OVERRUNNING ALTERNATOR DECOUPLER PULLEY WITH BARE WIRE SPRING AND GREASE LUBRICATION

摘要

A decoupler assembly (20) is provided for allowing an alternator to be rotatably driven by a serpentine belt (14) in an engine of an automotive vehicle and for allowing the speed of the belt to oscillate relative to the alternator. A hub is fixedly carried by a drive shaft (15) from the alternator for rotation therewith. A pulley (50) is rotatably journaled to the hub by a ball bearing member (55). The ball bearing member includes lubricant for minimizing frictional wear therein. A bare, helical clutch spring (71) is operatively coupled between the hub and pulley for transferring rotational movement from the pulley to the hub during acceleration of the pulley relative to the hub by the serpentine belt and for allowing the hub to overrun the pulley during deceleration of the pulley relative to the hub.