Cooling fan with viscous-magnetic fan clutch
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorFrank E. LaFlame
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Engine cooling fan with viscous-magnetic clutch which is electrically energized on closure of thermal switch mounted within engine coolant. As fan coil housing is driven on engagement of the magnetic clutch, silicone fluid is centrifugally displaced into working area of viscous clutch for fluid drive of fan body. Because of slippage in the fluid drive, fan speeds will gradually increase from minimum to maximum speeds. With progressive increase in speed, conventional fan blading can be employed without excessive fan generated noise.
Claims3
A fan drive comprising rotatable input shaft means, drive shoe means mounted on said shaft means for rotation therewith, drive plate means supported by said drive shoe means, a housing disposed around said input shaft means, bearing means supporting said housing for rotation on said input shaft means, selectively electrically energizable coil means disposed in said housing for attracting said drive plate means into driving engagement with said housing so that said housing will be driven by said input shaft means, fan body means rotatably mounted on said input shaft means around said housing, said fan body means having a fluid chamber therein, said housing having a rotor which extends into said chamber, said chamber having a hydraulic fluid therein effective on predetermined rotational drive of said rotor by said input shaft means to transmit drive torque for the hydraulic drive of said fan body.
A fan drive comprising rotatable input shaft means, drive shoe means mounted on said input shaft means for rotation therewith, drive plate means supported by said drive shoe means, fan body means disposed around said input shaft means and said drive shoe means, said main fan body means having outwardly extending fan blades secured thereto, a coil housing supported for rotation on said input shaft means, selectively electrically energizable 50 coil means disposed in said coil housing means for magnetically attracting said drive plate means into driving engagement with said housing so that said housing will be driven by said input shaft means, said fan body means having a viscous fluid working chamber therein, said coil housing having a viscous clutch radially extending therein into said chamber, said chamber having a viscous fluid disposed therein effective in response to predetermined rotational drive of said coil housing for the viscous drive of said fan body means in response to energization of said coil means.
A fan drive comprising rotatable input shaft means, drive shoe means secured to said input shaft means for rotation therewith, drive plate means, torque spring means yieldably connecting said drive shoe means to said drive plate means, fan body means disposed around said input shaft means and said drive shoe means, a coil housing supported for rotation on said input shaft means, cover means secured to said fan body means and cooperating therewith to encase said coil housing, selectively energizable coil means disposed within said coil housing means for magnetically attracting said drive plate means into driving engagement with said coil housing so that said coil housing will be driven by said input shaft means, said fan body means having a viscous fluid working chamber therein, said coil housing having a viscous clutch radially extending therein into said chamber, said chamber having a viscous fluid disposed therein centrifugally displaced in response to predetermined rotational drive of said coil housing for the viscous drive of said fan body means in response to energization of said coil means and the rotational drive of said coil housing by said input shaft means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.