Patent US3913713A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3913713A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Temperature responsive drive unit
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1974-01-04
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Granted: 1975-10-21
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Expires: 1994-01-04
Abstract
Abstract A temperature responsive drive unit comprising clutch plates keyed to the drive and driven members. A thermal power means is carried by one of the members to force the clutch plates together as the ambient temperature is increased beyond a specified value. The invention is especially applicable for transmitting power to the cooling fan of an internal combustion engine. At low engine temperatures the clutch plates are substantially disengaged, and the fan remains essentially motionless. As the engine heats up the thermal power means moves the clutch plates together to thereby rotate the fan at sufficient speed to adequately cool the engine or its radiator.
Inventors
- 👤 Geppert Erwin F
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:28
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01P; F01P7/00; F01P7/02; F01P7/08; F03; F03G; F03G7/00; F03G7/06; F03G7/061; F03G7/0613; F16; F16D; F16D43/00; F16D43/02; F16D43/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A temperature responsive drive unit comprising a stationary support shaft; an annular drive hub comprising an outer peripheral side wall concentric with the shaft, and an end wall radiating inwardly from said side wall toward the shaft; a driven hub comprising an inner peripheral side wall encircling the stationary shaft within the space circumscribed by the aforementioned outer peripheral side wall, and a second end wall radiating outwardly from the inner peripheral side wall; thermally-energized clutch means acting axially between the end walls of the drive and driven hubs to transmit a variable drive force from the drive hub to the driven hub; first bearing means between the stationary shaft and the inner peripheral side wall of the driven hub; second bearing means between the shaft and the end wall of the drive hub; and third bearing means between the end wall of the driven hub and the outer peripheral side wall of the drive hub.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
A temperature responsive drive unit comprising a stationary support shaft; an annular drive hub comprising an outer peripheral side wall concentric with the shaft, and an end wall radiating inwardly from said side wall toward the shaft; a driven hub comprising an inner peripheral side wall encircling the stationary shaft within the space circumscribed by the aforementioned outer peripheral side wall, and a second end wall radiating outwardly from the inner peripheral side wall; thermally-energized clutch means acting axially between the end walls of the drive and driven hubs to transmit a variable drive force from the drive hub to the driven hub; first bearing means between the stationary shaft and the inner peripheral side wall of the driven hub; second bearing means between the shaft and the end wall of the drive hub; and third bearing means between the end wall of the driven hub and the outer peripheral side wall of the drive hub.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The drive unit of claim 1: said first bearing means comprising two axially spaced bearings at different points along the shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The drive unit of claim 1: the end wall of the driven hub constituting a mounting surface for a fan; a surface area of the drive hub outer peripheral wall in radial alignment with the second bearing means constituting a drive pulley.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The drive unit of claim 1: said clutch means comprising first clutch plate means keyed to the outer peripheral side wall of the drive hub, second clutch plate means keyed to the inner peripheral side wall of the driven hub, and thermal power means trained between the end wall of the drive hub and the clutch plate means to develop axial thrust forces thereon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The drive unit of claim 4: said thermal power means comprising a stack of radially extending bimetal plates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The drive unit of claim 1: and further comprising axial force means operable on the second bearing means to move the drive hub bodily along the shaft for calibrating the clutch means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-20 | 1979-04-21 | 1979-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-20 | 1983-04-21 | 1983-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-20 | 1987-04-21 | 1987-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |