Abstract: A viscous fluid clutch includes a housing which defines a chamber. A fan assembly is attached to the housing. A rotor is rotatably attached to the housing through a bearing. The bearing is disposed entirely within the chamber at a radially inner portion of the chamber. The viscous fluid is located within a radially outer portion of the chamber. The housing and the rotor form a labryinth passage between the outer portion of the chamber and the inner portion of the chamber. This labryinth passage encourages condensation of any oil vapors that may have formed at the shear point of the viscous fluid.

Abstract: A viscous fluid clutch includes a rotor attached to an output from an engine, a stator attached to a fan assembly and a coil assembly having at least a portion attached to the stator. A first gap is defined between the rotor and the stator and a second gap is defined between the rotor and the coil assembly. The first and second gaps are filled with a magneto rheological (MR) fluid. The coil assembly creates a magnetic field in the first and second gaps to vary the viscosity of the MR fluid to produce a variable speed viscous fluid clutch. The coil assembly includes coil windings which are supplied with power through a slip ring assembly. Both the coil windings and the wiring between the slip ring assembly and the coil windings are isolated from the magneto rheological fluid.

Abstract: A fluid coupling assembly 20, 120, 220, 320 and 420 of the type including a housing having spaced side walls 24, 124, 224 and 434 extending radially to an axis A and defining a fluid chamber surrounding a disc 30, 130 supported by a shaft 26 extending through and rotatably supported by one of the side walls with cooling fins for cooling the fluid chamber. A cooling sub-assembly 44, 46, 48, 144, 244, 246, 248, or 444 of cooling fins connected to a ring 50, 54, 58, 150, 250, 350, 450 and 472 is secured to the housing. The housing and/or the disc may be fabricated from sheet metal. The cooling sub-assemblies may be of various embodiments and a plurality of cooling sub-assemblies 44, 46, 48 may be attached to each housing.

Abstract: A viscous fluid clutch includes a rotor attached to an output from an engine, a stator attached to a fan assembly and a coil assembly having at least a portion attached to the stator. A first gap is defined between the rotor and the stator and a second gap is defined between the rotor and the coil assembly. The first and second gaps are filled with a magnetorheological (MR) fluid. The coil assembly creates a magnetic field in the first and second gaps to vary the viscosity of the MR fluid to produce a variable speed viscous fluid clutch.

Abstract: A fluid coupling assembly for driving a cooling fan from an engine comprising a housing (10) defining a fluid chamber (12) having a volume and a drive member rotatably supported in the fluid chamber (12) of the housing (10) for transmitting torque between the housing (10) and the drive member through the shearing action of fluid (14) in the chamber (12). In some embodiments the housing (10) is adapted to drive the fan with the drive member adapted for connection to the engine and in the other embodiments the housing (10) is driven by the engine and the drive member is adapted for connection to the fan. A displacement device means is disposed in the fluid chamber (12) for adjusting the volume of the said chamber (12) to vary the coverage of the drive member by the fluid (14) to vary the shearing action of the fluid (14) to adjust the torque transmitted between the drive member and the housing (10).

Abstract: A method for making a heat exchanger assembly (10) includes the steps of simultaneously extruding hollow tubes (12) and bridges (14) integrally connecting adjacent tubes (12) through a die; and cutting holes (16) into the bridges (14) to allow airflow through the holes (16). The holes (16) are cut into the bridges (14) by cutting tongues (18, 118) into the bridges (14) and bending the tongues (18, 118) transversely to the tubes (12). Fin modules (20) are then inserted into each hole between the hollow tubes (12) to provide alternative heat exchange characteristics to those of the tongues (20) acting as the fins.

Abstract: An automotive cooling assembly including a radiator and a cooling fan for forcing air over the radiator. A multiple speed fan drive interconnects the cooling fan to an engine of a vehicle. The multiple speed fan drive includes a fan shaft for supporting the cooling fan and a drive shaft running parallel to the fan shaft. A number of pulleys having associated belts couple the fan shaft to the drive shaft. An engagement device allows the fan shaft to remain stationary while the drive shaft is rotating. The engagement device also selectively engages one of the belts and their respective associated pulleys into driving relationship for rotating the fan shaft in response to rotation of the drive shaft. The rotational speed of the cooling fan can be faster, slower or in sync with the rotational speed of the engine. The cooling fan can also remain stationary while the drive shaft of the engine is still rotating.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly (10) for transferring heat comprising a heat exchanger core (12) having adjacent hollow tubes (14), heat exchanger fins (16) interconnecting adjacent tubes (14), and a plastic header (18, 118) molded about each of the ends of the tubes (14). A cover (22, 122) at the top and bottom of the heat exchanger core (12) attaches to each of the headers (18, 118) about the ends of the tubes (14) to enclose the tank. The invention includes a method for making the heat exchanger assembly (10) by molding the plastic header (18, 118) about each of the ends of the hollow tubes (14).

Abstract: An assembly (12) for moving air through a heat exchanger (10) comprising a shroud (14) for mating with a heat exchanger (10) and a fan (20) disposed in the rear opening (18) of the shroud (14). The fan (20) comprises a hub (22) having an axis (A) and blades (24) extending radially from the hub (22) to distal ends for moving air through the shroud (14). The assembly is characterized by a floating drive assembly (52, 54, 56) including an inner drive member (64), an outer drive member (68, 70), and a flexible transmission (74, 75) interconnecting the members for rotating the drive members together while allowing relative radial movement between the drive members as the drive members rotate the fan (20). A bearing ring mechanism (28, 30) interconnects the distal ends of the blades (24) and the shroud (14) for rotatably supporting the fan (20) solely by the shroud (14).

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly (10) for transferring heat comprising a plurality of hollow tubes (12) and a bridge (14) integrally interconnecting adjacent tubes (12). The plurality of tubes (12) are interconnected by bridges (14) forming a heat exchanger core. Each bridge (14) includes holes (16) extending through the bridge (14) to allow airflow through the holes (16). A method for making the heat exchanger assembly (10) comprises the steps of simultaneously extruding hollow tubes (12) and bridges (14) integrally connecting adjacent tubes (12) through a die; and cutting holes (16) into the bridges (14) to allow airflow through the holes (16). The holes (16) are cut into the bridges (14) by cutting tongues (18, 188) into the bridges (14) and bending the tongues (18, 188) transversely to the tubes (12). Fin modules (20) may be inserted into each hole between the hollow tubes (12) to provide alternative heat exchange characteristics to those of the tongues (20) acting as the fins.

Abstract: An assembly (12) for moving air through a heat exchanger (10) comprising a shroud (14) for mating with a heat exchanger (10) and a fan (20) disposed in the rear opening (18) of the shroud (14). The fan (20) comprises a hub (22) having an axis (A) and blades (24) extending radially from the hub (22) to distal ends for moving air through the shroud (14). The assembly is characterized by a bearing ring mechanism (28, 30) interconnecting the distal ends of the blades (24) and the shroud (14) for rotatably supporting the fan (20) solely by the shroud (14). The bearing ring mechanism (28, 30) includes a ring (28) surrounding and interconnecting the distal ends of the fan blades (24) a guideway (30) in the shroud (14) supporting and retaining a head (32) extending from the ring (28) for rotation relative to the shroud (14).