Fluid coupling device

Claim 1

A FLUID COUPLING DEVICE COMPRISING A SHAFT, AN OUTER CASING ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT, SAID CASING INCLUDING A WALL FORMING A FLUID RESERVOIR AND A DRIVE CHAMBER, A DRIVE MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT WITHIN SAID DRIVE CHAMBER, SAID WALL BEING FORMED TO PROVIDE A FILL PORT OPENING INTO SAID RESERVOIR AND INTO SAID DRIVE CHAMBER FOR ADMITTING FLUID FROM SAID RESERVOIR TO SAID CHAMBER TO CREATE FLUID DRIVE COUPLING OF SAID CASING AND SAID MEMBER, A VALVE PLATE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON A PORTION OF SAID CASING, SAID VALVE PLATE INCLUDING MEANS ENGAGING A PORTION OF SAID CASING FOR BIASING SAID VALVE PLATE TO OPEN POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID PORT, AND A BIMETALLIC PLATE MOUNTED ON SAID CASING FOR MOVEMENT AXIALLY RELATIVE THERETO IN RESPONSE TO INCREASE OF TEMPERATURE, AND MEANS FOR COUPLING SAID BIMETALLIC PLATE WITH SAID VALVE PLATE NORMALLY TO HOLD IT IN CLOSED POSITION OVER SAID FILL PORT, AND TO RELEASE SAID VALVE PLATE IN RESPONSE TO AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID BIMETALLIC PLATE TO ALLOW FLOW OF FLUID FROM SAID RESERVOIR TO SAID CHAMBER, SAID WALL HAVING MEANS FOR DRAINING FLUID FROM SAID DRIVE CHAMBER TO SAID RESERVOIR.