초록 ▼

A viscous clutch (10) is typically employed in a fan drive mechanism within a truck or automobile. A shaft (18), driven by the engine (12), rotates a clutch member (42) within the fan drive. The clutch member is arranged for fluid engagement with a body member (60) for the transmission of torque the

A viscous clutch (10) is typically employed in a fan drive mechanism within a truck or automobile. A shaft (18), driven by the engine (12), rotates a clutch member (42) within the fan drive. The clutch member is arranged for fluid engagement with a body member (60) for the transmission of torque thereto when fluid is disposed in an operating chamber (100) defined by complementary shear surfaces in the clutch and body members (48,98), respectively. An actuator assembly (30) operates to displace a valving element (196) within the clutch to control the torque transmission therethrough and thus the speed of the output shaft and fan (34) thereof. The actuator is electrically powered by a generator (222) made up of an armature (224) carried by the body member and a plurality of field generating magnets carried by clutch member (42) for rotational interaction therebetween. The clutch is tetherless and receives a slip speed demand signal by an optical or other non-contacting data link to provide tight control of fan speed and engine outlet coolant temperature.

대표청구항 ▼

A viscous fluid clutch comprising: first and second members mounted for relative rotation about a common axis defining cooperating shear surfaces; means operative to generate a flow of viscous fluid between said surfaces; a valving element carried by one of said members to effect modulation of said

A viscous fluid clutch comprising: first and second members mounted for relative rotation about a common axis defining cooperating shear surfaces; means operative to generate a flow of viscous fluid between said surfaces; a valving element carried by one of said members to effect modulation of said flow by limited displacement of said element with respect to said element carrying member; generator means carried by said members operative to establish an electrical current in response to relative rotation of said members; actuator means in circuit with said generator means operable to selectively displace said valving element; logic means including a circuit element for controlling the flow of electrical current from said generator means to said actuator means in response to a control signal; and sensor means operative to generate said control signal as a function of a predetermined system parameter.