Variable performance viscous fluid heater

A viscous fluid heater comprising a heating chamber and a rotatable rotor accommodated therein, wherein rotation of said rotor shears viscous fluid between a first space substantially extending along an axis of the heating chamber and a second space substantially perpendicularly extending to the first chamber, and wherein said first space and said second space communicate with each other;

• a storage chamber defined in the rotor for storing viscous fluid;
• a first passage for connecting the first space with the storage chamber to discharge the viscous fluid from the storage chamber to the first space;
• a second passage for connecting the second space with the storage chamber to supply the viscous fluid from the second space to the storage chamber, said second passage being open to the second space in the vicinity of the axis and having a cross-sectional area smaller than the first passage;
• and
• a first valve actuated in association with heat generating capacity for adjusting the flow of the viscous fluid passing through the first passage.

A viscous fluid heater comprising:

• a heating chamber having an inner peripheral surface and an inner side surface;
• a heat exchange chamber disposed adjacent to the heating chamber;
• a rotatable cylindrical rotor housed within said heating chamber, said rotor having an outer peripheral surface and an outer side surface, said outer peripheral surface being opposed to said inner peripheral surface by a first space, said side surface being opposed to said inner side surface by a second space communicating with the first space, wherein rotation of said rotor shears viscous fluid to generate heat in the first and second spaces and the heat generated in the first and second spaces is transmitted to the heat exchange chamber to heat fluid circulating in the heat exchange chamber and an external fluid circuit and passing through the heat exchange chamber;
• a storage chamber defined in the rotor for storing viscous fluid;
• a first passage for connecting the first space with said storage chamber to shift viscous fluid from said storage chamber to the first space;
• a second passage for connecting said second space with said storage chamber to shift viscous fluid from the second space to said storage chamber;
• and
• a first reed valve actuated to decrease the flow of the viscous fluid in the first passage in association with an increase in the rotation speed of said rotor;
• and
• a second reed valve actuated to increase the flow of the viscous fluid in the passage in association with an increase in the rotation speed of the rotor.