Fluid coupling device and valve mechanism for use therein

Claim 1

In a fluid coupling device of the type including a first rotatable coupling member defining an axis of rotation, cover means associated with said first member to define a fluid chamber therebetween, valve means disposed to separate said fluid chamber into a fluid operating chamber and a fluid reservoir chamber, a second rotatable coupling member disposed in said fluid operating chamber and being rotatable relative to said first coupling member viscous fluid being disposed in said operating chamber and operable to transmit torque from said second coupling member to said first coupling member by means of viscous shear drag, said valve means being operable to control the flow of fluid between said reservoir chamber and said operating chamber and including a valve plate defining a fluid port lying in a plane generally perpendicular to said axis of rotation, and a valve member disposed to move in a plane parallel to said plane of said fluid port to vary the flow area of said fluid port and the amount of fluid in said operating chamber, characterized by said fluid coupling device including: (a) first means adapted to move axially in response to an input signal which varies with variations in the condition sensed by a remote condition sensing device; and (b) second means mechanically coupled to said first means and operable to transmit said axial movement of said first means into said motion of said valve member in said plane parallel to said plane of said fluid port.