Ringed cover and seal for a viscous fluid clutch and method of making
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorDavid B. Drennen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A viscous fluid clutch includes a cover having an airflow ring. The airflow ring can be formed integrally with or separately from the cover. Concentric inner and outer walls are attached to each other by radially spaced fins. A cooling passage for airflow is provided between each pair of adjacent fins. During rotation, a cooling airflow passes freely between the fins, improving the rate of heat transfer from the clutch. Such construction of the walls and fins and a method for forming the cover are well suited for casting and eliminate the need for costly prior art machining. A labyrinth seal can be formed between the cover and housing by an annular flange on the housing received into a complementary groove in the cover.
Claims21
A viscous fluid coupling comprising:
- (a) a housing having inner and outer surfaces;
- (b) a cover, having inner and outer surfaces, cooperating with the housing to form a hollow interior;
- (c) a plate mounted between the housing and the cover to separate a fluid working chamber from a fluid reservoir;
- (d) a clutch plate rotatably disposed in the working chamber;
- (e) an input shaft drivingly connected to the clutch plate;
- and
- (f) a plurality of fins on the outer surface of the cover extending radially past the housing and terminating at attached ring means.
A viscous fluid coupling comprising:
- (a) a housing having inner and outer surfaces;
- (b) a cover, having inner and outer surfaces, cooperating with the housing to form a hollow interior;
- (c) a plate mounted between the housing and the cover to separate a fluid working chamber from a fluid reservoir;
- (d) a clutch plate rotatably disposed in the working chamber;
- (e) an input shaft drivingly connected to the clutch plate;
- and
- (f) an airflow ring module, having a plurality of fins extending radially past the housing, secured to one of the housing and the cover.
A viscous fluid clutch comprising:
- (a) a housing having inner and outer surfaces;
- (b) a cover, having inner and outer surfaces, cooperating with the housing to form a hollow interior;
- (c) a plate mounted between the housing and the cover to separate a fluid working chamber from a fluid reservoir;
- (d) a clutch plate rotatably disposed in the working chamber;
- (e) an input shaft drivingly connected to the clutch plate;
- (f) a labyrinth seal between the housing and the cover formed by an annular flange on the cover extending axially toward the housing and fitted into a complementary groove in the housing to prevent leakage of fluid from the clutch;
- and
- (g) a plurality of radial fins on the outer surface of the cover extending radially past the housing and bounded by attached ring means for directing a cooling airflow over the clutch.
A method of forming a viscous fluid clutch having a cover and a housing, comprising:
- (a) forming a bowl-like cover having inner and outer surfaces;
- (b) forming a housing;
- (c) attaching the cover to the housing;
- (d) integrally forming fins on the outer surface of the cover so that the fins extend radially beyond the housing;
- and
- (e) forming a ring to the radially outermost ports of the fins.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.