Liquid Cooled Fan Clutch

摘要

A liquid cooled viscous fan clutch transfers torque from a driving plate driven by an engine crankshaft to a driven plate connected to a cooling fan. Heat generated in a working fluid is transferred to a second fluid, such as engine coolant or transmission fluid, flowing between the driven plate and a stationary housing. A controllable valve may be closed to block circulation of working fluid, trapping working fluid in a reservoir, to disengage the clutch. Rotation of the driven plate provides the motive force to circulate the coolant or transmission fluid.

主权项

1. A viscous fan clutch comprising:
input and output shafts; a drive plate fixed to the input shaft and having a first plurality of cylindrical ridges; a driven plate fixed to the output shaft and having a second plurality of cylindrical ridges interspersed with the first plurality of ridges, the driving plate and driven plate defining a first fluid circuit to direct a working fluid between the first and second pluralities of ridges such that viscous shear exerts torque on the driven plate; and a stationary housing, the driven plate and the stationary housing defining a second fluid circuit sealed from the first fluid circuit such that heat generated by the viscous shear is transferred through the driven plate to a cooling fluid in the second circuit.