GB2150238A

GB2150238A - Multi-plate clutch in compressor assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2150238A
Application number: GB08331867A
Authority: GB
Inventors: M C Christmas; B P Neal; M J Winfield
Original assignee: Bendix Ltd
Current assignee: Honeywell UK Ltd
Priority date: 1983-11-29
Filing date: 1983-11-29
Publication date: 1985-06-26
Also published as: ES8507661A1; EP0147063A1; GB2150238B; ES538092A0; DE3465129D1; EP0147063B1; GB8331867D0; IN160845B

Description

1 GB 2 150 238 A 1

SPECIFICATION Air compressor assemblies

This invention relates to air compressor assemblies and relates more particularly to an air compressor assembly incorporating a clutch on the drive shaft thereof.

According to the present invention there is provided a compressor assembly including a housing having a rotatable input shaft for connection to a prime mover said shaft running in a first outer bearing in the housing and incorporating an input part of a muffipiate clutch embraced by a clutch output part drivably located on the shaft of a compresser and said input part having an axial recess accommodating retaining means for the clutch output part on the compressor shaft and inboard thereof a bearing about which the inner end of the input part is rotatable on the compressor shaft in a disengaged condition of said clutch.

By virtue of the provision of said input part with an axial recess and said inboard bearing the input part is provided with a substantial support length to afford an advantageous and compact construction for the assembly.

In order that the invention may be more clearly 90 understood and readily carried into affect the sample will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a single sectional view of a single cylinder compressor assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing the compressor has a cast metal housing in the form of a combined crankcase and cylinder denoted by reference the cylinder being provided with a valve plate 2 containing the necessary valves co-operating with a cylinder head 3 with suitable inlet and output ports the details of which are of no consequence in relation to the present invention and may be of a suitable construction. The compressor is provided 105 with a piston 4 and a connectiong rod 5 for effecting reciprocation of the piston 4 in the bore 6 of the cylinder by virtue of rotation of a crankshaft 7 the free end of which runs in a bush 8 in an end plate 9 on one end of the crankcase. The other end of the 110 crankcase is provided with a generally cylindrical integrally cast extension 10 which houses a clutch assembly via which the crankcase is driven by a rotatable input shaft portion 11 which runs in a ball bearing 12 captive in a further end plate 13 on this 115 end of the housing. The outer end of the shaft 11 provided with a key-way 14 and suitable fixing means for mounting a gear wheel for engagement with a gear train of an internal combustion engine for driving the compressor. The input shaft 11 is 120 integral with an input part 15 of of a multi-piate clutch this input part being coaxial with an embraced by an output part 16 of the clutch the output part being carried on a spline 17 on the crank-shaft of the compressor. The output part of 125 the clutch comprises a hub portion 18 which is directly splined at 17 and co-operable therewith and the outer clutch plates 29 of the clutch there is an outer cage 19 which is urged into a clutch engaged position by a pair of annular disc springs 20. The clutch assembly is retained together by an iternal circlip 21 located in the cage member 19 for reacting the force of the disc springs 20 and pneumatically operable clutch release means in the form of an annular piston 22 is provided engageable with the cage 19 through a thrust member 23 in a sense to compress the springs 20 and release the clutch. Piston 22 is keyed against rotation by a locating pin 28.

The main bearing of the compressor on the drive side is provided by a substantial ball race 24 and the inward end of the input shaft and clutch input member 15 is carried on a bearing 25 within a recess in the input part 15 fixing means for retaining the bearing on the crankshaft being provided by a suitable nut 26.

Considering now the manner of putting together the compressor assembly the compressor including the crankshaft, connecting rod and piston are first assembled together with the necessary valve and cylinder head components. On the other hand, the output member 16 of the clutch assembly is assembled as a separate unit with plates properly aligned following which the pneumatic release piston 22 is placed in position, the clutch assembly comprising the inner and outer plates and the disc spring 20 (retained together by virtue of the circlip 21) is placed onto the spline 17 on the crankshaft followed by the bearing 25 and the fixing means including the locking nut 26. Thereafter the input part 15 of the clutch integral with the shaft 11 already assembled into the bearing 12 in the end cover 13 are introduced into the assembly lining up the shaft form with the internal projections of the clutch plates and inserting the necessary fixing bolts (not shown) for the plate 13.

In operation of the assembly, in the absence of a suitable compressed air signal in the control passage 27 from a governor or control valve, the clutch assembly will be in the engaged condition and therefore full drive torque will be applied on the input shaft 11 through the clutch assembly to the crankshaft of the compressor for charging compressed air storage reservoirs. Upon attainment of a first predetermined compressed air pressure in the reservoirs, the governor or control valve will provide a pressure signal via the passage 27 to the release piston 22 which will thereby be urged leftwards to compress the disc springs 20 and quickly release the clutch. The compressor then stops until the controlling pressure signal in passage 27 is again removed to re-engage the clutch. During the released condition of the clutch, any tendency for rotation of the piston 22 is prevented by a locating peg which holds the piston 22 in a given position in relation to the housing.

When the pressure in the storage reservoirs fails again below a second relatively lower pressure value the signal pressure at port 27 is rapidly removed whereby the clutch re-engages to reinstate the charging mode.

Claims

1. A compressor assembly including a housing 2 having a rotatable input shaft for connection to a prime mover said shaft running in a first outer bearing in the housing and incorporating an input part of a multi plate clutch embraced by a clutch output part drivably located on the shaft of a compressor and said input part having an axial recess accommodating retaining means for the GB 2 150 238 A 2 clutch output part on the compressor shaft and inboard thereof a bearing about which the inner end of the input part is rotatable on the compressor shaft in a disengaged condition of said clutch.

2. A compressor assembly substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Courier Press, Leamington Spa. 611985. Demand No. 8817443. Published by the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.