In an aspect, a clutched device is provided, including a hub, a pulley and a hub drive clutch. The hub defines an axis and is connectable to a rotatable shaft of a rotary device. The pulley is rotatable relative to the hub and is engageable with an endless drive member. The hub drive clutch is a wrap spring clutch and is controllable to operatively connect the pulley to the hub for driving the hub in a first rotational direction. An isolation spring is provided and operatively connects the hub to the pulley when the hub drives the pulley in the first rotational direction. Optionally, a pulley overrun clutch is provided and permits the pulley to overrun the hub in the first rotational direction.

In an aspect, a method is provided for controlling a clutch assembly having first and second rotatable clutch members. The method includes providing a wrap spring clutch having first and second ends. The phase angle between the first and second ends determines a diameter of the wrap spring clutch. One of the clutch members is connected with the first end. The method further includes obtaining a target value indicative of a target speed for the second clutch member, and determining through measurement an actual value that is indicative of an actual speed of the second clutch member. The method further includes changing the phase angle between the first and second ends of the wrap spring clutch to generate a selected amount of slip between the wrap spring clutch and the other of the first and second clutch members, based on the target value and the actual value.

In an aspect, a method is provided for controlling a clutch assembly having first and second rotatable clutch members. The method includes providing a wrap spring clutch having first and second ends. The phase angle between the first and second ends determines a diameter of the wrap spring clutch. One of the clutch members is connected with the first end. The method further includes obtaining a target value indicative of a target speed for the second clutch member, and determining through measurement an actual value that is indicative of an actual speed of the second clutch member. The method further includes changing the phase angle between the first and second ends of the wrap spring clutch to generate a selected amount of slip between the wrap spring clutch and the other of the first and second clutch members, based on the target value and the actual value.

A clutched driven device (10) having a clutch assembly (16) with a first rotary clutch portion (50), a second rotary clutch portion (52), a bearing (54), a wrap spring (56) and an actuator (60). The first rotary clutch portion has an interior clutch surface (76). The first and second rotary clutch portions are rotatably disposed about a rotary axis (70) of the clutched driven device. The bearing is received between the first and second rotary clutch portions and supports the first rotary clutch portion for rotation on the second rotary clutch portion. The wrap spring is disposed radially inwardly of the bearing and has a plurality of helical coils (114) that are received against the interior clutch surface. The actuator is configured to selectively initiate coiling of the wrap spring to cause the helical coils of the wrap spring to disengage the interior clutch surface to a predetermined extent.

A clutched driven device (10) having a clutch assembly (16) with a first rotary clutch portion (50), a second rotary clutch portion (52), a bearing (54), a wrap spring (56) and an actuator (60). The first rotary clutch portion has an interior clutch surface (76). The first and second rotary clutch portions are rotatably disposed about a rotary axis (70) of the clutched driven device. The bearing is received between the first and second rotary clutch portions and supports the first rotary clutch portion for rotation on the second rotary clutch portion. The wrap spring is disposed radially inwardly of the bearing and has a plurality of helical coils (114) that are received against the interior clutch surface. The actuator is configured to selectively initiate coiling of the wrap spring to cause the helical coils of the wrap spring to disengage the interior clutch surface to a predetermined extent.

The present disclosure describes a wrap spring torque nipple that includes a first helical spring, a second helical spring, and a middle portion connected to and between the first helical spring and the second helical spring. The first helical spring and the second helical spring have different rotational helix orientations, and the first helical spring is configured to receive an input shaft and the second helical spring is configured to receive an output shaft, wherein the wrap spring transfers rotational power up to a defined torsional value from the input shaft to the output shaft.

The present disclosure describes a wrap spring torque nipple that includes a first helical spring, a second helical spring, and a middle portion connected to and between the first helical spring and the second helical spring. The first helical spring and the second helical spring have different rotational helix orientations, and the first helical spring is configured to receive an input shaft and the second helical spring is configured to receive an output shaft, wherein the wrap spring transfers rotational power up to a defined torsional value from the input shaft to the output shaft.

A rotating shaft device, comprising a fixed carter (21) and driving means integral to at least one of one or more rotating shafts (8) of the rotating shaft device, each driving means having its own integrated control and power supply unit (11, 25), allows the transmission of signals, even with low intensity, to this unit and to this regard it comprises: one or more annular antennas (24), connected to said respective control and power supply unit (11, 25) and arranged so as to at least partially surround one or more of said rotating shafts (8), and integral to the rotating shaft (8) of the respective control and power supply unit (11, 25), so that said rotating shafts (8) act as wave guide for the signals received from said one or more annular antennas (24) and intended to be received by the respective control and power supply unit (11, 25) to drive said driving means associated thereto; and radio transmission means (26), integral with the carter (21) and associated to one or more of said rotating shafts (8) to send signals therethrough to said one or more annular antennas (24).

A rotational coupling includes input and output hubs disposed about a rotational axis and an attachment ring disposed about the axis on one side of the input hub opposite the output hub. A flexible, multi-coil body such as a cable is disposed radially outwardly of the input and output hubs and couples the hubs together for rotation upon rotation of the input hub in one rotational direction. The body has ends coupled to the output hub and attachment ring. A torque limiter includes a torque transmission plate configured to rotate with the input hub and an armature plate fixed against rotation. The torque transmission plate and armature plate are configured to move axially together along the axis of rotation. An electromagnet disposed on one side of the torque limiter opposite the input hub attracts the plates in a second axial direction away from the attachment ring when energized.

A rotational coupling includes input and output hubs disposed about a rotational axis and an attachment ring disposed about the axis on one side of the input hub opposite the output hub. A flexible, multi-coil body such as a cable is disposed radially outwardly of the input and output hubs and couples the hubs together for rotation upon rotation of the input hub in one rotational direction. The body has ends coupled to the output hub and attachment ring. A torque limiter includes a torque transmission plate configured to rotate with the input hub and an armature plate fixed against rotation. The torque transmission plate and armature plate are configured to move axially together along the axis of rotation. An electromagnet disposed on one side of the torque limiter opposite the input hub attracts the plates in a second axial direction away from the attachment ring when energized.