US4074662A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cooling fan control
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-12-29
•
Granted: 1978-02-21
•
Expires: 1996-12-29
Abstract
Abstract An electromagnetically controlled clutch is used to engage and disengage the cooling fan of a water cooled motor vehicle engine. The clutch and fan assembly in the form of an adapter kit may be attached to the existing fan mountings normally located on the water pump pulley assembly. The adapter kit includes an extender cylinder which bolts to the existing fan mountings. Bearings are provided inside this cylinder for rotationally free mounting a fan mounting hub supported on a shaft, which is free to rotate within the extender hub. An annular armature is spaced from the pulley assembly and supported around the hub by leaf springs, attached at one end to the hub and at the other end through rigid extender arms to the armature. A clutch face is provided on the water pump pulley and an electromagnet coil is fixedly mounted to the engine block in a recess in the pulley for attracting the armature under the control of a temperature operated switch, which energizes the coil when the temperature of the engine coolant exceeds a preestablished value to draw the armature into contact with a clutch face on the pulley assembly to rotate the fan.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth K. Estes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:54
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D27/00; F16D27/10; F16D27/108; F16D27/112; F01; F01P; F01P7/00; F01P7/02; F01P7/08; F01P7/081; F01P7/082; F01P7/084
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
For use with a liquid cooled motor vehicle engine having a water pump with a shaft connected to a water pump drive pulley assembly, a cooling fan control system including in combination: an extender element attached to the water pump drive pulley assembly for rotation therewith; a cooling fan mounting hub; bearing means for rotationally free mounting said fan mounting hub on said extender element; clutch face means carried by the pulley assembly; an armature movable mounted to said fan mounting hub by resilient biasing means for permitting movement of said armature in a direction parallel to the water pump shaft, said biasing means urging said armature away from said clutch face means; an electromagnet coil fixedly mounted to the engine adjacent the water pump drive pulley assembly; switching means coupling said coil with a source of electrical current for energizing said coil to create a magnetic force to attract said armature for frictional engagement with said clutch face means, thereby rotating said cooling fan mounting hub with said extender element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
For use with a liquid cooled motor vehicle engine having a water pump with a shaft connected to a water pump drive pulley assembly, a cooling fan control system including in combination: an extender element attached to the water pump drive pulley assembly for rotation therewith; a cooling fan mounting hub; bearing means for rotationally free mounting said fan mounting hub on said extender element; clutch face means carried by the pulley assembly; an armature movable mounted to said fan mounting hub by resilient biasing means for permitting movement of said armature in a direction parallel to the water pump shaft, said biasing means urging said armature away from said clutch face means; an electromagnet coil fixedly mounted to the engine adjacent the water pump drive pulley assembly; switching means coupling said coil with a source of electrical current for energizing said coil to create a magnetic force to attract said armature for frictional engagement with said clutch face means, thereby rotating said cooling fan mounting hub with said extender element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said electromagnet coil comprises an annular concentrically mounted about the axis of the water pump shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said extender element is of a hollow cylindrical shape having a flange at one end connected to the water pump drive pulley assembly, said cooling fan mounting hub has a shaft extending therefrom into said extender element, and said bearing means rotationally mounts the shaft of said mounting hub inside said extender element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination according to claim 3 wherein said bearing means includes first and second longitudinally spaced bearings located at substantially opposite ends of said extender element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said armature is concentrically mounted around the axis of said drive pulley assembly adjacent said clutch face means by said armature mounting means which includes resilient leaf springs, each connected at one end to said fan mounting hub and connected at the other end through rigid spacers to said armature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination according to claim 5 wherein said armature is in the shape of an annular ring, the center of which is at the axis of the water pump shaft, and said leaf springs are located equiangularly about the axis of the water pump shaft for interconnecting said cooling fan hub with said armature through rigid spacers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said switch means comprises a thermally activated switch responsive to the temperature of the coolant in the engine and closed to energize said electromagnet coil when the temperature of the coolant exceeds a predetermined temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
166 words
A kit for modifying the cooling fan operation of a liquid cooled motor vehicle engine having a water pump with a shaft connected to a water pump drive pulley assembly including in combination: an extender element for attachment to the water pump drive pulley assembly for concentric rotation therewith; a cooling fan mounting hub; bearings means for rotationally free mounting said fan mounting hub on said extender element; an armature movably mounted to said fan mounting hub by resilient biasing means for permitting movement of said armature in a direction parallel to the water pump shaft, said biasing means urging said armature away from the drive pulley assembly; an electromagnet coil fixedly mounted to the engine adjacent the water pump drive pulley assembly; switching means coupling said coil with a source of electrical current for energizing said coil to create a magnetic force to attract said armature for frictional engagement with the drive pulley assembly, thereby rotating said cooling fan mounting hub with said extender element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
166 words
A kit for modifying the cooling fan operation of a liquid cooled motor vehicle engine having a water pump with a shaft connected to a water pump drive pulley assembly including in combination: an extender element for attachment to the water pump drive pulley assembly for concentric rotation therewith; a cooling fan mounting hub; bearings means for rotationally free mounting said fan mounting hub on said extender element; an armature movably mounted to said fan mounting hub by resilient biasing means for permitting movement of said armature in a direction parallel to the water pump shaft, said biasing means urging said armature away from the drive pulley assembly; an electromagnet coil fixedly mounted to the engine adjacent the water pump drive pulley assembly; switching means coupling said coil with a source of electrical current for energizing said coil to create a magnetic force to attract said armature for frictional engagement with the drive pulley assembly, thereby rotating said cooling fan mounting hub with said extender element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-02-20 | 1981-08-22 | 1982-02-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-02-20 | 1985-08-22 | 1986-02-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-02-20 | 1989-08-22 | 1990-02-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |