PROTECTION DEVICE FOR VISCOUS CLUTCH

摘要

A viscous clutch assembly includes an input member, an output member, a reservoir for holding a shear fluid, a working chamber for accepting the shear fluid to selectively rotationally engage the input member and the output member for the transmission of torque therebetween, a valve assembly for controlling flow of the shear fluid to the working chamber, an electromagnet for actuating the valve assembly, a protection member configured to be moveable as a function of centrifugal force produced by rotation of the input member during clutch operation to reduce flow of the shear fluid to the working chamber at or above a first rotational speed, and a biasing member for biasing the protection member toward a position that allows flow of the shear fluid to the working chamber. The centrifugal force produced by rotation of the input member acts against a biasing force of the biasing member.