Pressure-responsive fluid-check valve and method for a viscous fluid clutch.

摘要

A viscous fluid fan clutch assembly for a vehicle includes an internally-mounted pump plate (256) for separating a working chamber from a reservoir. Pressure-sensitive fluid-check valves (130) are provided in the pump plate (256) to permit only one-way fluid flow from a pumping chamber (98) to the reservoir. Each check valve (130) includes an interior chamber (134) having a pair of inclined side walls (138,140) which terminate at a normally-closed outlet (142). When a predetermined fluid pressure is achieved in the pumping chamber (98), the side walls (138,140) are forced apart to open the outlet (142). The closing of the outlet (142) is not dependent upon fluid pressure in the reservoir. <IMAGE>