An electromagnetic clutch is provide that includes a fixed component, a driven component and an elastic component. The fixed component includes a magnetic yoke provided thereon with multiple iron cores, and each iron core is provided thereon with a coil. The driven component includes an armature disc provided thereon with multiple magnets. The armature disc and the magnetic yoke are disposed correspondingly, and the iron cores and the magnets are disposed correspondingly. The elastic component is used to keep the armature disc at a disengaged position from magnetic yoke. When the coil is energized in a forward direction, the iron core attracts the magnet and when the coil is energized in a reverse direction, the iron core generates an electromagnetic force to reduce an attractive force of the magnet.

An electromagnetic clutch is provide that includes a fixed component, a driven component and an elastic component. The fixed component includes a magnetic yoke provided thereon with multiple iron cores, and each iron core is provided thereon with a coil. The driven component includes an armature disc provided thereon with multiple magnets. The armature disc and the magnetic yoke are disposed correspondingly, and the iron cores and the magnets are disposed correspondingly. The elastic component is used to keep the armature disc at a disengaged position from magnetic yoke. When the coil is energized in a forward direction, the iron core attracts the magnet and when the coil is energized in a reverse direction, the iron core generates an electromagnetic force to reduce an attractive force of the magnet.

A pulley assembly having a body, a shaft mount and a plurality of bolts is disclosed. The body is aligned to the shaft mount by providing a tight tolerance between a shoulder portion of the bolt and a neck portion of a counter sunk hole formed in the body. Additionally, an outer surface of the body may have a pattern of friction lines or patches formed by fusing particulate matter to the outer surface with heat generated by a laser beam.

A pulley assembly having a body, a shaft mount and a plurality of bolts is disclosed. The body is aligned to the shaft mount by providing a tight tolerance between a shoulder portion of the bolt and a neck portion of a counter sunk hole formed in the body. Additionally, an outer surface of the body may have a pattern of friction lines or patches formed by fusing particulate matter to the outer surface with heat generated by a laser beam.

A method for operating a robotic joint of a robotic system comprising selectively operating a clutch mechanism of a clutched joint module in an engaged state to cause a quasi-passive elastic actuator to enter an elastic state, the clutched joint module operating about and defining a joint of the robotic system. The method comprising effecting a first rotation of the joint to cause the quasi-passive elastic actuator to store energy during at least a portion of the rotation of the joint. The method comprising effecting a second rotation of the joint and causing the stored energy from the quasi-passive elastic actuator to be released in the form of an augmented torque applied to an output member of the clutched joint module. The method comprising selectively operating the clutch mechanism in a disengaged state to cause the quasi-passive elastic actuator to enter an inelastic state. The method comprising effecting a third rotation of the joint, wherein the quasi-passive elastic actuator facilitates a free swing mode of the clutched joint module and the joint.

A method for operating a robotic joint of a robotic system comprising selectively operating a clutch mechanism of a clutched joint module in an engaged state to cause a quasi-passive elastic actuator to enter an elastic state, the clutched joint module operating about and defining a joint of the robotic system. The method comprising effecting a first rotation of the joint to cause the quasi-passive elastic actuator to store energy during at least a portion of the rotation of the joint. The method comprising effecting a second rotation of the joint and causing the stored energy from the quasi-passive elastic actuator to be released in the form of an augmented torque applied to an output member of the clutched joint module. The method comprising selectively operating the clutch mechanism in a disengaged state to cause the quasi-passive elastic actuator to enter an inelastic state. The method comprising effecting a third rotation of the joint, wherein the quasi-passive elastic actuator facilitates a free swing mode of the clutched joint module and the joint.

One embodiment is a system comprising an internal combustion engine including an output shaft, a pulley system structured to be driven by the output shaft, a first alternator and a second alternator structured to be driven by the pulley system, and an electromagnetic clutch integrated within one of the pulley system, the first alternator and the second alternator and structured to selectably couple and decouple at least one of the first alternator and the second alternator from the output shaft. The system includes a controller in operative communication with the internal combustion engine system and structured to evaluate power demand and power production capability parameters of the system and to control the electromagnetic clutch to engage or disengage in response to the evaluation.

One embodiment is a system comprising an internal combustion engine including an output shaft, a pulley system structured to be driven by the output shaft, a first alternator and a second alternator structured to be driven by the pulley system, and an electromagnetic clutch integrated within one of the pulley system, the first alternator and the second alternator and structured to selectably couple and decouple at least one of the first alternator and the second alternator from the output shaft. The system includes a controller in operative communication with the internal combustion engine system and structured to evaluate power demand and power production capability parameters of the system and to control the electromagnetic clutch to engage or disengage in response to the evaluation.

A clutch and a compressor including the same, and may include a hub fastened to a rotary shaft of a compressor and rotatable with the rotary shaft in a state where its position has been fixed, a disk fastened to the hub and rotatable with the hub, a pulley rotated by receiving power from a driving source of the compressor, an elastic member fastening the hub and the disk, fastening the hub and the disk so that the disk approaches or is away from the pulley based on the hub, a field coil assembly magnetized when power is applied to contact or space the disk and the pulley, an attenuation member interposed between the elastic member and the disk, thereby reducing the noise and vibration due to the contact and spacing between the disk and the pulley by the elastic member and the attenuation member.

A damped isolation pulley having a hub, a pulley disposed concentrically about the hub, an isolation spring, an inertia ring and an electro-adhesive clutch. The hub is configured to be mounted to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. The isolation spring is formed of an elastomeric material and couples the pulley to the hub. The inertia ring is resiliently coupled to the hub and is rotationally de-coupled from the pulley. The electro-adhesive clutch has a clutch input member that is coupled to the pulley and can be operated to form an alternate torque path between the pulley and the hub that does not include the isolation spring.