Viscous shear coupling

US4982808A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Viscodrive GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Herbert Taureg · Hennef (Sieg), DE
• Heinz Klein · Koblenzer Straße, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 19, 1989
• Grant date: Jan 8, 1991
• Expiry date: Dec 19, 2009

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60K17/351
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A viscous shear coupling, comprising a first part in the form of a housing (2), a second part (3) disposed within the housing to define an annular closure therebetween, a first set of annular plates (11) in the enclosure secured for rotation with the first coupling part interleaved with the plates (12) of a second set of plates, secured for rotation with the second coupling part (3) and a viscous liquid at least partially filling the enclosure, wherein the plates are provided with through slots (13, 14) which are arranged so that parts of the slots move into and out of area of axial alignment as the sets of plates rotate relative to one another. The slots in one set of plates are inclined to the radii of the plates, while the slots in the other set of plates may be radial such that in one direction of rotation of the first set of plates relative to the second set of plates the axially aligned areas of the slots of two adjacent plates move inwardly towards said axis, and in the opposite direction of rotation of the first set of plates relative to the second of plates the axially aligned areas of the slots of two adjacent plates move outwardly away from said axis. The coupling is abl…