US 5,573,184 A · Heating device for motor vehicles

Abstract

A heating device for motor vehicles, in particular a supplementary heating device for motor vehicles with a fluid-cooled internal combustion engine. The heating device operates according to the principle of fluid friction; a rotor that rotates in a working chamber, which chamber is completely filled with viscous fluid, is driven by an engine of the vehicle. As the rotor rotates, the viscous fluid emits its heat to a coolant, preferably the cooling water of the internal combustion engine. This heating device is switched on and off by an electromagnetic clutch which connects and disconnects the rotor to the drive engine of the vehicle. This heating device is of simple design, operates reliably, is maintenance-free and can be switched on and off precisely. The heating device can be mounted in the vehicle as desired, shortens the warming-up phase, in particular in the case of diesel engines, and can be used as a heating device even with hybrid drives.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A heating device, and heating device comprising:

a fixed housing;
a working chamber having an inner wall provided in said fixed housing, said working chamber comprising a closed chamber for containing a viscous fluid;
a cooling chamber provided in said housing and adapted to have a cooling fluid flow therethrough;
an intermediate wall that forms a heat-conducting connection between said working chamber and said cooling chamber;
a rotor rotatably mounted in said working chamber, said rotor and said inner wall of said working chamber forming at least one gap;
and
a switchable clutch to selectively drive said rotor.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Heating device for motor vehicles

Life of this patent

Heating device for motor vehicles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19