Magnetorheological transmission clutch

摘要

The clutch includes a housing defining a cavity with a rotary input element carrying at least one input clutch plate extending radially in the cavity. A rotary output element carrying at least one output clutch plate extends radially into the cavity adjacent the input clutch plate with a gap defined between the input clutch plate and the output clutch plate. A core formed of magnetically permeable material has a pair of side plates extending radially across the housing. A coil effective to establish an electromagnetic field is carried against the core. Magnetorheological fluid is carried in the cavity within the gap and is responsive to the electromagnetic field that is established by the coil through the core so that torque is transferred from the input clutch plate to the output clutch plate through the fluid. Heat expansion of the fluid is accommodated by a thermal expansion chamber.