Fluid coupling assembly

Claim 2

A fluid coupling comprising an input coupling member capable of being rotated at relatively high and low speeds, a rotatable output coupling member disposed adjacent to said input coupling member, means for supporting said coupling members for relative rotation, said input and output coupling members having spaced apart opposed surface portions defining a fluid shear space therebetween and cooperating with a fluid shear medium during relative rotation between said coupling members to provide a fluid drive between said coupling members, and resiliently deflectable spring means spaced from said shear space for preventing relative rotation between said coupling members during low speed rotation of said input coupling member and for assisting said fluid drive in transmitting forces from said input coupling member to said output coupling member during relative rotation between said coupling members.

Claim 3

A fluid coupling as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spring means is at least partially compressed between said coupling members prior to rotation of said input coupling member to provide a preload force tending to retard wobble of one of said coupling members relative to the other of said coupling members.

Claim 4

A fluid coupling as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spring means includes an annular base disposed adjacent one of said coupling members and a plurality of spring fingers projecting axially outwardly from said base into engagement with the other of said coupling members.

Claim 5

A fluid coupling comprising an input coupling member Capable of being rotated at relatively high and low speeds, a rotatable output coupling member disposed adjacent to said input coupling member, means for supporting said coupling members for relative rotation, said input and output coupling members having spaced apart opposed surface portions defining a fluid shear space therebetween and cooperating with a fluid shear medium during relative rotation between said coupling members to provide a fluid drive between said coupling members, and resiliently deflectable spring means spaced from said shear space for preventing relative rotation between said coupling members during low speed rotation of said input coupling member and for assisting said fluid drive in transmitting forces from said input coupling member to said output coupling member during relative rotation between said coupling members, said spring means including an annular base disposed adjacent one of said coupling members and a plurality of spring fingers projecting axially outwardly from said base into engagement with the other of said coupling members, said spring fingers having an elongated configuration and extending circumferentially along and axially outwardly from said base and wherein said annular base has a surface of frictional material thereon.

Claim 6

A fluid coupling comprising an input coupling member Capable of being rotated at relatively high and low speeds, a rotatable output coupling member disposed adjacent to said input coupling member, means for supporting said coupling members for relative rotation, said input and output coupling members having spaced apart opposed surface portions defining a fluid shear space therebetween and cooperating with a fluid shear medium during relative rotation between said coupling members to provide a fluid drive between said coupling members, and resiliently deflectable spring means spaced from said shear space for preventing relative rotation between said coupling members during low speed rotation of said input coupling member and for assisting said fluid drive in transmitting forces from said input coupling member to said output coupling member during relative rotation between said coupling members, said spring means including an annular base disposed adjacent one of said coupling members and a plurality of spring fingers projecting axially outwardly from said base into engagement with the other of said coupling members, said spring fingers having an elongated configuration and extending circumferentially along and axially outwardly from said base and wherein said annular base has a surface of frictional material thereon.

Claim 7

A fluid coupling comprising an input coupling member capable of being rotated at relatively high and low speeds, a rotatable output coupling member disposed adjacent to said input coupling member, means for supporting said coupling members for relative rotation, said input and output coupling members having spaced apart opposed surface portions defining a fluid shear space therebetween and cooperating with a fluid shear medium during relative rotation between said coupling members to provide a fluid drive between said coupling members, said sheer space having a generally circular configuration, and resiliently deflectable spring means spaced from said shear space for preventing relative rotation between said coupling members during low speed rotation of said input coupling member and for assisting said fluid drive in transmitting forces from said input coupling member to said output coupling member during relative rotation between said coupling members, said spring means being disposed radially outwardly of said shear space.

Claim 8

A fluid coupling comprising an input coupling member capable of being rotated at relatively high and low speeds, a rotatable output coupling member disposed adjacent to said input coupling member, means for supporting said coupling members for relative rotation, said input and output coupling members having spaced apart opposed surface portions defining a fluid shear space therebetween and cooperating with a fluid shear medium during relative rotation between said coupling members to provide a fluid drive between said coupling members, said sheer space having a generally circular configuration, and resiliently deflectable spring means spaced from said shear space for preventing relative rotation between said coupling members during low speed rotation of said input coupling member and for assisting said fluid drive in transmitting forces from said input coupling member to said output coupling member during relative rotation between said coupling members, said spring means being disposed radially outwardly of said shear space.

Claim 9

A fluid coupling as set forth in claim 5 wherein said spring means includes an annular base which circumscribes said shear space and a plurality of spring fingers which project from said base and engage one of said coupling members at spaced apart locations.

Claim 10

A fluid coupling as set forth in claim 5 wherein said spring means includes an annular base disposed adjacent one of said coupling members and a plurality of spring fingers projecting axially outwardly from said base into engagement with the other of said coupling members.

Claim 11

A fluid coupling comprising an input coupling member capable of being rotated at relatively high and low speeds, a rotatable output coupling member disposed adjacent to said input coupling member, means for supporting said coupling members for relative rotation, said input and output coupling members having spaced apart opposed surface portions defining a fluid shear space therebetween and cooperating with a fluid shear medium during relative rotation between said coupling members to provide a fluid drive between said coupling members, and resiliently deflectable spring means spaced from said shear space for preventing relative rotation between said coupling members during low speed rotation of said input coupling member and for assisting said fluid drive in transmitting forces from said input coupling member to said output coupling member during relative rotation between said coupling members, one of said coupling members having a plurality of generally annular projections on which one of said surface portions is disposed and which are interfitted with annular grooves defined by the other of said portions on said other coupling member, said spring means being Disposed radially outwardly of said annular projections and grooves and being at least partially compressed between said coupling members at all times to provide an axially directed preload force which tends to retard wobble of one of said coupling members relative to the other of said coupling members.

Claim 12

A fluid coupling comprising an input coupling member capable of being rotated at relatively high and low speeds, a rotatable output coupling member disposed adjacent to said input coupling member, means for supporting said coupling members for relative rotation, said input and output coupling members having spaced apart opposed surface portions defining a fluid shear space therebetween and cooperating with a fluid shear medium during relative rotation between said coupling members to provide a fluid drive between said coupling members, and resiliently deflectable spring means spaced from said shear space for preventing relative rotation between said coupling members during low speed rotation of said input coupling member and for assisting said fluid drive in transmitting forces from said input coupling member to said output coupling member during relative rotation between said coupling members, one of said coupling members having a plurality of generally annular projections on which one of said surface portions is disposed and which are interfitted with annular grooves defined by the other of said portions on said other coupling member, said spring means being Disposed radially outwardly of said annular projections and grooves and being at least partially compressed between said coupling members at all times to provide an axially directed preload force which tends to retard wobble of one of said coupling members relative to the other of said coupling members.

Claim 13

A fluid coupling comprising a rotatable input coupling member, a rotatable output coupling member disposed adjacent to said input coupling member, means for supporting said coupling members for rotation relative to each other in such a manner as to allow at least some wobble to occur between said coupling members during rotation thereof, said input and output coupling members having spaced apart surface portions defining a fluid shear space therebetween and cooperating with a fluid shear medium relative rotation between said coupling members to provide a fluid drive between said coupling members, and resiliently deflectable spring means partially compressed between said coupling members at all times to provide an axially directed preload force to retard wobble of one of said coupling members relative to the other of said coupling members, said spring means including an annular base having a friction surface disposed in abutting engagement with one of said coupling members and a plurality of spring elements which extend outwardly from said base into engagement with the other of said coupling members at a plurality of spaced apart locations.

Claim 14

A fluid coupling comprising a rotatable input coupling member, a rotatable output coupling member disposed adjacent to said input coupling member, means for supporting said coupling members for rotation relative to each other in such a manner as to allow at least some wobble to occur between said coupling members during rotation thereof, said input and output coupling members having spaced apart surface portions defining a fluid shear space therebetween and cooperating with a fluid shear medium relative rotation between said coupling members to provide a fluid drive between said coupling members, and resiliently deflectable spring means partially compressed between said coupling members at all times to provide an axially directed preload force to retard wobble of one of said coupling members relative to the other of said coupling members, said spring means including an annular base having a friction surface disposed in abutting engagement with one of said coupling members and a plurality of spring elements which extend outwardly from said base into engagement with the other of said coupling members at a plurality of spaced apart locations.

Claim 15

A fluid coupling as set forth in cliam 9 wherein said surface portions include first and second annular surfaces formed on said coupling members radially inwardly of said base and cooperating with the fluid shear medium during relative rotation between said coupling members to provide a fluid drive between said coupling members.

Claim 16

A fluid coupling as set forth in cliam 9 wherein said surface portions include first and second annular surfaces formed on said coupling members radially inwardly of said base and cooperating with the fluid shear medium during relative rotation between said coupling members to provide a fluid drive between said coupling members.

Claim 17

A fluid coupling as set forth in claim 10 further including temperature responsive means for varying the amount of the fluid shear medium available to cooperate with said first and second annular surfaces during relative rotation between said coupling members.

Claim 18

A fluid coupling as set forth in claim 9 wherein spring fingers have an elongated configuration and extend circumferentially along and axially outwardly from said base and wherein said annular base has a surface of frictional material thereon.

Claim 19

A fluid coupling comprising a rotatable input coupling member, a rotatable output coupling member disposed adjacent to said input coupling member, means for supporting said coupling members for rotation relative to each other in such a manner as to allow at least some wobble to occur between said coupling members during rotation thereof, said input and output coupling members having spaced apart surface portions defining a fluid shear space therebetween and cooperating with a fluid shear medium during relative rotation between said coupling members to provide a fluid drive between said coupling members, and resiliently deflectable spring means partially compressed between said coupling members at all times to provide an axially directed preload force to retard wobble of one of said coupling members relative to the other of said coupling members.

Claim 20

A fluid coupling comprising a rotatable input coupling member, a rotatable output coupling member disposed adjacent to said input coupling member, means for supporting said coupling members for rotation relative to each other in such a manner as to allow at least some wobble to occur between said coupling members during rotation thereof, said input and output coupling members having spaced apart surface portions defining a fluid shear space therebetween and cooperating with a fluid shear medium during relative rotation between said coupling members to provide a fluid drive between said coupling members, and resiliently deflectable spring means partially compressed between said coupling members at all times to provide an axially directed preload force to retard wobble of one of said coupling members relative to the other of said coupling members.

Claim 21

A fluid coupling as set forth in claim 13 wherein said spring means includes a plurality of spaced apart spring elements disposed in a circular array, said spring elements being effective to apply preload forces to one of said coupling members at spaced apart locations which are disposed at the same distance from the center of rotation of said one of said coupling members.

Claim 22

The invention of claim 13 wherein said coupling includes means for pumping fluid from said shear space including a fluid outlet therefrom and wherein said resiliently deflectable spring means is spaced radially outwardly of said fluid outlet.

Claim 23

A fluid coupling comprising a rotatable input coupling member, a rotatable output coupling member disposed adjacent to said input coupling member, means for supporting said coupling members for rotation rElative to each other in such a manner as to allow at least some wobble to occur between said coupling members during rotation thereof, said input and output coupling members having spaced apart surface portions defining a fluid shear space therebetween and cooperating with a fluid shear medium during relative rotation between said coupling members to provide a fluid drive between said coupling members, and resiliently deflectable spring means partially compressed between said coupling members to provide an axially directed preload force to retard wobble of one of said coupling members relative to the other of said coupling members, said spring means including at least one resiliently compressible spring element disposed between said coupling members and having a first surface portion disposed in abutting engagement with said input coupling member and a second surface portion disposed in abutting engagement with said output coupling member.

Claim 24

A fluid coupling comprising a rotatable input coupling member, a rotatable output coupling member disposed adjacent to said input coupling member, means for supporting said coupling members for rotation rElative to each other in such a manner as to allow at least some wobble to occur between said coupling members during rotation thereof, said input and output coupling members having spaced apart surface portions defining a fluid shear space therebetween and cooperating with a fluid shear medium during relative rotation between said coupling members to provide a fluid drive between said coupling members, and resiliently deflectable spring means partially compressed between said coupling members to provide an axially directed preload force to retard wobble of one of said coupling members relative to the other of said coupling members, said spring means including at least one resiliently compressible spring element disposed between said coupling members and having a first surface portion disposed in abutting engagement with said input coupling member and a second surface portion disposed in abutting engagement with said output coupling member.

Claim 25

A fluid coupling as set forth in claim 16 wherein said spring means further includes a plurality of spaced apart spring elements disposed in a circular array which includes said one spring element, all of said spring elements being effective to continuously apply preload forces to one of said coupling members at spaced apart locations to provide an uninterrupted preload force which continuously retards wobble between the coupling members.

Claim 26

The invention of claim 16 wherein said coupling includes means for pumping fluid from said shear space including a fluid outlet therefrom and wherein said resiliently deflectable spring means is spaced radially outwardly of said fluid outlet.

Claim 27

A fluid coupling as set forth in claim 16 wherein said surface portions of said input and output coupling members include first and second annular surfaces formed on said coupling members inwardly of said spring element and cooperating with the fluid shear medium during relative rotation between said coupling members to provide a fluid drive between said coupling members.

Claim 28

A fluid coupling as set forth in claim 19 further including temperature responsive means for varying the amount of the fluid shear medium available to cooperate with said first and second annular surfaces during relative rotation between said coupling members.

Claim 29

For use with a cooling fan operable with a vehicular engine, a viscous fluid drive mechanism comprising first and second relatively rotatable drive means, said first drive means being rotatably mounted by bearings on a central shaft and having an annular operating chamber formed therein, said second drive means being secured at its center to said central shaft and extending radially outwardly into said annular operating chamber so as to provide a predtermined shear space intermediate said first and second drive means, said shear space being operable with a fluid medium to provide a shear-type fluid drive between said first and second drive means, and independent annular friction ring means operatively connected in said annular operating chamber for frictionally contacting adjacent outer portions of said first and second drive means for providing a substantially nonslip drive connection between said first and second drive means at low engine rpms or idle conditions.

Claim 30

For use with a cooling fan operable with a vehicular engine, a viscous fluid drive mechanism comprising first and second relatively rotatable drive means, said first drive means being rotatably mounted by bearings on a central shaft and having an annular operating chamber formed therein, said second drive means being secured at its center to said central shaft and extending radially outwardly into said annular operating chamber so as to provide a predtermined shear space intermediate said first and second drive means, said shear space being operable with a fluid medium to provide a shear-type fluid drive between said first and second drive means, and independent annular friction ring means operatively connected in said annular operating chamber for frictionally contacting adjacent outer portions of said first and second drive means for providing a substantially nonslip drive connection between said first and second drive means at low engine rpms or idle conditions.

Claim 31

A viscous fluid drive mechanism comprising first and second relatively rotatable drive means, said first drive means being rotatably mounted by bearings on a central shaft and having an annular operating chamber formed therein, said second drive means having a hub secured to said central shaft and extending radially outwardly into said annular operating chamber, a plurality of annular ridges formed on one of said first and second drive means and a plurality of cooperating annular grooves formed on the other of said first and second drive means, said annular ridges and grooves forming a shear space therebetween and operable with a fluid medium to provide a shear-type fluid drive between said first and second drive means, and independent resiLient friction means compressed in said annular operating chamber intermediate adjacent portions of said first and second drive means for providing high fan speeds at low engine rpms or idle conditions.

Claim 32

A viscous fluid drive mechanism comprising first and second relatively rotatable drive means, said first drive means being rotatably mounted by bearings on a central shaft and having an annular operating chamber formed therein, said second drive means having a hub secured to said central shaft and extending radially outwardly into said annular operating chamber, a plurality of annular ridges formed on one of said first and second drive means and a plurality of cooperating annular grooves formed on the other of said first and second drive means, said annular ridges and grooves forming a shear space therebetween and operable with a fluid medium to provide a shear-type fluid drive between said first and second drive means, and independent resiLient friction means compressed in said annular operating chamber intermediate adjacent portions of said first and second drive means for providing high fan speeds at low engine rpms or idle conditions.

Claim 33

A viscous fluid drive mechanism comprising first and second relatively rotatable drive means, said first drive means being rotatably mounted by bearings on a central shaft and having an annular operating chamber formed therein, said second drive means having a hub secured to said central shaft and extending radially outwardly into said annular operating chamber so as to provide a predetermined shear space intermediate said first and second drive means, said shear space being operable with a fluid medium to provide a shear-type fluid drive between said first and second drive means, and spring-loaded friction means operatively connected in said annular operating chamber intermediate said first and second drive means for providing high fan speeds at low engine rpms or idle conditions, said spring-loaded friction means including a washer member secured for rotation with one of said first and second drive means at the radial outer portion of said annular operating chamber.

Claim 34

A viscous fluid drive mechanism comprising first and second relatively rotatable drive means, said first drive means being rotatably mounted by bearings on a central shaft and having an annular operating chamber formed therein, said second drive means having a hub secured to said central shaft and extending radially outwardly into said annular operating chamber so as to provide a predetermined shear space intermediate said first and second drive means, said shear space being operable with a fluid medium to provide a shear-type fluid drive between said first and second drive means, and spring-loaded friction means operatively connected in said annular operating chamber intermediate said first and second drive means for providing high fan speeds at low engine rpms or idle conditions, said spring-loaded friction means including a washer member secured for rotation with one of said first and second drive means at the radial outer portion of said annular operating chamber.

Claim 35

A viscous fluid clutch comprising a housing rotatably mounted by bearings on a central shaft and having an annular operating chamber formed therein, a clutch plate enclosed by said housing and having a hub secured to said central shaft with the remainder of said clutch plate extending substantially radially outwardly into said operating chamber, a plurality of annular ridges formed on one of said housing and said clutch plate and a plurality of cooperating annular grooves formed on the other of said housing and said clutch plate in said operating chamber, said annular ridges and grooves forming a shear space therebetween and operable with a fluid medium to provide a shear-type fluid drive between said housing and said clutch plate, a disc assembly compressed in said annular operating chamber between said housing and said clutch plate, said disc assembly including an annular washer member slidably secured in said housing adjacent the outer periphery of the side wall of said operating chamber, a layer of friction material formed on the face of said annular washer member adjacent said clutch plate, and spring fingers formed on the other face of said annular washer member in contact with said housing and being compressed intermediate said housing and said clutch plate.

Claim 36

A viscous fluid clutch comprising a housing rotatably mounted by bearings on a central shaft and having an annular operating chamber formed therein, a clutch plate enclosed by said housing and having a hub secured to said central shaft with the remainder of said clutch plate extending substantially radially outwardly into said operating chamber, a plurality of annular ridges formed on one of said housing and said clutch plate and a plurality of cooperating annular grooves formed on the other of said housing and said clutch plate in said operating chamber, said annular ridges and grooves forming a shear space therebetween and operable with a fluid medium to provide a shear-type fluid drive between said housing and said clutch plate, a disc assembly compressed in said annular operating chamber between said housing and said clutch plate, said disc assembly including an annular washer member slidably secured in said housing adjacent the outer periphery of the side wall of said operating chamber, a layer of friction material formed on the face of said annular washer member adjacent said clutch plate, and spring fingers formed on the other face of said annular washer member in contact with said housing and being compressed intermediate said housing and said clutch plate.