Magnetic clutch method and apparatus for driving a vehicle air conditioner

摘要

A drive for the compressor (14) of a vehicle air conditioner having a magnetic clutch (20) for mechanically driving the compressor shaft (16) within a predetermined range of torque; a rotatable input element (22) on the magnetic clutch (20) to be rotated by the vehicle motor at varying speeds with changes in the vehicle motor's speed; a first electromagnetic element (42) on the rotatable input element (22); a compressor shaft (16) on the output side of the magnetic clutch for supplying torque to drive the compressor; a second electromagnetic element (46) on the compressor shaft (16) with a magnetic field between the first and second electromagnetic elements to rotate the compressor (14); and an electric control (32) for varying the electrical power to the electromagnetic clutch (20) as the vehicle motor changes speed to vary the magnetic field and torque being applied to rotate the compressor shaft (16).