US4040272A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible drive for rotating a fan
Assignee: Eaton Corp
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Filing: 1976-01-26
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Granted: 1977-08-09
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Expires: 1996-01-26
Abstract
Abstract An accessory drive for rotating a fan used to cool a transversely mounted engine in a vehicle. A declutchable device, such as a viscous fan drive, has one element driven by the engine. The other element is connected to one end of the core of an elongated flexible shaft. The other end of the core is connected to the fan which is mounted in a known manner relative to the radiator of the vehicle to draw cooling air through the radiator and thereby cool the engine. The mounting of the declutchable device ahead of the flexible shaft allows for a reduction in the angular velocity of the core thereby increasing the life of the flexible shaft.
Inventors
- 👤 Keith A. Boyd
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:34
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01P; F01P7/00; F01P7/02; F01P7/04; F01P7/042; F16; F16D; F16D35/00; F01P5/00; F01P5/02; F01P5/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
An accessory drive for rotating a fan used to cool a prime mover of a vehicle, the prime mover having an output shaft adapted for rotation, the drive comprising: A. an elongated flexible shaft terminating at a pair of ends; B. a declutchable device having 1. an input element, 2. an output element, and 3. means to transmit torque between the input element and the output element in response to rotation of one of the elements and to restrict such torque transmission during rotation of one of the elements, said torque transmitting means comprising said input element and said output element cooperating to define a shear space, a viscous fluid being contained within said shear space to transmit torque by viscous shear stress; C. first means for securing one of the elements to the output shaft for corresponding rotational movement; D. second means for securing one end of the flexible shaft to the fan for corresponding rotational movement; and E. third means securing the other end of the flexible shaft to the other element for corresponding rotational movement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
An accessory drive for rotating a fan used to cool a prime mover of a vehicle, the prime mover having an output shaft adapted for rotation, the drive comprising: A. an elongated flexible shaft terminating at a pair of ends; B. a declutchable device having 1. an input element, 2. an output element, and 3. means to transmit torque between the input element and the output element in response to rotation of one of the elements and to restrict such torque transmission during rotation of one of the elements, said torque transmitting means comprising said input element and said output element cooperating to define a shear space, a viscous fluid being contained within said shear space to transmit torque by viscous shear stress; C. first means for securing one of the elements to the output shaft for corresponding rotational movement; D. second means for securing one end of the flexible shaft to the fan for corresponding rotational movement; and E. third means securing the other end of the flexible shaft to the other element for corresponding rotational movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
An accessory drive for rotating a fan used to cool a prime mover of a vehicle, the prime mover having an output shaft adapted for rotation, the drive comprising: A. an elongated flexible shaft terminating at a pair of ends; B. a fluid coupling having 1. a first element defining a housing rotatable about an axis, 2. a second element disposed in the interior of said housing and rotatable about the axis, and 3.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
An accessory drive for rotating a fan used to cool a prime mover of a vehicle, the prime mover having an output shaft adapted for rotation, the drive comprising: A. an elongated flexible shaft terminating at a pair of ends; B. a fluid coupling having 1. a first element defining a housing rotatable about an axis, 2. a second element disposed in the interior of said housing and rotatable about the axis, and 3.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
90 words
a working chamber defined by the elements and containing an inventory of fluid for transmitting torque from one of the elements to the other of the elements in response to rotation of one of the elements; C. first means for securing one of the elements of the fluid coupling to the output shaft for corresponding rotational movement; D. second means for securing one end of the flexible shaft to the fan for corresponding rotational movement; and E. third means securing the other end of the flexible shaft to the other
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
a working chamber defined by the elements and containing an inventory of fluid for transmitting torque from one of the elements to the other of the elements in response to rotation of one of the elements; C. first means for securing one of the elements of the fluid coupling to the output shaft for corresponding rotational movement; D. second means for securing one end of the flexible shaft to the fan for corresponding rotational movement; and E. third means securing the other end of the flexible shaft to the other
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
element of the fluid coupling for corresponding rotational movement. 3. An accessory drive according to claim 2 wherein: F. the fluid is viscous fluid; and G. torque is transmitted between the elements of the fluid coupling by fluid shear stress.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
An accessory drive according to claim 2 wherein: F. the first means is for securing the first element of the coupling to the output shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
An accessory drive according to claim 2 wherein: F. the first means is for securing the second element of the coupling to the output shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
An accessory drive according to claim 1 wherein the axis of rotation of the declutchable device and the axis of rotation of the fan are transversely spaced apart.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
An accessory drive according to claim 6 wherein the axis of rotation of the fan is oriented approximately perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the declutchable device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
An accessory drive according to claim 2 wherein the axis of rotation of the fluid coupling and the axis of rotation of the fan are transversely spaced apart.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
An accessory drive according to claim 8 wherein the axis of rotation of the fan is oriented approximately perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the fluid coupling.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
An accessory drive according to claim 1 wherein said declutchable device defines a fluid reservoir chamber and includes valve means for controlling the flow of fluid from said fluid reservoir chamber into said shear space.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
176 words
An accessory drive for rotating a fan used to cool a prime mover of a vehicle, the prime mover having an output shaft adapted for rotation, the drive comprising: A. an elongated flexible shaft terminating at a pair of ends; B. a declutchable device having 1. an input element, 2. an output element, and 3. means to transmit torque from the input element to the output element, the rotational speed of the output element being approximately the same as that of the input up to a certain rotational speed of the input element, the rotational speed of the output element increasing by only a relatively small amount as the rotational speed of the input element increases beyond said certain rotational speed; C. first means for securing one of the elements to the output shaft for corresponding rotational movement; D. second means for securing one end of the flexible shaft to the fan for corresponding rotational movement; and E. third means securing the other end of the flexible shaft to the other element for corresponding rotational movement.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
176 words
An accessory drive for rotating a fan used to cool a prime mover of a vehicle, the prime mover having an output shaft adapted for rotation, the drive comprising: A. an elongated flexible shaft terminating at a pair of ends; B. a declutchable device having 1. an input element, 2. an output element, and 3. means to transmit torque from the input element to the output element, the rotational speed of the output element being approximately the same as that of the input up to a certain rotational speed of the input element, the rotational speed of the output element increasing by only a relatively small amount as the rotational speed of the input element increases beyond said certain rotational speed; C. first means for securing one of the elements to the output shaft for corresponding rotational movement; D. second means for securing one end of the flexible shaft to the fan for corresponding rotational movement; and E. third means securing the other end of the flexible shaft to the other element for corresponding rotational movement.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
An accessory drive according to claim 11 wherein the declutchable device is a viscous fluid coupling and torque is transmitted from the input element to the output element by fluid shear stress.
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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) | 1980-08-08 | 1981-02-07 | 1981-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-08 | 1985-02-07 | 1985-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-08 | 1989-02-07 | 1989-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |