GB2182732A

GB2182732A - Clutch-driven compressor assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2182732A
Application number: GB08527502A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Anthony Fisher
Original assignee: Bendix Ltd
Current assignee: Honeywell UK Ltd
Priority date: 1985-11-07
Filing date: 1985-11-07
Publication date: 1987-05-20
Also published as: GB8527502D0

Abstract

In a clutch driven compressor assembly a compressor crankshaft 7 has bearings 8 and 33 in a crankcase housing and the driven end 25 of the crankshaft carries a driven shell assembly 16, 18, etc., of a multiplate clutch, the driven member 15 of the assembly being integral with an input shaft 11 which is rotatably carried and aligned in the housing in bearings 12 and 24 independently of the crankshaft and the driven shell member 18. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Compressor assemblies This invention relates to 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 comprising a compressor housing, a compressor shaft rotatably mounted in bearings in said housing, one end of said shaft being connected to a driven or output member of a multiple clutch, a coaxial rotatable input or drive member for said clutch running in the housing in further bearing means, said input or drive member being independently aligned with the compressor shaft by said further means.

By virtue of the provision of said further bearing means the input or drive member is not required to have any further bearing and alignment tolerances as between the input member and the compressor shaft may be less stringent than otherwise.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried into effect 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 1 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 with a piston 4 and a connecting rod 5 for effecting reciprocation of the piston 4 in the bore 6 of the cylinder by virtue of rotation of a cranksahft 7 the freen end of which runs in a bearing bush 8 in an end plate 9 on one end of the crankcase.The other end of the crankcase is provided with a generally cylindrical integrally cast extension 10 which houses a clutch assembly via which the crankshaft is driven by a rotatable input shaft member 11.

The latter runs in an outer ball bearing 12 and a further inner ball bearing 24 captive in a further end plate 13 on this end of the housing. The outer end of the shaft member 11 is provided with a key-way 14 and suitable fixing means for mounting a drive means gear wheel for engagement with a gear train or other means of an internal combustion engine for driving the compressor.

Inboard of the bearings 12 and 24 the input shaft member 11 is provided integrally with an input or drive member 15 of a multi-plate clutch. This member has axially directed splines 15a co-operating with inner clutch plate projections, the whole being coaxial with and embraced by a shell part 16 of the clutch engageable with a driven or output member 18 being carried on splines 17 on the driven end 25 of the crankshaft of the compressor.

The driven end 25 of the compressor crankshaft runs in a bearing 33 and the assembly is held together by a nut 26 accommodated in a recess in the driven or input part 15. Cooperable with 18 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 plurality (typically twelve) of equiangularly spaced springs 20. The clutch assembly is retained together by an internal circlip 21 located in the cage member 19 for reacting the force of the coil 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. Outer and inner seals 30 and 31 af the piston 22 are axially spaced in order to ensure improved alignment of the piston in its annular cylinder at all times.Furthermore, piston 22 is keyed against rotation by a locating pin 28.

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 shell part 16 and output member 1 8 of the clutch assembly are assembled as a separateunit with the plates properly aligned, following which the pneumatic release piston 22 is in position.

The clutch assembly comprising the inner and outer plates and the coil springs 20 (retained together by virtue of the circlip 21) is then placed onto the spline 1 7 on the crankshaft followed by the locking nut 26. Thereafter the input member 15 of the clutch integral with the shaft 11, already assembled into the bearings 12 and 24 in the end cover 13, is introduced into the assembly lining up the splined input 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 co mpressed 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 from 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 axially leftwards to compress the springs 20 and quickly release the clutch. The compressor then stops until the controlling pressure signal in passage 27 is removed to re-engage the clutch. During the released condition of the clutch, any tendency for rotation of the piston 22 is prevented by the locating pin 28 which holds the piston 22 in a given angular position in relation to the housing.

Claims

1. A compressor assembly comprising a compressor housing, a compressor shaft rotatably mounted in bearings in said housing, one end of said shaft being connected to a driven or output member of a multiplate clutch, a coaxial rotatable input or drive member for said clutch running in the housing in further bearing means, said input or drive member being independently aligned with the compressor shaft by said further means.

2. A compressor assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said further bearing means comprise a first outer bearing and a second inner bearing co-operating with each other to align the input or drive member.

3. A compressor assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2 the input or drive member comprising external axial splines engaging inner clutch plates, the driven or output member engaging a shell having axial slots engaging outer clutch plates interleaved with the inner clutch plates and said input or drive member having an axial recess accommodating retaining means for the driven or output member.

4. A compressor assembly as claimed in claim 3 said interleaved clutch plates and the driven or output member being urged together by compressed spring means in the shell, an annular clutch release piston operably engageable with the shell and said piston having axially spaced inner and outer seals.

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