Viscous fluid clutch with centrifugal clutch

Claim 2

A viscous fluid clutch comprising external and internal relatively rotatable drive means, said external drive means being rotatably mounted by bearings on a central shaft extending into said external drive means and having first and second adjacent annular chambers formed therein, said internal drive means having a hub secured to the inner end of said central shaft and extending radially outwardly therefrom into said first annular chamber, a plurality of annular ridges formed on one of said external and internal drive means and a plurality of cooperating annular grooves formed on the other of said external and internal drive means in said first annular 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 external and internal drive means, a centrifugal clutch operatively connected in said second annular chamber between said external drive means and said hub of said internal drive means, said centrifugal clutch including flange means secured to said external drive means at the radial outer wall surface of said second annular chamber, a pair of oppositely disposed arcuateshaped centrifugal weights pivotally mounted on said flange means, a clutch shoe secured to the inner peripheral surface of each of said centrifugal weights, and spring means operatively connected between said oppositely disposed centrifugal weights for urging said clutch shoes into contact with said hub of said internal drive means.

Claim 3

A viscous fluid clutch comprising first and second relatively rotatable drive means, said first drive means being rotatably mounted by bearings on a central shaft and having first and second adjacent annular chambers formed therein, said second chamber being smaller in diameter than said first chamber and having a conically shaped outer wall, the larger-diameter end of which opens into said first annular chamber, said second drive means having a hub secured to said central shaft within said scond chamber with the remainder of said second drive means extending substantially radially outwardly from said second chamber into said first 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 in said first 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 first and second drive means, a centrifugal clutch operatively connected in said second chamber between said first drive means and said hub of said second drive means, said centrifugal clutch including an outer conical flange portion secured to said conically shaped outer wall of said second chamber, a radially inwardly extending flange formed on said outer conical flange portion, a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate-shaped centrifugal weights pivotally mounted on said inwardly extending flange, a clutch shoe secured to the inner peripheral surfacE of each of said centrifugal weights, and a pair of springs extending between respective adjacent ends of said oppositely disposed centrifugal weights for urging said clutch shoes into contact with said hub of said second drive means within said second chamber.

Claim 4

A viscous fluid clutch comprising first and second relatively rotatable drive means, said first drive means being rotatably mounted by bearings on a central shaft and having first and second adjacent annular chambers formed therein, said second chamber being smaller in diameter than said first chamber and having a conically shaped outer wall, the larger-diameter end of which opens into said first annular chamber, said second drive means having a hub secured to said central shaft within said scond chamber with the remainder of said second drive means extending substantially radially outwardly from said second chamber into said first 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 in said first 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 first and second drive means, a centrifugal clutch operatively connected in said second chamber between said first drive means and said hub of said second drive means, said centrifugal clutch including an outer conical flange portion secured to said conically shaped outer wall of said second chamber, a radially inwardly extending flange formed on said outer conical flange portion, a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate-shaped centrifugal weights pivotally mounted on said inwardly extending flange, a clutch shoe secured to the inner peripheral surfacE of each of said centrifugal weights, and a pair of springs extending between respective adjacent ends of said oppositely disposed centrifugal weights for urging said clutch shoes into contact with said hub of said second drive means within said second chamber.

Claim 5

A viscous fluid clutch comprising a housing rotatably mounted by bearings on a central shaft and having first and second adjacent annular chambers formed therein, said second chamber being smaller in diameter than said first chamber and having a conically shaped outer wall, the larger-diameter end of which opens into said first annular chamber, a clutch plate enclosed by said housing and having a hub secured to said central shaft within said second chamber with the remainder of said clutch plate extending substantially radially outwardly from said second chamber into said first 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 first 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 centrifugal clutch operatively connected in said second chamber between said housing and said hub of said clutch plate, said centrifugal clutch including an outer conical flange portion secured to said conically shaped outer wall of said second chamber, a radially inwardly extending flange formed on said outer conical flange portion, a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate-shaped centrifugal weights pivotally mounted on said inwardly extending flange, a clutch shoe secured to the inner peripheral surface of each of said centrifugal weights, and a pair of springs extending between respective adjacent ends of said centrifugal weights for urging said clutch shoes into contact with said hub of said clutch plate.

Claim 6

A viscous fluid clutch comprising a housing rotatably mounted by bearings on a central shaft and having first and second adjacent annular chambers formed therein, said second chamber being smaller in diameter than said first chamber and having a conically shaped outer wall, the larger-diameter end of which opens into said first annular chamber, a clutch plate enclosed by said housing and having a hub secured to said central shaft within said second chamber with the remainder of said clutch plate extending substantially radially outwardly from said second chamber into said first 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 first 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 centrifugal clutch operatively connected in said second chamber between said housing and said hub of said clutch plate, said centrifugal clutch including an outer conical flange portion secured to said conically shaped outer wall of said second chamber, a radially inwardly extending flange formed on said outer conical flange portion, a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate-shaped centrifugal weights pivotally mounted on said inwardly extending flange, a clutch shoe secured to the inner peripheral surface of each of said centrifugal weights, and a pair of springs extending between respective adjacent ends of said centrifugal weights for urging said clutch shoes into contact with said hub of said clutch plate.

Claim 7

A viscous fluid clutch comprising first and second relatively rotatable drive means, said first drive means being rotatably mounted by bearings on a central shaft and having first, second, and third adjacent annular chambers formed therein, said second chamber being smaller in diameter than said first chamber and having a conically shaped outer wall, the larger-diameter end of which opens into said first annular chamber, said second drive means having a hub secured to said central shaft within said second chamber with the remainder of said second drive means extending substantially radially outwardly from said second chamber into said first 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 in said first 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 first and second drive means, said second chamber having outlet opening means at an outer portion and inlet opening means at an inner portion, pump means formed on one of said drive means to pump said fluid medium from said first chamber through said outlet opening means into said third chamber, temperature-responsive valve means operatively connected to said inlet opening means for controlling the flow of said fluid medium from said third chamber through said inlet opening means into said first chamber in response to changes in ambient temperature, a centrifugal clutch operatively connected in said second chamber between said first drive means and said hub of said second drive means, said centrifugal clutch including an outer conical flange portion secured to said conically shaped outer wall of said second chamber, a radially inwardly extending flange formed on said outer conical flange portion, a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate-shaped centrifugal weights pivotally mounted on said inwardly extending flange, a clutch shoe secured to the Inner peripheral surface of each of said centrifugal weights, and a pair of springs extending between respective adjacent ends of said oppositely disposed centrifugal weights for urging said clutch shoes into contact with said hub of said second drive means within said second chamber.

Claim 8

A viscous fluid clutch comprising first and second relatively rotatable drive means, said first drive means being rotatably mounted by bearings on a central shaft and having first, second, and third adjacent annular chambers formed therein, said second chamber being smaller in diameter than said first chamber and having a conically shaped outer wall, the larger-diameter end of which opens into said first annular chamber, said second drive means having a hub secured to said central shaft within said second chamber with the remainder of said second drive means extending substantially radially outwardly from said second chamber into said first 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 in said first 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 first and second drive means, said second chamber having outlet opening means at an outer portion and inlet opening means at an inner portion, pump means formed on one of said drive means to pump said fluid medium from said first chamber through said outlet opening means into said third chamber, temperature-responsive valve means operatively connected to said inlet opening means for controlling the flow of said fluid medium from said third chamber through said inlet opening means into said first chamber in response to changes in ambient temperature, a centrifugal clutch operatively connected in said second chamber between said first drive means and said hub of said second drive means, said centrifugal clutch including an outer conical flange portion secured to said conically shaped outer wall of said second chamber, a radially inwardly extending flange formed on said outer conical flange portion, a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate-shaped centrifugal weights pivotally mounted on said inwardly extending flange, a clutch shoe secured to the Inner peripheral surface of each of said centrifugal weights, and a pair of springs extending between respective adjacent ends of said oppositely disposed centrifugal weights for urging said clutch shoes into contact with said hub of said second drive means within said second chamber.

Claim 9

A viscous fluid clutch comprising an enclosed housing rotatably mounted by bearings on a central shaft and having first, second, and third adjacent annular chambers formed therein, a divider wall sealed between said first and third chambers, said second chamber being smaller in diameter than said first chamber and having a conically shaped outer wall, the larger-diameter end of which opens into said first annular chamber at the side thereof opposite said divider wall, a clutch plate having a hub secured to said central shaft within said second chamber with the remainder of said clutch plate extending substantially radially outwardly from said second chamber into said first chamber, a plurality of annular ridges formed on one of said enclosed housing and said clutch plate and a plurality of cooperating annular grooves formed on the other of said enclosed housing and said clutch plate in said first 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 enclosed housing and said clutch plate, said divider wall having outlet opening means formed in an outer radial portion thereof and inlet opening means formed at an inner radial portion thereof, pump means formed on one of said divider wall and clutch plate to pump said fluid medium from said first chamber through said outlet opening means into said third chamber, temperature-responsive valve means operatively connected to said inlet opening means for controlling the flow of said fluid medium from said third chamber through said inlet opening means into said first chamber in response to changes in ambient temperature, a centrifugal clutch operatively connected in said second chamber between said housing and said hub of said clutch plate, said centrifugal clutch including an outer conical flange portion secured to said conically shaped outer wall of said second chamber, a radially inwardly extending flange formed on said outer conical flange portion, a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate-shaped centrifugal weights pivotally mounted on said inwardly extending flange, a clutch shoe secured to the inner peripheral surface of each of said centrifugal weights, and a pair of springs extending between respective adjacent ends of said oppositely disposed centrifugal weights for urging said clutch shoes into contact with said hub of said clutch plate, thereby effectuating a substantially nonslip drive connection between said clutch plate and said housing until a predetermined output speed is attained and said centrifugal weights pivot outwardly under the action of centrifugal force, permitting said shear-type fluid drive to become operable.

Claim 10

A viscous fluid clutch comprising an enclosed housing rotatably mounted by bearings on a central shaft and having first, second, and third adjacent annular chambers formed therein, a divider wall sealed between said first and third chambers, said second chamber being smaller in diameter than said first chamber and having a conically shaped outer wall, the larger-diameter end of which opens into said first annular chamber at the side thereof opposite said divider wall, a clutch plate having a hub secured to said central shaft within said second chamber with the remainder of said clutch plate extending substantially radially outwardly from said second chamber into said first chamber, a plurality of annular ridges formed on one of said enclosed housing and said clutch plate and a plurality of cooperating annular grooves formed on the other of said enclosed housing and said clutch plate in said first 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 enclosed housing and said clutch plate, said divider wall having outlet opening means formed in an outer radial portion thereof and inlet opening means formed at an inner radial portion thereof, pump means formed on one of said divider wall and clutch plate to pump said fluid medium from said first chamber through said outlet opening means into said third chamber, temperature-responsive valve means operatively connected to said inlet opening means for controlling the flow of said fluid medium from said third chamber through said inlet opening means into said first chamber in response to changes in ambient temperature, a centrifugal clutch operatively connected in said second chamber between said housing and said hub of said clutch plate, said centrifugal clutch including an outer conical flange portion secured to said conically shaped outer wall of said second chamber, a radially inwardly extending flange formed on said outer conical flange portion, a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate-shaped centrifugal weights pivotally mounted on said inwardly extending flange, a clutch shoe secured to the inner peripheral surface of each of said centrifugal weights, and a pair of springs extending between respective adjacent ends of said oppositely disposed centrifugal weights for urging said clutch shoes into contact with said hub of said clutch plate, thereby effectuating a substantially nonslip drive connection between said clutch plate and said housing until a predetermined output speed is attained and said centrifugal weights pivot outwardly under the action of centrifugal force, permitting said shear-type fluid drive to become operable.