Variable speed drive for an auxiliary member in an internal combustion engine

摘要

A variable speed drive assembly for driving an auxiliary member in an internal combustion engine. The auxiliary member may be a fan connected to a pulley is driven by a drive pulley connected to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine via a V-belt. At least one of the pulleys is an adjustable drive ratio pulley. An actuator is operatively connected to the drive assembly to controllable change the drive ratio of the pulley. By controlling the drive ratio of the pulley, the speed of the fan can be selectively controlled. The adjustable drive ratio pulley may have an inner idler freely rotatable mounted therein. The actuator may cause the V-belt to engage the inner idler to substantially disconnect a rotatable connection between the fan and the crankshaft thus allowing the fan to windmill.