U.S. patent application number 10/441594 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-25 for direct method of terminating the ground coil terminal to coil housing.
Invention is credited to Hammond, Jonathan K., Le, Anh.
Application Number | 20040231949 10/441594 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33418037 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040231949 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Le, Anh ; et al. |
November 25, 2004 |
DIRECT METHOD OF TERMINATING THE GROUND COIL TERMINAL TO COIL
HOUSING
Abstract
The subject invention improves the electrical connection in a
clutch assembly for engaging a compressor in a vehicle air
conditioning system. In accordance with the subject invention, a
tab extends from the mounting plate and the second end of the
ground lead is frictionally retained between the tab and the core
winding housing. This is accomplished by turning a tab out of the
plane of a mounting plate, placing the second end of the ground
lead under the tab and bending the tab downwardly to clamp the
second end of the ground lead between the tab and the core winding
housing to frictionally retain the second end of the ground lead
between the tab and the core winding housing.
Inventors: |
Le, Anh; (Lockport, NY)
; Hammond, Jonathan K.; (Holley, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
M/C 480-410-202
PO BOX 5052
TROY
MI
48007
US
|
Family ID: |
33418037 |
Appl. No.: |
10/441594 |
Filed: |
May 20, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
192/84.961 ;
29/606 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16D 27/14 20130101;
F16D 27/112 20130101; F16D 2027/007 20130101; Y10T 29/49073
20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
192/084.961 ;
029/606 |
International
Class: |
F16D 027/112 |
Claims
1. A clutch assembly for engaging a compressor in a vehicle air
conditioning system wherein said clutch assembly comprises; a
mounting plate having opposite faces, a core winding housing
supported on one face of said mounting plate, a core winding
disposed in said core winding housing for generation of magnetic
field within said core winding in response to electrical power
being supplied to said core winding, a ground lead having a first
end connected to said core winding and a second end connected to
said mounting plate, said mounting plate having a tab integral with
and extending therefrom and said second end of said ground lead
being frictionally retained between said tab and said core
winding.
2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including projections on
said tab for engaging said ground lead.
3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said mounting plate
is generally circular to define a circular periphery with at least
one cutout portion, said tab extending from said mounting plate in
said cutout portion.
4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said tab extends to
a distal end disposed within said circular periphery.
5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 including a power lead
electrically connected to said core winding for supplying
electrical power to said core winding.
6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 including an armature plate,
drive housing surrounding said winding housing and comprising an
armature housing connected to said armature plate through magnetic
coupling, a drive plate, a plurality of leaf springs
interconnecting said drive plate and said armature plate, a drive
hub supported by said drive plate.
7. A method of fabricating a clutch assembly for engaging a
compressor in a vehicle air conditioning system comprising the
steps of; turning an integral tab out of the plane of a mounting
plate supporting a core winding housing on one face thereof for
magnetically coupling with a drive housing, connecting a first end
of a ground lead to the core winding within the winding housing,
disposing a second end of said ground lead between the tab and the
core winding housing, and bending the integral tab downwardly to
clamp the second end of the ground lead between the tab and the
core winding housing to frictionally retain the second end of the
ground lead between the tab and the core winding housing.
8. A method as set forth in claim 7 including engaging the ground
lead with projections extending from the tab.
9. A method as set forth in claim 7 including forming the mounting
plate with a generally circular periphery with a cutout portion and
forming the tab in the cutout portion.
10. A method as set forth in claim 9 including forming the tab with
a distal end disposed within the circular periphery.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The subject invention relates to the electrical connection
in a clutch assembly for engaging a compressor in a vehicle air
conditioning system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In an automotive air conditioning system, an electrical coil
winding in an electromagnetic/mechanical clutch engages a
compressor to pump refrigerant upon demand by the user. The coil
winding is disposed within a core housing that is attached to a
mounting plate. The coil winding is supplied electrical power from
the vehicle electrical system and is grounded to the mounting
plate.
[0003] A ground lead electrically interconnects the coil winding
and the mounting plate, usually by removing insulation from the
ground lead and crimping a ring terminal onto the ground lead. A
stud extends from the mounting plate and the ring terminal is
disposed over the stud, after which the stud is flattened over the
ring terminal to create a mechanical joint that completes the
ground circuit.
[0004] Although the current systems perform perfectly well, there
is always a use for an alternative grounding method that reduces
the fabrication steps and eliminates components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES
[0005] The subject invention improves the electrical connection in
a clutch assembly for engaging a compressor in a vehicle air
conditioning system. Such a clutch assembly comprises a mounting
plate having opposite faces with a core winding housing supported
on one face of the mounting plate and a core winding disposed in
the core winding housing. A drive housing surrounds the core
winding housing for magnetically coupling with the core winding in
response to electrical power being supplied to the core winding. A
first end of a ground lead is connected to the core winding and a
second end is connected to the mounting plate. In accordance with
the subject invention a tab extends from the mounting plate and the
second end of the ground lead is frictionally retained between the
tab and the core winding housing.
[0006] This is accomplished by turning a tab out of the plane of a
mounting plate, placing the second end of the ground lead under the
tab and bending the tab downwardly to clamp the second end of the
ground lead between the tab and the core winding housing to
frictionally retain the second end of the ground lead between the
tab and the core winding housing.
[0007] This simplified method of electrically connecting the ground
lead to the core winding housing eliminates the extra ring terminal
attached to the ground lead as well as the stud extending from the
core winding housing to receive the ring terminal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Other advantages of the present invention will be readily
appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to
the following detailed description when considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a side view of side view of the drive plate side
of a clutch assembly incorporating the subject invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a side view from the opposite side of the clutch
assembly showing the mounting plate and the tab 52 of the subject
invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of
FIG. 2; and
[0012] FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view of
the tab 52 of the subject invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] Referring to the drawings, where like numerals indicate like
parts throughout the several views, a clutch assembly for engaging
a compressor in a vehicle air conditioning system is shown.
[0014] The assembly includes a mounting plate 12 having opposite
faces and a core winding housing 14 supported on one face of the
mounting plate 12. As is well known in the art, the mounting plate
12 is secured to the core wing housing 14 by a plurality of
fasteners 16.
[0015] Also as well known in the art, a core winding 18 is disposed
in the core winding housing 14 and a drive housing surrounds the
core winding housing 14 for magnetically coupling within said drive
housing in response to electrical power being supplied to the core
winding 18 by an electrical power lead 20 and junction box 21. The
drive housing is an assembly of parts including an armature housing
22 surrounding the core winding housing 14 for transmitting and
generating the magnetic field. An armature plate 24 is engaged by
the armature housing 22 by magnetic coupling. A plurality of leaf
springs 26 interconnect a drive plate 28 and the armature plate 24
via a plurality of rivets 30 and 32. A drive hub 34 is supported by
the drive plate 28. Also as is well known in the art, a bearing 48
is disposed within the armature housings 22.
[0016] The A/C clutch consists of a moving pulley 22, a fixed
location field coil including; back plate 12 housing 14, and
winding 18, and a stationary driver including; armature plate 24,
drive plate 28, hub 34, springs 26, etc.
[0017] The driver is attached to the compressor shaft and the
pulley is spun by the accessory drive system of the vehicle. It is
spinning 100% of the time that the vehicle is on. To start the A/C
compressor pumping the armature plate 24 must engage the pulley
magnetically and begin spinning at the same speed as the pulley.
This in turn spins the compressor and the refrigerant system begins
functioning. The pulley 22 and armature plate 24 are not assembled
together but instead come into contact with each other only when
the winding 18 is electronically excited generating a magnetic
field which pulls the two components together. Typically the
winding is assembled within a metal housing 14, this housing is
generally mechanically fixed to the compressor and the pulley spins
around it.
[0018] The invention relates to a ground lead 50 having a first end
connected to the core winding 18 and a second end connected to the
mounting plate 12. However, the connection is accomplished by the
mounting plate 12 having a tab 52 extending therefrom and the
second end of the ground lead 50 being frictionally retained
between the tab 52 and the core winding housing 14 so that the
ground lead 50 is in electrical contact (i.e., grounded) with the
winding housing 14. The tab 52 may include projections or serration
54 on the tab 52 for engaging the ground lead 50. The mounting
plate 12 is generally circular to define a circular periphery 56
with at least one cutout portion 58 and the tab 52 extends radially
from the mounting plate 12 in the cutout portion 58. More
specifically, the tab 52 extends to a distal end that is disposed
within the imaginary circular periphery 56 as it is extended
through the cutout portion 58.
[0019] Accordingly, the subject invention provides a method of
fabricating a clutch assembly for engaging a compressor in a
vehicle air conditioning system comprising the steps of turning the
tab 52 out of the plane of a mounting plate 12, as is shown in
phantom in FIG. 4, disposing the second end of the ground lead 50
between the tab 52 and the core winding 18, and bending the tab 52
downwardly to clamp the second end of the ground lead 50 between
the tab 52 and the core winding 18 to frictionally retain the
second end of the ground lead 50 between the tab 52 and the core
winding 18, as shown in full lines in FIG. 4.
[0020] Particularly in those cases where the insulation is not
stripped from the ground lead 50, the ground lead 50 may be
provided with projections 54 extending from the tab 52 to pierce
the insulation and make electrical contact with the metal lead
wire.
[0021] The method may include the steps of forming the mounting
plate 12 with a cutout portion 58 with the tab 52 in the cutout
portion 58 and having a distal end disposed within the circular
periphery 56 of the mounting plate 12.
[0022] Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The
invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described
within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *