Abstract A hollow drive spindle fast with a pulley is drivingly connected to a pump impeller, and a fan assembly is mounted for rotation with respect to said pulley and said drive spindle. Friction clutch means comprising clutch plates respectively drivingly connected to the fan assembly and to the pulley is provided with a pressure plate operable to frictionally engage said clutch plates and thereby drivingly connect the pulley and the fan assemply. A wax cell thermostat is mounted in the pump impeller for exposure to coolant fluid, and a rod slidably received in said hollow drive spindle is axially moved therein by expansion and contraction of the thermostat. A part fast with said pulley has a diametral bore, and a diametrally extending member is loosely received in said bore and is engageable with said pressure plate. Said rod is engageable with said member, in response to expansion of said thermostat, to displace said member axially and thereby displace the pressure plate to operate the clutch means.
A cooling fan and water pump assembly for an internal combustion engine comprising a drive pulley, a hollow drive spindle fast with said pulley and drivingly connected to a pump impeller, a fan assembly mounted for rotation with respect to said pulley and said drive spindle, friction clutch means comprising clutch plates respectively drivingly connected to the fan assembly and to the pulley and a pressure plate operable to frictionally engage said clutch plates and thereby drivingly connect the pulley and the fan assembly, a wax cell thermostat mounted in the pump impeller for exposure to coolant fluid, and a rod slidably received in said hollow drive spindle, which is axially moved therein by expansion and contraction of the thermostat, wherein the improvement comprises a collar which is slidably mounted on a hub that is fast with the drive pulley, an annular diaphragm spring which is carried by said collar and is engageable with said pressure plate, and an axially adjustable element which is carried by said collar, said rod being engageable with said element, in response to expansion of said thermostat, to displace said collar axially and thereby displace the pressure plate to operate the clutch means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A cooling fan and water pump assembly for an internal combustion engine comprising a drive pulley, a hollow drive spindle fast with said pulley and drivingly connected to a pump impeller, a fan assembly mounted for rotation with respect to said pulley and said drive spindle, friction clutch means comprising clutch plates respectively drivingly connected to the fan assembly and to the pulley and a pressure plate operable to frictionally engage said clutch plates and thereby drivingly connect the pulley and the fan assembly, a wax cell thermostat mounted in the pump impeller for exposure to coolant fluid, and a rod slidably received in said hollow drive spindle, which is axially moved therein by expansion and contraction of the thermostat, wherein the improvement comprises a collar which is slidably mounted on a hub that is fast with the drive pulley, an annular diaphragm spring which is carried by said collar and is engageable with said pressure plate, and an axially adjustable element which is carried by said collar, said rod being engageable with said element, in response to expansion of said thermostat, to displace said collar axially and thereby displace the pressure plate to operate the clutch means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the diaphragm spring resiliently opposes displacement of said rod, in response to expansion of said thermostat, when the rod and said element are in engagement.