Liquid cooled magnetorheological fluid clutch for automotive transmissions

A magnetorheological clutch comprising:

• a pair of spaced magnetic core members;
• an input rotor disposed in a circumferential space between said magnetic core members;
• an encapsulated electric coil secured in an annular chamber in a radially innermost one of said magnetic core members;
• liquid cooling flow channel means for supplying cooling liquid to and returning cooling liquid from an outer periphery of a radially outermost one of said magnetic core members;
• and
• liquid passage means for directing a portion of said cooling liquid from said liquid cooling flow channel means to and from said annular chamber to establish cooling liquid flow through said annular chamber to cool said encapsulated electric coil.

A magnetorheological clutch comprising:

• a first magnetic core;
• a second magnetic core;
• a rotor disposed for relative rotation between said first and second cores;
• an electrical coil secured in one of said first and second magnetic cores;
• a channel ring secured to said magnetic cores at an axial end thereof, said channel ring having a plurality of flow channels disposed at least partially adjacent at least one of said magnetic cores;
• a housing secured to said channel ring and said first and second magnetic cores, said housing having an outer rim portion disposed circumjacent an outer periphery of one of said magnetic cores, and a plurality of channels disposed adjacent said channel ring, said channels being angularly offset from said channels in said channel ring and communicating with an annular space between said outer rim portion and said outer periphery of said one magnetic core;
• a plurality of weirs formed on said outer rim portion and disposed intermediate adjacent ones of the channels on said channel ring;
• a plurality of weirs formed on said one magnetic core and being disposed in axial alignment with respective ones of said channels in said housing, said weirs on said housing and said one magnetic core cooperating to form a serpentine flow path in said annular space;
• a flow divider plate means secured between said channel ring and said housing for preventing communication of liquid cooling flow between said flow channels in said channel ring and said channels in said housing;
• and
• means for supplying a cooling liquid to said channels in said housing for distribution sequentially through said serpentine path and to said flow channels in said channel ring.