Viscous clutch and associated flux circuit configuration

US10385932B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• HORTON, INC. · US

Inventors

• Raimund Krammer · Gerolzhofen, DE
• Derek Savela · Windom, US
• Bastian Brand · Schonungen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 10, 2017
• Grant date: Aug 20, 2019
• Expiry date: Sep 2, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16D2121/20
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A viscous clutch includes a shaft, a rotor attached to the shaft, a housing located adjacent to the rotor, a working chamber defined between the rotor and the housing, a reservoir used to store a shear fluid, a valve assembly, an electromagnetic coil, and a flux insert in the housing. Selective introduction of the shear fluid to the working chamber facilitates selective torque transmission between the rotor and the housing. The valve assembly regulates flow of the shear fluid between the reservoir and the working chamber, and includes an armature. Selective energization of the electromagnetic coil governs actuation of the valve assembly. A flux circuit is provided that extends from the electromagnetic coil to the armature and back to the electromagnetic coil. The flux circuit passes through the flux insert and through the shaft, and the flux circuit crosses a radial air gap between the flux insert and the armature.