Modular viscous clutch
AssigneeHorton, Inc.
InventorDavid R. Hennessy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A viscous clutch includes an input member, an output member, a working chamber defined between the input member and the output member, a reservoir to hold a supply of a shear fluid fluidically connected to the working chamber by a fluid circuit, a valve that is electromagnetically actuatable to selectively control a flow of the shear fluid along the fluid circuit, a control coil assembly, and a securing mechanism. The control coil assembly includes a modular center hub removably attached to the input member, an electromagnetic coil and a coil bearing rotatably supporting the electromagnetic coil on the modular center hub. The securing mechanism is removably attached to the input member radially inward of the working chamber and the reservoir, and includes a radially outwardly extending flange.
Claims20
A viscous clutch comprising:
- an input member;
- an output member;
- a working chamber defined between the input member and the output member;
- a reservoir to hold a supply of a shear fluid, the reservoir fluidically connected to the working chamber by a fluid circuit;
- a valve, wherein the valve is electromagnetically actuatable to selectively control a flow of the shear fluid between the reservoir and the working chamber along the fluid circuit such that a torque coupling between the input member and the output member can be created as a function of a volume of the shear fluid present in the working chamber;
- a control coil assembly that includes:
- a modular center hub removably attached to the input member;
- an electromagnetic coil;
- and
- a coil bearing rotatably supporting the electromagnetic coil on the modular center hub;
- and
- a securing mechanism removably attached to the input member radially inward of the working chamber and the reservoir, wherein the securing mechanism includes a radially outwardly extending flange.
A method of using a viscous clutch, the method comprising:
- engaging a housing hub of an input member to an input shaft from a prime mover;
- securing the housing hub to the input shaft in a rotationally fixed manner with a securing mechanism, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a bushing;
- engaging a belt to a pulley on an output member;
- attaching a control coil assembly to the input member at an opposite side of the clutch from the belt and the input shaft;
- introducing a shear fluid to a working chamber;
- and
- transmitting torque between the input member and the output member through the shear fluid present in the working chamber.
A viscous clutch comprising:
- a housing having a housing hub;
- a rotor disk;
- a stub shaft rotationally fixed to the rotor disk, wherein the stub shaft is concentric with the housing hub and axially overlaps the housing hub;
- a bearing set positioned between the stub shaft and the housing hub;
- a working chamber defined between the housing and the rotor disk;
- a reservoir to hold a supply of a shear fluid, the reservoir fluidically connected to the working chamber by a fluid circuit, wherein the reservoir is carried by the housing and rotates at all times with the housing;
- a valve, wherein the valve is electromagnetically actuatable to selectively control a flow of the shear fluid between the reservoir and the working chamber along the fluid circuit such that a torque coupling between the housing and the rotor disk can be created as a function of a volume of the shear fluid present in the working chamber;
- and
- a control coil assembly removably attached to the housing, the control coil assembly including an electromagnetic coil;
- and
- a securing mechanism attached to the housing hub, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a bushing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.