MAGNETORHEOLOGICAL FLUID FAN DRIVE DESIGN FOR MANUFACTURABILITY

摘要

An improved magnetorheological (MR) fluid fan drive design is disclosed. A critical area in the design of such fan drives is the gap for MR fluid between the rotor ring and the corresponding structure of the stator. The stator member must confine the MR fluid in the gap and the applied magnetic field for the fluid and the field coil close to it. In this disclosure a ferrous alloy stator insert is made as one piece and cast within a larger aluminum alloy stator body. A slot for the rotor ring is cut through stator insert separating it into two pieces that remain supported by the aluminum body. The magnetically permeable insert pieces confine the fluid and the magnetic field at the fluid gap around the rotor, and one of the stator insert pieces supports the field coil next to the gap.