Viscous clutch with high-speed wiper system

摘要

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 a bimetal mechanism or an electromagnetic mechanism.

主权项

1. A viscous clutch fan drive mechanism comprising:
a housing member, said housing comprising a cover member and a body member; a central shaft member positioned in the housing; said shaft member connected to a pulley member and rotatable at input speed; a clutch disk member positioned in the housing member and fixedly attached to said shaft member; said housing member positioned on said shaft member by a bearing member; a fluid chamber cover member connected to said clutch disk member forming a fluid reservoir and rotatable with said clutch disk member; a fan member attached to said housing and rotatable therewith; a working chamber comprising at least one fluid surface member positioned on said clutch disk member and at least one mating fluid surface member positioned on said housing member; a scavenge passageway located in said clutch disk member for passing viscous fluid from said working chamber to said fluid reservoir through said clutch disk member, said scavenge passageway having a first opening on the circumferential outer diameter surface of said clutch disk member; a second opening of said scavenge passageway positioned radially inward of said at least one fluid surface member on said clutch disk member; said second opening being located in said fluid reservoir; a valve member located in said fluid reservoir and covering said second opening; and a wiper member located on said outer diameter surface of said clutch disk member adjacent said first opening.