Magnetorheological fluid fan clutch

摘要

A magnetorheological fluid fan clutch (10) comprises an input shaft (11) carrying an input clutch plate (12) in a cavity (38) formed by a nonmagnetic spacer (32) between front and rear covers (20,21) which operate as output clutch plates, which are supported by a bearing assembly (30) on the input shaft (11). Radially outside the cavity (38), which contains magnetorheological fluid, is a coil (40), which can be supplied with a variable electric current to vary the engagement of the clutch (10). <IMAGE>