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US 5,701,985 AGranted
Fluid friction clutch
AssigneeBehr GmbH & Co.
InventorHans Martin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a fluid friction clutch, the circulation of shearing fluid is controlled by a control of the return flow of the shearing fluid from a clutch working chamber into a clutch storage chamber. The return flow is controlled by a control piston which is movable axially of the clutch to selectively block and open a radially extending return flow duct. In certain embodiments the control piston also controls an inflow bore.
Claims15
Fluid friction clutch comprising:
- a clutch disk forming a driving part,
- a clutch housing forming an output part,
- a working chamber surrounding the clutch disk,
- a shearing fluid storage chamber,
- an inflow bore connecting the storage chamber with the working chamber,
- a return flow bore leading from the working chamber to the storage chamber,
- and an axially movable control piston with control surfaces at its circumference movable continuously between an open position completely opening up the cross-section of the return flow bore and a closed position which completely blocks the cross-section of the return flow bore,
- wherein said return flow bore opens radially to the control piston and the control piston surfaces at its circumference serve to block and open said return flow bore in a simple manner without internal passages in the control piston associated with the return flow.
5 more elements
Fluid friction clutch comprising:
- a clutch disk forming a driving part,
- a clutch housing forming an output part,
- a working chamber surrounding the clutch disk,
- a shearing fluid storage chamber,
- an inflow bore connecting the storage chamber with the working chamber,
- a return flow bore leading from the working chamber to the storage chamber,
- and control apparatus assigned to the return flow bore which is movable continuously between an open position completely opening up the cross-section of the return flow bore and a closed position which completely blocks the cross-section of the return flow bore, and
- wherein a control element for the continuous opening and closing of the inflow bore is provided which is adjusted together with the control apparatus for the return flow bore, and
- wherein the control apparatus and the control element are configured as piston parts of a control piston which are connected with one another in one piece and can be continuously adjusted along a common adjusting axis transversely to the return flow bore and the inflow bore, the adjusting path extending between a position which blocks the return flow bore and simultaneously opens up the inflow bore by way of continuously adjustable intermediate positions in which the return flow bore as well as the inflow bore are partially opened up, and a position which opens up the return flow bore and simultaneously closes off the inflow bore.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.