It is herein described a system and a corresponding method to carry out the selective coupling and uncoupling of an alternator in relation to an engine crankshaft pulley. The alternator is kept coupled or uncoupled depending on the detected battery charge, and both coupling and uncoupling are performed in two different steps and lagged in time, one step providing the electric coupling or uncoupling, and the other step providing the mechanical coupling or uncoupling.

According to one aspect, a clutch mechanism includes a control member. The control member is adapted to receive motive power and includes a first dry clutch member and a first viscous clutch member. The clutch mechanism further includes an output member that includes a second dry clutch member and a second viscous clutch member. The first and second dry clutch members form a dry clutch and the first and second viscous clutch members form a viscous clutch. The clutch mechanism further includes an actuation arm coupled to at least one of the control and output members. The actuation arm is selectively controllable to effect relative movement of the control and output members such that one of the dry and viscous clutches is selectively engaged.

A filtering pulley has a hub configured to be fixed to a shaft for rotation thereabout, a crown mounted coaxial and rotationally free on the hub, and a plurality of elastic groups arranged circumferentially with respect to the hub and to the crown and interposed, each, between a pair of first elements integral with the hub and between a pair of second elements integral with the crown. The first elements have at least two spokes, carried by an actuator that is made of two portions that can be selectively coupled based on angular position data between the crown and the hub and/or based on data of torque transmitted between the different elements of the system comprising this pulley.

A hydraulic power module for a crop harvester, and in particular a cotton harvester, having an engine. The hydraulic power module includes a main drive gear, a drive shaft extending through the main drive gear, and a clutch operatively connected to the drive shaft, wherein the clutch has an engaged position and a disengaged position. The engaged position of the clutch fixedly connects the main drive gear to the drive shaft and the disengaged position of the clutch disconnects the main drive gear drive from the drive shaft. The hydraulic power module further includes a first pump device directly coupled to the drive shaft, wherein the first pump device is driven by the drive shaft during rotation of the drive shaft. A second pump device is indirectly connected to the drive shaft through the clutch, and is driven by the drive shaft when the clutch is in the engaged position.

An electromechanical brake system having a suspension control function. The electromechanical brake system includes: an electromechanical brake connected to each wheel of a vehicle to brake the vehicle, a suspension configured to control suspension of the vehicle, a motor configured to provide driving force to the electromechanical brake or to the suspension, a first clutch configured to connect the electromechanical brake and the motor to each other, a second clutch configured to connect the suspension and the motor to each other, and a controller configured to output a control signal for controlling the motor to be connected to one of the first clutch and the second clutch based on a state signal of the vehicle.

A viscous clutch includes a housing, an input device rotationally fixed to the housing, a rotor, a working chamber, a reservoir, a valve, and a quick disconnect bushing. The housing has a base, a cover, and a housing hub connected in in a rotationally fixed configuration. The input device is a pulley, a sprocket, and/or a gear. The rotor has a rotor disk and a rotor hub connected in a rotationally fixed configuration, and a central opening extends entirely through the rotor hub. The reservoir is carried by the housing and overlaps the input device in an axial direction. The quick disconnect bushing is removably secured to the rotor hub at the central opening and permits a rotationally fixed engagement between the rotor and an item driven by the clutch, such as an output shaft.

An electromagnetic clutch (1) of an air conditioning compressor (2), in particular for a motor vehicle (11), transmits a torque to a drive shaft (3) of the compressor (2) depending on an electric current (I) being fed to clutch coils (4) of the electromagnetic clutch (1) to generate an electromagnetic clutch force. According to a control method (10), a slippage of the electromagnetic clutch (1) is determined by a difference between the rpms of the electromagnetic clutch (1) and of the drive shaft (3), and is monitored by a slippage sensor (5). The electric current (I) and the resulting clutch force are adjusted dependent on slippage by a pulse width modulation controller (6) of the compressor (2). The pulse width modulation controller (6) is electrically connected to the clutch coils (4) and modulates a pulse width of the electric current (I) fed to the clutch coils (4).

A material reduction machine including an engine, a material reduction tool, a drivetrain, and a control system. The drivetrain is between the engine and the material reduction tool, and includes a coupling and a power transfer element, the coupling having an engaged state and a disengaged state. When engaged, the coupling enables power transfer through the power transfer element and when disengaged, the coupling inhibits power transfer through the power transfer element. The control system includes a sensor to detect a speed of the engine or the material reduction tool, a drivetrain protection system to protect the power transfer element by disengaging the coupling, and a controller to enable the drivetrain protection system based on a first signal from the sensor indicating the speed is at or above a first threshold, and to disengage the coupling based on a second signal indicating the speed is below a second threshold.

Technologies for enhancing performance of a clutch that is installed in connection with a transport climate control system is provided. Enhancing performance of the clutch can be performed by establishing engagement cycling parameters for the clutch, cycling the clutch through a repetition of engagement and disengagement in accordance with the established engagement cycling parameters, and terminating the cycling upon achievement of at least one predetermined criterion.

An active suspension system comprises at least one biasing device configured to support a body from a structure, and at least one motor. A magnetorheological (MR) fluid clutch apparatus(es) is coupled to the at least one motor to receive torque from the motor, the MR fluid clutch apparatus controllable to transmit a variable amount of torque. A mechanism is between the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus and the body to convert the torque received from the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus into a force on the body. Sensor(s) provide information indicative of a state of the body or structure. A controller receives the information indicative of the state of the body or structure and for outputting a signal to control the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus in exerting a desired force on the body to control movement of the body according to a desired movement behavior.