Fluid friction clutch

Claim 2

A fluid friction clutch controlled as a function of temperature and rotational speed, comprising: a driving primary member comprising a hollow drive disk and a drive member, said drive disk comprising a first reservoir chamber and an overflow orifice, said orifice positioned on the circumferential surface of said drive disk; a driven secondary member surrounding said primary member and comprising a partition which defines a second reservoir chamber; a working chamber disposed between said primary and secondary members, comprising pump means for controlling the flow of working fluid from said working chamber to said second reservoir; a centrifugally actuated retaining body for regulating flow of a working fluid, and for directing the working fluid into the first reservoir chamber, wherein the retaining body is radially displaceable within the overflow orifice between a first position within said first reservoir chamber and a second position within said working chamber; and valve means, located in said partition and being responsive to temperature, for controlling the flow of working fluid between said second reservoir chamber and said working chamber.

Claim 3

A fluid friction clutch according to claim 1, further comprising a pivoting arm, said retaining body being mounted on the pivoting arm such that it may be radially displaced through said overflow orifice, and a reset spring biasing said retaining body in a radially inward direction.

Claim 4

A fluid friction clutch according to claim 1, wherein said working chamber is defined by plane parallel frontal working surfaces of the primary member and parallel opposing working surfaces of the secondary member, including a plurality of gaps disposed axially between said working surfaces.

Claim 5

A fluid friction clutch according to claim 1, wherein the primary member comprises two disks which define the first reservoir chamber therebetween.

Claim 6

A fluid friction clutch according to claim 4, wherein the disks comprise stamped sheet metal.

Claim 7

A fluid friction clutch according to claim 4, wherein the disks comprises a synthetic resin.

Claim 8

A fluid friction clutch according to claim 1, wherein said temperature-controlled valve comprises a temperature-sensitive bimetal element, an actuating pin in contact with said bimetal element and a valve lever in contact with said pin, wherein thermal expansion of the bimetal releases pressure from the actuating pin, thereby allowing the valve lever to assume an open position.

Claim 9

A fluid friction clutch controlled as a function of rotational speed, comprising: a driving primary member comprising a hollow drive disk and a drive member, said drive disk comprising a reservoir and an overflow orifice in said reservoir said overflow orifice positioned on the circumferential surface of said drive disk; a driven secondary member surrounding said primary member; a working chamber formed between the primary and secondary members and in communication with the reservoir; and a centrifugally actuated retaining body for regulating flow of a working fluid, and for directing the working fluid into the reservoir, wherein the retaining body is radially displaceable within the overflow orifice between a first position within said reservoir and a second position within said working chamber.

Claim 10

A fluid friction clutch controlled as a function of rotational speed, comprising: a driving primary member comprising a hollow drive disk and a drive member, said drive disk comprising a reservoir and an overflow orifice in said reservoir said overflow orifice positioned on the circumferential surface of said drive disk; a driven secondary member surrounding said primary member; a working chamber formed between the primary and secondary members and in communication with the reservoir; and a centrifugally actuated retaining body for regulating flow of a working fluid, and for directing the working fluid into the reservoir, wherein the retaining body is radially displaceable within the overflow orifice between a first position within said reservoir and a second position within said working chamber.

Claim 11

A fluid friction clutch according to claim 8, wherein the primary member and the secondary member have plane parallel frontal working surfaces, and the working chamber comprises axial gaps arranged between said working surfaces.

Claim 12

A fluid friction clutch according to claim 8, wherein the primary member comprises two disks which define the reservoir therebetween.

Claim 13

A fluid friction clutch according to claim 10, wherein the two disks comprise stamped sheet metal.

Claim 14

A fluid friction clutch according to claim 10, wherein the two disks comprise a synthetic resin material.

Claim 15

A fluid friction clutch according to claim 8, wherein the cross-section of the retaining body is less than the cross-section of the overflow orifice.

Claim 16

A fluid friction clutch according to claim 8, further comprising a pivoting arm, said retaining body being mounted on the pivoting arm such that it may be radially displaced through said overflow orifice, and a reset spring biasing said retaining body in a radially inward direction.

Claim 17

A fluid friction clutch controlled as a function of temperature and rotational speed, comprising: a driving primary member which comprises a hollow drive disk and a drive member, said drive disk comprising an overflow orifice positioned on the circumferential surface of said drive disk; a driven secondary member surrounding said primary member and comprising a partition axially positioned from said drive disk within said secondary member; a three chamber working fluid system which includes: a first reservoir chamber within said hollow drive disk, a second reservoir chamber disposed between a cover of said secondary member and said partition, and a working chamber disposed between said primary and said secondary members; temperature responsive valve means positioned on said partition for controlling the flow of working fluid between said second reservoir chamber and said working chamber; and a centrifugally actuated retaining body for controlling and directing the flow of working fluid between said working chamber and said first reservoir chamber, wherein the retaining body is radially displaceable within said overflow orifice between a first position within said first reservoir chamber and a second position within said working chamber.

Claim 18

A fluid friction clutch controlled as a function of temperature and rotational speed, comprising: a driving primary member which comprises a hollow drive disk and a drive member, said drive disk comprising an overflow orifice positioned on the circumferential surface of said drive disk; a driven secondary member surrounding said primary member and comprising a partition axially positioned from said drive disk within said secondary member; a three chamber working fluid system which includes: a first reservoir chamber within said hollow drive disk, a second reservoir chamber disposed between a cover of said secondary member and said partition, and a working chamber disposed between said primary and said secondary members; temperature responsive valve means positioned on said partition for controlling the flow of working fluid between said second reservoir chamber and said working chamber; and a centrifugally actuated retaining body for controlling and directing the flow of working fluid between said working chamber and said first reservoir chamber, wherein the retaining body is radially displaceable within said overflow orifice between a first position within said first reservoir chamber and a second position within said working chamber.