An electromagnetic system for controlling the operating mode of a non-friction coupling assembly and a coupling and magnetic control assembly are provided. Magnetic circuit components include a ferromagnetic or magnetic element received within a pocket of a coupling member. The element controls the operating mode of the coupling assembly. A stationary electromagnetic source includes at least one excitation coil which generates a magnetic field between poles of the source when the at least one coil is supplied with current. Ferromagnetic or magnetic first and second inserts are received and retained within first and second spaced passages, respectively, of the coupling member. The electromagnetic source, the element, the inserts and air gaps between the various magnetic circuit components make up a closed loop path containing magnetic flux so that the element moves between first and second positions of the element when the at least one coil is supplied with current.

An electromagnetic connecting device includes a flange of a hub, an armature supported by the flange via a leaf spring, a rotor accommodating an electromagnetic coil, and an anti-vibration member. When an electric current is supplied to the electromagnetic coil, the armature moves in the axial direction of the hub against the spring force of the leaf spring, and is attracted to the rotor. The leaf spring includes a moving portion that moves in the axial direction together with the movement of the armature. The anti-vibration member is fixed to the moving portion of the leaf spring. The anti-vibration member includes a stopper that comes in contact with the flange, and a damper that comes in contact with the armature. With this configuration, an electromagnetic connecting device capable of reducing an impact sound both when the armature is attracted and released can be manufactured at a low manufacturing cost.

In an aspect, an automotive air conditioning assembly comprising a scroll compressor and a wrap spring clutch. The wrap spring clutch enables the use of a comparatively smaller pulley (a diameter of at most 85 mm) which comparatively increases the compressor speed and hence cooling capacity at a given engine speed. The clutch requires low power (e.g. less than 5 Watts) for continuous operation.

A rotational coupling includes a rotor configured for rotation about a rotational axis. The rotor includes a hub disposed about the axis and configured to receive a shaft and a disc extending radially outwardly from the hub. An armature and electromagnet are disposed on opposite axial sides of the disc. The electromagnet is fixed against rotation. A bearing is disposed between the hub and the electromagnet. The hub and electromagnet engage the inner and outer races, respectively of the bearing on opposite axial sides of the bearing. A spacer is disposed radially inwardly of the electromagnet and engages the inner race of the bearing on the same axial side of the bearing as the electromagnet. An air gap separates the spacer from the electromagnet. A shield is supported by the spacer and extends radially outwardly therefrom such that a portion of the shield is axially aligned with the air gap.

A rotational coupling includes a rotor configured for rotation about a rotational axis. The rotor includes a hub disposed about the axis and configured to receive a shaft and a disc extending radially outwardly from the hub. An armature and electromagnet are disposed on opposite axial sides of the disc. The electromagnet is fixed against rotation. A bearing is disposed between the hub and the electromagnet. The hub and electromagnet engage the inner and outer races, respectively of the bearing on opposite axial sides of the bearing. A spacer is disposed radially inwardly of the electromagnet and engages the inner race of the bearing on the same axial side of the bearing as the electromagnet. An air gap separates the spacer from the electromagnet. A shield is supported by the spacer and extends radially outwardly therefrom such that a portion of the shield is axially aligned with the air gap.

A magnetorheological fluid clutch apparatus comprises an input rotor adapted to be coupled to a power input, the input rotor having a first set of at least one input shear surface, and a second set of at least one output shear surface. An output rotor is rotatably mounted about the input rotor for rotating about a common axis with the input rotor, the output rotor having a first set of at least one output shear surface, and a second set of at least one output shear surface, the first sets of the input rotor and the output rotor separated by at least a first annular space and forming a first transmission set, the second sets of the input rotor and the output rotor separated by at least a second annular space and forming a second transmission set. Magnetorheological fluid is in each of the annular spaces, the MR fluid configured to generate a variable amount of torque transmission between the sets of input rotor and output rotor when subjected to a magnetic field. A pair of electromagnets are configured to deliver a magnetic field through the MR fluid, the electromagnets configured to vary the strength of the magnetic field, whereby actuation of at least one of the pair of electromagnets results in torque transmission from the at least one input rotor to the output rotor.

An electronic actuator according to the present invention comprises: a shaft; a bobbin; a nut; an upper bushing; a housing; a bearing; and a lower bushing. The shaft rotates by receiving a rotational force from an engine crank shaft. The bobbin is mounted to surround the middle portion of the shaft, wherein the bobbin has a coil wound inside thereof. The nut is made of a magnetic material and mounted to surround one side in the longitudinal direction of the shaft, while being screw-connected to a clutch. The upper bushing is made of as nonmagnetic material and is press-fit between the one side in the longitudinal direction of the shaft and the nut, so as to connect the shaft and the nut to form a single body. The housing is made of a magnetic material and comprises a bottom plate and a side wall to surround the other side in the longitudinal direction of the shaft, wherein the side wall extends to partially overlap the nut. The bearing is mounted on the outer peripheral surface on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the shaft, positioned inside the housing. The lower bushing is made of a nonmagnetic material and is press-fit between the bearing and the housing so as to connect the bearing and the housing to form a single body.

A control system is provided for controlling movements of an end effector connected to a clutch output of at least one magnetorheological (MR) fluid clutch apparatus. A clutch driver is configured to drive the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus between a controlled slippage mode, in which slippage between a clutch input and the clutch output of the MR fluid clutch apparatus varies, and a lock mode, in which said slippage between the clutch input and the clutch output is maintained below a given threshold, the clutch output transmitting movement to the end effector. A motor driver is configured to control a motor output of at least one motor, the motor output coupled to the clutch input. A mode selector module is configured to receive signals representative of at least one movement parameter of the end effector, the mode selector module selecting a mode between the controlled slippage mode and the lock mode of the clutch driver based on the signals, and switching the selected mode based on the signals. A movement controller controls the clutch driver and the motor driver to displace the end effector based on at least one of the selected mode and on commanded movements of the end effector for the end effector to achieve the commanded movements. A method for controlling movements of an end effector connected to the MR fluid clutch apparatus is also provided.

An electromagnetic system for controlling the operating mode of a non-friction coupling assembly and a coupling and magnetic control assembly are provided. Magnetic circuit components include a ferromagnetic or magnetic element received within a pocket of a coupling member. The element controls the operating mode of the coupling assembly. A stationary electromagnetic source includes at least one excitation coil which generates a magnetic field between poles of the source when the at least one coil is supplied with current. Ferromagnetic or magnetic first and second inserts are received and retained within first and second spaced passages, respectively, of the coupling member. The electromagnetic source, the element, the inserts and air gaps between the various magnetic circuit components make up a closed loop path containing magnetic flux so that the element moves between first and second positions of the element when the at least one coil is supplied with current.

A fan-coupling device with a unitary magnetic pole is disclosed. The magnetic pole is of a unitary, ring-shaped construction and includes a choke space and a ridge that promote an increased amount of magnetic flux generated by an electromagnet to travel to a magnetic armature on a fluid flow valve, resulting an increase in the amount of magnetic force that acts upon the valve. This is an improvement over the prior art two-piece magnetic pole structure and over a unitary magnetic pole without the choke space and ridge. The magnetic pole also includes apertures in which protrusions on a sound dampening gasket are inserted to reduce the noise resulting from the armature striking the magnetic pole.