Viscous clutch with eddy current reduction

An electromagnetically actuated viscous clutch assembly comprising:

• an electromagnetic coil;
• a shaft defining an axis of rotation;
• a rotor comprising aluminum and rotatable about the axis of rotation;
• a housing comprising aluminum, wherein the housing is positioned adjacent to the rotor to create a fluid working chamber therebetween;
• a valve assembly actuated by magnetic flux generated by the electromagnetic coil, wherein a flux circuit is defined between the electromagnetic coil and the valve assembly;
• and
• a plurality of recesses defined in the housing that reduce the amount of aluminum between the rotor and the electromagnetic coil to interrupt and reduce eddy currents.

An electromagnetically actuated viscous clutch assembly comprising:

• an electromagnetic coil;
• a shaft defining an axis of rotation;
• a rotor configured to be rotatable about the axis of rotation;
• a housing, wherein the housing is located adjacent to the rotor to create a fluid working chamber therebetween;
• a valve assembly configured to be actuated by magnetic flux generated by the electromagnetic coil, wherein a flux circuit is defined between the electromagnetic coil and the valve assembly;
• and
• a plurality of scallop features defined in the housing and facing the electromagnetic coil, wherein the plurality of scallop features are located substantially within an interior region of the flux circuit.