摘要 |
<p>ENGINE FAN CLUTCH A fan clutch for a vehicle engine connects the engine cooling fan with the engine when the cooling effect of the engine fan is necessary and disconnects the fan when its cooling effect is not necessary. The clutch includes a driven member and a driving member and a belt carried by the driving member and rotatable therewith which is adapted to engage the driven member when the clutch is to be engaged. The driven member comprises a pair of relatively rotatable, axially extensible portions so that when the below is in driving engagement with the driven member, relative rotation between the portions extends the same so that engagement surfaces on one of the portions and on the driving member are brought into engagement thus connecting the driven and driving members. A spring, which is responsive to centrifugal forces generated by rotation of the driving member, holds the belt in driving engagement with the driven member when engine speeds are below a predetermined level, but yields to permit the belt to move out of engagement with the driven member when engine speed exceeds the predetermined level. A temperature responsive capsule includes a lever which holds the spring in a position maintaining engagement of the belt with the driven member when the temperature level exceeds a predetermined level, regardless of engine speed.</p> |