Viscous clutch
US7946400B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 28, 2006 |
| Grant date | May 24, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 31, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16D35/024
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A viscous clutch assembly (100) includes a rotor (104), a selectively rotatable member (102) surrounding the rotor and defining a working chamber (114) therebetween, a first opening (126A) defined through the rotor (104) between front and rear sides of the rotor (104) and in fluid communication with the working chamber (114) at both the front and rear sides of the rotor (104), a reservoir (112) supported by the rotor (104) and having a second opening (138), a valve assembly (106) supported by the rotor (106) having a cover plate (140) for selectively covering the second opening (138), and a channel (128,130) defined in the rotor (104) between the first opening (126A) and an area adjacent to the second opening (138). The channel (128,130) is in fluid communication with the first opening (126A).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.