Abstract: A clutch device transmits a torque between a rotatable drive-input element and a rotatable drive-output element. Upon demand, the elements are coupled in non-positively locking fashion by a clutch element. Each of the drive-input element and the drive-output element form one clutch surface. A clutch gap decreases in a radial direction relative to at least one axis of rotation of the elements. The clutch element can be placed into a first position and into a second position which differ with regard to the radial position within the clutch gap and thus with regard to the contact pressure between the clutch element and the clutch surfaces. The clutch device permits an axial arrangement of its components, namely, the drive-input element, the clutch elements and the drive-output element, that keeps the size of a clutch device small in a radial direction relative to the axes of rotation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an instrument for use in computer guided surgery. The instrument includes a shaft and a reference element adapter, wherein the reference element adapter is directly couplable to the shaft and rotatable about the shaft. A selectively operable mechanical retainer provides retention of the reference element adapter to an instrument shaft adapting interface of the instrument shaft. The instrument also includes a reference element orientating mechanism arranged at an interface between the instrument shaft adapting interface and the reference element adaptor. The reference element orienting mechanism is capable of fixing at least one angular position of the reference element. The instrument also includes a grip piece interface on the instrument shaft, and a grip piece is selectively couplable to the grip piece interface.

Abstract: A difference in limiting torques of rotation between a spring and a rotary member is increased without increasing a number of coils of the spring. In a webbing winding device, an outer diameter of a clutch wall of a clutch wheel increases from a flange side to a stopping flange side of the clutch wall. When a clutch spring is tightly wound on the clutch wall, the clutch spring is subjected to a movement force toward the stopping flange side. Thus, a winding force of the clutch spring onto the clutch wall is effectively increased. Therefore, a difference in limiting torques of rotation between the clutch spring and the clutch wheel between when the clutch spring is not tightly wound on the clutch wall and when it is wound on the clutch wall is increased, without increasing a number of coils of the spring.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is directed to a decoupler assembly for between an endless drive element and a shaft. The endless drive element may be, for example, an accessory drive belt from a vehicular engine. The shaft may be, for example, the input shaft of a belt-driven accessory, such as an alternator or a compressor. The decoupler assembly includes a hub that mounts to the shaft, a pulley that is rotatable with respect to the hub, a dampening spring and a clutch member. A part of the pulley is supported on a pulley support surface on the hub. There is a gap between the pulley and the pulley support surface. The gap has lubricant therein to facilitate sliding between the pulley and the pulley support surface. By eliminating the use of a polymeric bushing between pulley and the hub, there are several advantages that are provided.

Abstract: An engine starter that employs a clutch between a flywheel or flex plate and a plate structure that is configured to receive rotary power from a starter motor through a transmission. The transmission may include ring and pinion gears or a belt that transmits rotary power between pulleys.

Abstract: An isolator decoupler comprising a pulley, a shaft, the pulley journalled to the shaft on a low friction bushing, a spring carrier, the pulley journalled to the spring carrier on a low friction bushing, the spring carrier journalled to the shaft on a low friction bushing, a torsion spring coupled between the pulley and the spring carrier, a one way clutch spring frictionally engaged with the shaft, the one way clutch spring coupled to the spring carrier, the one way clutch spring is disposed radially inward of the torsion spring, and the pulley temporarily engagable with an end of the one way clutch spring whereby the frictional engagement of the one way clutch spring with the shaft is temporarily diminished.

Abstract: An isolator decoupler comprising a pulley, a shaft, the pulley journalled to the shaft on a low friction bushing, a spring carrier disposed within the pulley, a torsion spring coupled between the pulley and the spring carrier, a wrap spring one way clutch wrapped about the shaft and having a frictional engagement therewith, the wrap spring one way clutch coupled to the spring carrier, the wrap spring one way clutch is disposed radially inward of the torsion spring, and the 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 with the shaft.

Abstract: An isolator decoupler comprising a pulley, the pulley journalled to a shaft, a torsion spring having an end engaged with the pulley, the torsion spring loadable in an unwinding direction, a one-way clutch carrier, a one-way clutch disposed between the shaft and the one-way clutch carrier, a wrap spring engagable with an inner surface of the one-way clutch carrier, the wrap spring coupled to the torsion spring, and the wrap spring loadable in the unwinding direction such that the wrap spring through friction is able to lockably engage the inner surface in a driving direction.

Abstract: An isolating decoupler comprising a shaft, a pulley rotationally engaged with the shaft, a coil spring engaged between the pulley and a spring carrier, the spring carrier moveable relative to the shaft and pulley, a one-way clutch mounted to the shaft, a first torsion spring and a second torsion spring engaged between the spring carrier and the one-way clutch, the first torsion spring and the second torsion spring having a releasable frictional engagement with the one-way clutch, the first torsion spring and the second torsion spring comprising adjacent parallel strands and having substantially equal diameters, the first torsion spring and the second torsion spring each being engagable with the pulley, the first torsion spring releasing a frictional engagement with the one-way clutch upon an engagement with the pulley, and the second torsion spring releasing a frictional engagement with the one-way clutch upon an engagement with the pulley.

Abstract: A decoupler with driven and driving members, a clutch, a torsional vibration damper and a lubricant. The clutch is received in a bore in the driven member and includes a carrier, a wrap spring and at least one spring. The wrap spring is formed of spring wire and has a plurality of coils disposed between a first end, which is received in a groove in the carrier, and a second end. The portion of the wrap spring outside the carrier has an outer circumferential spring surface that is abutted against the inner circumferential surface of the bore. The at least one spring is disposed between the carrier and the driving member to transmit rotary power from the driving member to the carrier. The torsional vibration damper is coupled to the driving member for rotation therewith. The lubricant is disposed on the remaining portion of the wrap spring.

Abstract: An isolating decoupler comprising a hub, a one-way clutch engaged with the hub, a pulley rotationally engaged with the hub, a spring operationally engaged between the one-way clutch and the pulley, and an inertia member engaged with the hub through an elastomeric member, the inertia member substantially disposed within a width of the pulley, the inertia member moveable independently of the pulley.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is directed to a decoupler assembly for between an endless drive element and a shaft. The endless drive element may be, for example, an accessory drive belt from a vehicular engine. The shaft may be, for example, the input shaft of a belt-driven accessory, such as an alternator or a compressor. The decoupler assembly includes a hub that mounts to the shaft, a pulley that is rotatable with respect to the hub, a dampening spring and a clutch member. A part of the pulley is supported on a pulley support surface on the hub. There is a gap between the pulley and the pulley support surface. The gap has lubricant therein to facilitate sliding between the pulley and the pulley support surface. By eliminating the use of a polymeric bushing between pulley and the hub, there are several advantages that are provided.

Abstract: A decoupler with driven and driving members, a clutch, a torsional vibration damper and a lubricant. The clutch is received in a bore in the driven member and includes a carrier, a wrap spring and at least one spring. The wrap spring is formed of spring wire and has a plurality of coils disposed between a first end, which is received in a groove in the carrier, and a second end. The portion of the wrap spring outside the carrier has an outer circumferential spring surface that is abutted against the inner circumferential surface of the bore. The at least one spring is disposed between the carrier and the driving member to transmit rotary power from the driving member to the carrier. The torsional vibration damper is coupled to the driving member for rotation therewith. The lubricant is disposed on the remaining portion of the wrap spring.

Abstract: A decoupler assembly with a torsional damping system and a torque limiter. The torsional damping system has a torsion spring that facilitates transfer of rotary power into a hub. The torque limiter is wrapped about the torsion spring and radially expands with the torsion spring as a magnitude of the rotary power transmitted through the torsion spring increases. Contact between the torque limiter and another structure in the decoupler assembly halts radial expansion of the torsion spring.

Abstract: A decoupler assembly is provided for allowing an alternator to be rotatably driven by a serpentine belt in an engine of an automotive vehicle and for allowing the speed of the belt to oscillate relative to the alternator. A hub is fixedly carried by a drive shaft from the alternator for rotation therewith. A pulley is rotatably journaled to the hub by a ball bearing assembly. A bare, helical clutch spring is operatively coupled between the hub and pulley for transferring rotational movement from the pulley to the hub during acceleration of the pulley relative to the hub by the serpentine belt and for allowing the hub to overrun the pulley during deceleration of the pulley relative to the hub. A torque limiter, preferably a spring or sleeve, is wrapped about the torsion spring limiting outward expansion of the torsion spring and isolating the torsion spring from torques above a predetermined limit.

Abstract: A decoupler (22) is provided for transferring rotary movement between an engine driven crankshaft (16) and a serpentine belt (20). The decoupler (22) has a rotary driving member (18, 36) and a rotary driven member (36, 18) coaxially mounted with the driving member for relative rotary movement therewith. A decoupling assembly (19) extends between the driving member (18, 36) and the driven member (36, 18). The decoupling assembly (19) selectively couples the driving and driven members (18, 36) when the driving member rotates relative to the driven member in a first coupling sense. The decoupling assembly (19) uncouples the driving member from the driven member when the driving member rotates relative to the driven member in a second sense opposite the first sense. A torsional vibration damper (80) is mounted for rotation with one of the driving and driven members (18, 36) to cancel some of the vibrations generated by the engine.

Abstract: A torque shock or vibrations caused by the rotary inertia of a hydrostatic continuously variable transmission is reduced to improve ride quality of a vehicle when excessive torque occurs in a torque transmission path between a crankshaft and a drive wheel. A motorcycle includes a hydrostatic continuously variable transmission rotatably driven by torque of a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. A rear wheel is rotatably driven by torque from the transmission. A torque damper absorbs excessive torque occurring in a torque transmission path from the crankshaft to the rear wheel. The torque dampers include an input side torque damper disposed in an input side torque transmission path between the crank shaft and the transmission and an output side torque damper disposed in an output side torque transmission path between the transmission and the rear wheel.

Abstract: A torque damper for a power unit includes a rotating shaft on which the torque damper is mounted to reduce the axial size and weight. A torque damper for absorbing excessive torque occurring in a torque transmission path between an output shaft of a running clutch and an intermediate shaft includes an input cam member adapted to receive torque of the output shaft and an output cam member. A driven gear adapted to apply torque of the output shaft to the input cam member is provided on the input cam member rotatably supported by the intermediate shaft. In the torque damper, a torque-absorbing portion for absorbing excessive torque includes an input cam portion of the input cam member and an output cam portion of the output cam member and is disposed between a pair of bearings. One bearing is disposed between the input cam portion and the driven gear.

Abstract: An apparatus for damping rotational vibrations in a power train comprises a free-wheel clutch between a driving element and a driven element. At the outer ring and at the inner ring of the free-wheel clutch there are formed clamping ramps cooperating with clamping balls lying therebetween. The clamping ramps are provided at the axial front sides of the rings of the free-wheel. One of the rings of the free-wheel clutch is arranged axially undisplaceable and the other ring is arranged axially displaceable. Between the axially displaceable ring and an axial buttress there is provided a spring element acting in axial direction. Thereby the transmission of rotational vibrations onto the driving element can be prevented due to an axial displacement of the constructional parts arranged therebetween up to their clamping, particularly with an increasing number of revolutions of the driving element.

Abstract: A flexible coupling assembly interconnects an output shaft and an input shaft. The flexible coupling assembly includes a first hub operatively coupled to the input shaft for rotation therewith. A second hub is operatively coupled to the output shaft for rotation therewith. A flexible element in the form of a coil spring interconnects the first and second hubs for transferring rotational torque between the first and second hubs while continuously compensating for axial misalignment between the first and second hubs. A retainer is disposed between the flexible element and the first and second hubs for limiting radial deflection of the flexible element during rotation of the flexible coupling. A one-way clutch is operatively coupled between the coil spring and one of the first and second hubs for transferring torque in one rotational direction while allowing the output shaft to decelerate relative to the input shaft in a direction other than the one rotational direction.