초록 ▼

Viscous fan drive systems with wiper members positioned on the OD of the clutch disks, and which rotate at high speed. The fluid reservoir also rotates at input speed. The wiper member directs viscous fluid radially back to the fluid reservoir. The valves in the viscous fan drive systems can be acti

Viscous fan drive systems with wiper members positioned on the OD of the clutch disks, and which rotate at high speed. The fluid reservoir also rotates at input speed. The wiper member directs viscous fluid radially back to the fluid reservoir. The valves in the viscous fan drive systems can be activated by an electromagnetic mechanism.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A viscous clutch drive comprising: a housing, said housing being an output of said viscous clutch drive;a rotatable clutch disk member positioned in said housing, said clutch disk member being coupled for rotation with an input of said viscous clutch drive;a working chamber comprising said housin

1. A viscous clutch drive comprising: a housing, said housing being an output of said viscous clutch drive;a rotatable clutch disk member positioned in said housing, said clutch disk member being coupled for rotation with an input of said viscous clutch drive;a working chamber comprising said housing and said clutch disk member;a fluid reservoir cover coupled to said clutch disk member and rotatable therewith, said clutch disk member and said fluid reservoir cover cooperating to define a fluid reservoir;a wiper member located on an outer circumferential surface of said clutch disk member;a valve member in said fluid reservoir and disposed in a fluid communication path between said fluid reservoir and said working chamber; anda solenoid assembly having a coil and a solenoid output member, wherein said valve member is coupled to said solenoid output member for movement therewith. 2. The viscous clutch drive of claim 1 wherein said solenoid output member is movable axially along a rotational axis of said rotatable clutch disk member. 3. The viscous clutch drive of claim 1 further comprising a shaft member rotatably connected to said housing, and wherein said clutch disk member is fixedly attached to said shaft member. 4. The viscous clutch drive of claim 3 wherein said housing is positioned on said shaft member by a bearing member. 5. The viscous clutch drive of claim 1 wherein said solenoid output member is an axially moveable rod member in said housing. 6. The viscous clutch drive of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a cover member and a body member. 7. The viscous clutch drive of claim 3 wherein a bearing is disposed between said coil and said shaft member. 8. The viscous clutch drive of claim 1 wherein a scavenge passageway is formed in said clutch disk member. 9. The viscous clutch drive of claim 8 wherein said scavenge passageway has a first opening on the outer circumferential surface of said clutch disk member. 10. The viscous clutch drive of claim 9 wherein said scavenge passageway has a second opening positioned radially inward from said outer circumferential surface and opening into said fluid reservoir. 11. The viscous clutch drive of claim 1 wherein said wiper member is integrally and unitarily formed with said clutch disk member. 12. The viscous clutch drive of claim 11 wherein said wiper member is located adjacent a scavenge passageway opening on said outer circumferential surface. 13. The viscous clutch drive of claim 1, further comprising a fan member coupled to said housing. 14. A viscous clutch comprising: a housing defining a working chamber having a plurality of concentric ribs, the housing being the output of the viscous clutch;a clutch disk received in the housing and rotatable with respect thereto, the clutch disk having a plurality of concentric grooves and a scavenge passage, each of the grooves receiving a corresponding one of the ribs therein, the scavenge passage extending radially through the clutch disk and intersecting a circumferentially extending peripheral surface of the clutch disk;a reservoir cover coupled to the clutch disk for rotation therewith, the reservoir cover cooperating with the clutch disk to define a reservoir, the scavenge passage of the clutch disk having a radially inward end that intersects the reservoir;a wiper coupled to the clutch disk for rotation therewith, the wiper being positioned on the circumferentially extending peripheral surface proximate a radially outer end of the scavenge passage;a valve member having a body and a valve element that is coupled to a radially outer end of the body, the valve member being disposed in a fluid communication path between the reservoir and the working chamber, the valve member being disposed axially between the reservoir cover and the clutch disk; andan actuator having an actuator output member, wherein the body is coupled to the actuator output member for movement therewith. 15. The viscous clutch of claim 14, wherein the actuator comprises a coil that is disposed about the actuator output member. 16. The viscous clutch of claim 14, wherein the actuator output member is movable axially along a rotational axis of the clutch disk. 17. The viscous clutch of claim 14, wherein the actuator comprises a bi-metal element. 18. The viscous clutch of claim 17, wherein the bi-metal element is wound helically about a rotational axis of the clutch disk. 19. The viscous clutch of claim 17, wherein the actuator output member is movable axially along a rotational axis of the clutch disk. 20. The viscous clutch of claim 14, wherein the wiper defines a recess that is disposed about the radially outer end of the scavenge passage. 21. The viscous clutch of claim 2, wherein the recess is disposed concentrically about the radially outer end of the scavenge passage. 22. The viscous clutch of claim 21, wherein the scavenging conduit is formed through the clutch disk. 23. The viscous clutch of claim 21, wherein the wiper is coupled to the clutch disk for rotation therewith.