1. A rotational coupling device, comprising:
a rotor coupled to an input shaft for rotation therewith, said input shaft disposed about a rotational axis, said rotor defining axially extending, radially spaced inner and outer poles;
a field shell disposed about said input shaft and fixed against rotation, said field shell defining axially extending, radially spaced inner and outer poles
an electrical conductor disposed within said field shell between said inner and outer poles of said field shell on a first side of said rotor;
a brake plate coupled to said field shell; and,
an armature disposed axially between said rotor and said brake plate on a second side of said rotor opposite said conductor, said armature coupled to an output member
wherein said inner pole of said rotor is disposed radially outward of said inner pole of said field shell
further comprising a bearing disposed about said input shaft and supporting said field shell wherein energization of said conductor causes magnetic flux to travel radially inwardly of said bearing along a first path from said rotor to said field shell.
2. The rotational coupling device of claim 1 wherein magnetic flux also travels radially outwardly of said bearing along a second path from said rotor to said field shell.
3. A rotational coupling device, comprising:
a rotor coupled to an input shaft for rotation therewith, said input shaft disposed about a rotational axis, said rotor defining axially extending, radially spaced inner and outer poles;
a field shell disposed about said input shaft and fixed against rotation, said field shell defining axially extending, radially spaced inner and outer poles
an electrical conductor disposed within said field shell between said inner and outer poles of said field shell on a first side of said rotor;
a brake plate coupled to said field shell; and,
an armature disposed axially between said rotor and said brake plate on a second side of said rotor opposite said conductor, said armature coupled to an output member
wherein said inner pole of said rotor is disposed radially outward of said inner pole of said field shell
wherein magnetic flux travels radially inwardly from said inner pole of said rotor to said inner pole of said field shell and radially outwardly from a radially inner portion of said rotor to said inner pole of said field shell.
4. The rotational coupling device of claim 3 wherein said rotor defines an axially extending recess radially inwardly of said inner pole of said rotor, said recess configured to receive said inner pole of said field shell.
5. The rotational coupling device of claim 3 wherein energization of said conductor causes magnetic flux to travel between said rotor and said inner pole of said field shell radially across a first air gap and axially across a second air gap.
6. The rotational coupling device of claim 5 wherein energization of said conductor further causes magnetic flux to travel between said rotor and an end wall of said field shell extending between said inner and outer poles of said field shell axially across a third air gap.
7. The rotational coupling device of claim 3 wherein at least a portion of a radially outer surface of said inner pole of said field shell, at least a portion of a radially inner surface of said inner pole of said field shell, and at least a portion of an axial end surface of said inner pole of said field shell are separated from corresponding surfaces of said rotor only by air gaps.
8. A rotational coupling device, comprising:
a rotor coupled to an input shaft for rotation therewith, said input shaft disposed about a rotational axis, said rotor defining axially extending, radially spaced inner and outer poles;
a field shell disposed about said input shaft and fixed against rotation, said field shell defining axially extending, radially spaced inner and outer poles
an electrical conductor disposed within said field shell between said inner and outer poles of said field shell on a first side of said rotor;
a brake plate coupled to said field shell; and,
an armature disposed axially between said rotor and said brake plate on a second side of said rotor opposite said conductor, said armature coupled to an output member
wherein said inner pole of said rotor is disposed radially outward of said inner pole of said field shell
wherein energization of said conductor causes magnetic flux to travel radially inwardly from said inner pole of said rotor to said inner pole of said field shell across a first air gap, radially outwardly from a radially inner portion of said rotor to said inner pole of said field shell across a second air gap.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A magnetic assembly comprising:
a rare earth magnet having a generally cylindrical form, the rare earth magnet having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a perimeter surface;
a bottom cap member abutting the bottom surface of the rare earth magnet; and
a perimeter wall extending upward from the bottom cap member and substantially enveloping the perimeter surface of the rare earth magnet;
wherein the perimeter wall abuts against the perimeter surface of the rare earth magnet;
wherein the perimeter wall has a top edge positioned adjacent to the top surface of the rare earth magnet; and
wherein a notch extends into the perimeter wall from the top edge downwardly toward the bottom surface such that a portion of the perimeter surface of the rare earth magnet adjacent to the top surface is exposed by the notch.
2. The magnetic assembly of claim 1 wherein
a portion of the top surface is exposed, the exposed portion of the top surface being in communication with the portion of the perimeter surface exposed by the notch.
3. The magnetic assembly of claim 2 further comprising a top cap member operationally coupled to the perimeter wall, the top cap member abutting a portion of the top surface of the rare earth magnet to cover an unexposed portion of the top surface.
4. The magnetic assembly of claim 3 wherein the top cap member is an arcuate segment.
5. The magnetic assembly of claim 4 wherein the top cap member has an outer edge extending through an angle of between 45 and 180 degrees inclusive.
6. The magnetic assembly of claim 4 wherein the top cap member has an outer edge extending through an angle of about 80 degrees.
7. The magnetic assembly of claim 3 wherein the bottom cap member, the perimeter wall, and the top cap member each comprise a steel material for directing magnetic lines of flux.
8. The magnetic assembly of claim 1 wherein the bottom cap member and the perimeter wall each comprise a steel material for directing magnetic lines of flux.
9. A magnetic assembly comprising:
a bottom cap member;
a perimeter wall extending upward from the bottom cap member such that the bottom cap member and the perimeter wall define a cavity;
a rare earth magnet filling the cavity defined by the bottom cap member and the perimeter wall;
a top cap member abutting a portion of a top surface of the rare earth magnet; and
wherein the top cap member does not abut a remainder portion of the top surface of the rare earth magnet such that the remainder portion of the top surface is exposed.
10. The magnetic assembly of claim 9 wherein the rare earth magnet has a generally cylindrical outer perimeter surface and the perimeter wall has a generally cylindrical inner surface abutting against the outer perimeter surface of the rare earth magnet.
11. The magnetic assembly of claim 10 wherein the rare earth magnet is solid and continuous between portions of the generally cylindrical outer perimeter surface thereof.
12. The magnetic assembly of claim 9 wherein the perimeter wall comprises a top edge and a notch extends downward from the top edge toward the bottom cap member such that a portion of the outer perimeter surface of the rare earth magnet is exposed by the notch.
13. The magnetic assembly of claim 9 wherein the perimeter wall comprises a top edge and a notch extends downward from the top edge toward the bottom cap member such that a portion of the outer perimeter surface of the rare earth magnet is exposed by the notch; and
wherein the remainder portion of the top surface of the rare earth magnet and the portion of the outer perimeter surface of the rare earth magnet are positioned adjacent to each other.
14. The magnetic assembly of claim 9 wherein the top cap member has a wedge shape.
15. The magnetic assembly of claim 14 wherein the top cap member has an outer edge with sides extending at an angle of between approximately 45 degrees and approximately 180 degrees.
16. The magnetic assembly of claim 14 wherein the top cap member has an outer edge with sides extending at an angle of between approximately 80 degrees.
17. The magnetic assembly of claim 9 wherein the bottom cap member and the perimeter wall each comprise a steel material for directing magnetic lines of flux.
18. The magnetic assembly of claim 9 wherein the bottom cap member, the perimeter wall, and the top cap member each comprise a steel material for directing magnetic lines of flux.
19. The magnetic assembly of claim 9 wherein the rare earth magnet has a generally cylindrical outer perimeter surface and the perimeter wall has a generally cylindrical inner surface abutting against the outer perimeter surface of the rare earth magnet;
wherein the rare earth magnet is solid and continuous between portions of the generally cylindrical outer perimeter surface thereof;
wherein the bottom cap member abuts against a bottom surface of the rare earth magnet;
wherein an inner surface of the perimeter wall abuts against an outer perimeter surface of the rare earth magnet;
wherein the perimeter wall comprises a top edge and a notch extends downward from the top edge toward the bottom cap member such that a portion of the outer perimeter surface of the rare earth magnet is exposed by the notch;
wherein the remainder portion of the top surface of the rare earth magnet and the portion of the outer perimeter surface of the rare earth magnet are positioned adjacent to each other;
wherein the top cap member has a wedge shape; and
wherein the top cap member has an outer edge with sides extending at an angle of between approximately 45 degrees and approximately 180 degrees; and
wherein the bottom cap member, the perimeter wall, and the top cap member each comprise a steel material for directing magnetic lines of flux.
20. The magnetic assembly of claim 9 wherein the bottom cap member abuts against a bottom surface of the rare earth magnet; and
wherein an inner surface of the perimeter wall abuts against an outer perimeter surface of the rare earth magnet.