Selectively operable rotary drive means
US4540381A · kind A · utility
12Cited by
7References
3Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 23, 1984 |
| Grant date | Sep 10, 1985 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 23, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02K2213/09
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An alternator cooling fan drive includes a radial bearing, the outer race of which mounts the fan within the magnetic field produced by the alternator under load. The bearing has pathways with a curvature close enough to the balls that the races will self-center and transmit a minimum torque to the fan when the magnetic field is weak. The pathway and ball configurations are sufficiently divergent that when the magnetic field pulls in on the fan, the races can misalign and wedge the balls more tightly between the races to transmit more torque to the fan. The fan drive is thus more directly responsive to the need for cooling.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.