relative to the input member, and a pole assembly associated with one of the input and output members. The pole assembly includes a pair of annular, oppositely disposed pole members and an annular core member disposed between the pole members and defining an annular cavity therebetween. An electrically energizable field coil element is disposed in said cavity for electromagnetically coupling said input and output members. The pole members each including a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending pole slot means disposed for communicating the exterior of the pole assembly with the core member to provide substantially uninterrupted access thereto.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electromagnetic coupling including a housing (13), the rotor (33), an inductor drum (25), including a generally cylindrical drum portion (27) having an outer heat dissipating surface including at least one generally circumferentially extending heat dissipating groove (57). A coil (47) is provided for coupling the rotor member and inductor drum. The housing includes openings therein for directing cooling fluid into the housing to dissipate heat generated in the inductor drum and a plurality of fluid directing means are attached to the outer heat dissipating surface of the inductor drum for rotation therewith. The fluid directing means (61) are obliquely disposed relative to the axis of rotation of the inductor drum to direct cooling fluid inwardly into heat dissipating grooves to cool the inductor drum.

Abstract: The present invention provides an eddy current coupling including an input member, an output member rotatable relative to the input member and an interdigitated pole assembly attached to the output member for rotation therewith. A field coil is provided surrounding a portion of the interdigitated pole assembly and an inductor member is connected to the input member. The field coil when energized establishes a flux field which couples the pole assembly and the inductor member to thereby couple the input member to the output member. The interdigitated pole assembly includes a core portion which is surrounded by the field coil and a plurality of pole members which extend at one end thereof from said core portion and have a pole face at the opposite end thereof with the pole faces of the plurality of pole members extending in opposite directions in an interdigitated fashion. The numerical value of the total surface area of the plurality of pole faces of each of the pole members is equal to between 2.

Abstract: An electromagnetic coupling is provided of the type including a housing, a rotor member disposed in the housing, and an inductor drum means disposed in the housing and rotatable relative to the rotor member. A coil means electromagnetically couples the rotor member and the inductor drum means. The inductor drum means includes a generally cylindrical drum portion having a substantially uniform magnetic reluctance. The drum portion defines an outer, heat-dissipating surface which includes a plurality of circumferentially extending, heat-dissipating grooves spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the drum portion. A means is included for directing cooling fluid into the housing to dissipate the heat generated in the inductor drum means, and a plurality of fluid-directing members are disposed on the cylindrical drum portion adjacent the heat-dissipating surface.