Electronically controlled fluid coupling device with fluid scavenge control

An electronically controlled fluid coupling device comprising:

• an output member including a center shaft member;
• an input member bearing mounted around said output member, said input member comprising a body member and a cover member;
• a stationary housing member bearing mounted to said input member;
• a rotor member mounted to said output member and contained within said cover member and said body member, said body member and said rotor member defining a working chamber;
• a reservoir plate member mounted to said input member and housing a fluid aperture therein;
• a fluid reservoir defined between said reservoir plate and said body member, said fluid reservoir having a quantity of viscous fluid;
• a fluid chamber defined between said reservoir plate and said rotor member, said fluid chamber fluidically coupled to said working chamber and fluidically coupled to said fluid reservoir;
• a scavenge passageway which facilitates the flow of viscous fluid from said working chamber to said fluid chamber;
• an armature valve member coupled to said input member, said armature valve member axially moveable to any of an infinite number of positions between a first position, a midlevel position, and a second position;
• said armature member opening and closing the fluid flow path from said scavenge passageway to said fluid reservoir;
• said moveable armature valve member capable of covering said fluid aperture when said armature valve member is in said second position, therein preventing flow of said quantity of viscous fluid from said fluid reservoir to said fluid chamber, said aperture valve member capable of partially covering said fluid aperture when said armature valve member is in said midlevel position, therein allowing partial flow of said quantity of viscous fluid from said fluid reservoir to said working chamber to partially engage said rotor and said output member, and said armature valve member capable of substantially uncovering said fluid aperture when said armature valve member is in said first position, thereby allowing full flow of viscous fluid between said scavenge passageway and said fluid reservoir;
• an electromagnetic subassembly mounted to said stationary housing member;
• a power source electrically coupled to said electromagnetic subassembly;
• and
• a controller electrically coupled to said power source, said controller directing said power source to provide an electrical current to said electromagnetic subassembly, wherein said electromagnetic subassembly induces a magnetic field in response to said electrical current, wherein said armature valve member can move axially from said first position to said midlevel position to said second position depending upon the strength of said magnetic field;
• wherein the operation and speed of the output member are controlled without a wire tether member.