Abstract: A heater containing viscous fluid, which is sheared to generate heat. The heater is provided with an electromagnetic solenoid that includes a case, a solenoid coil housed in the case, and a core extending through the case. The heater further has a heating chamber and a sub-oil chamber. Viscous fluid is moved between the heating chamber and the sub-oil chamber through a communication bore. The core extends toward the communication bore. A coil spring urges the core toward the communication bore. Excitation of the electromagnetic solenoid moves the core away from the communication bore. The core opens and closes the communication bore and pumps the viscous fluid into the communication bore when the solenoid is cycled on and off. As a result, the heat output is accelerated.

Abstract: An improved heating apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. A water circuit circulates water to cool an engine. A viscous fluid type heater is disposed in a fluid circuit that is separately arranged from the water circuit. The heater has a heating chamber and a heat exchange chamber close to the heating chamber. The heat exchange chamber communicates with the fluid circuit. The heating chamber accommodates viscous fluid and a rotor rotatable to shear the viscous fluid for producing heat. The heat is transmitted to the heat exchange chamber from the heating chamber. The fluid in the heat exchange chamber is heated and flows to the fluid circuit.

Abstract: This invention provides a viscous heater which can attain an improvement in heat generating efficiency while preventing leakage caused by expansion of a viscous fluid. For this purpose, a disk-shaped rotor is employed, and a front housing body, a front plate, a rear plate, and a rear housing body constitute housings, and these are stacked and fastened together by through bolts. Surplus spaces in the shape of concaves are formed in the front plate between the respective through bolts and water passages so as to communicate with the heat generating chamber in their outer circumference.

Abstract: A variable heat generating viscous fluid type heat generator having a housing assembly including movable and fixed plate members arranged to define an axially bounded region in which a heat generating chamber is formed to have an axial width which is changed by the axial movement of the movable plate member with respect to the fixed plate member within the housing assembly by the controlled operation of the moving unit. The change in the axial width of the heat generating chamber causes a change in the gap size of a fluid filled gap between the outer face of the rotor element and the inner wall surface of the heat generating chamber and, accordingly, the heat generating performance of the viscous fluid type heat generator is adjustably varied.

Abstract: A viscous fluid heater has a heating chamber and a radiator chamber defined in a housing and transfers heat generated by shearing viscous fluid in the heating chamber with a rotor to circulating fluid in the radiator chamber. The housing includes outer and inner housing parts, which are secured to each other. An inner wall surface is formed on the outer housing part, and an outer wall is formed on the inner housing part. The radiator chamber is defined between the inner wall and the outer wall to conduct the circulating fluid through the radiator chamber.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for a vehicle includes a heat exchanger for implementing heat exchange between coolant which has cooled an engine and air directed to a vehicle interior to heat the vehicle interior. A viscous heater has a rotor and a heating chamber containing viscous fluid. The rotor rotates when being subjected to rotational power of the engine. The viscous fluid is subjected to a shear force and is heated when the rotor is subjected to the rotational power. The viscous heater heats the coolant fed to the heat exchanger as the viscous fluid in the heating chamber is heated. A clutch is operative for selectively permitting and inhibiting transmission of the rotational power from the engine to the rotor. A belt transmission device connects the engine and the clutch. A physical quantity detecting device is operative for detecting a physical quantity related to a rotational speed of the rotor.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heat generator which comprises a housing assembly defining therein a heat generating chamber in which heat is generated, and a heat receiving chamber arranged adjacent to the heat generating chamber for permitting a heat exchanging fluid to circulate therethrough to receive heat transferred from the heat generating chamber. A drive shaft is rotatably supported by the housing assembly and is operationally connected to an external rotation-drive source. A rotor element is mounted onto and driven by the drive shaft for rotation within the heat generating chamber. A viscous fluid is held in a gap defined between the inner wall surfaces of the heat generating chamber and the outer surfaces of the rotor element, for heat generation under shearing stress applied by the rotating rotor element. A temperature sensor is provided to detect a temperature of a part of the viscous fluid flowing in an outer peripheral region of the gap.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heat generator having a heat generating chamber in which heat generation by the viscous fluid is performed in response to the rotation of a rotor element applying a shearing action to the viscous fluid, a heat receiving chamber in which a heat exchanging liquid flows to receive heat from the heat generating chamber, a heat generation control chamber for containing the viscous fluid to be supplied into the heat generating chamber and receiving the viscous fluid withdrawn from the heat generating chamber.

Abstract: A viscous heater as an auxiliary heating source in a heating system for a vehicle having a water cooled internal combustion engine. The viscous heater has an inlet port 14 for the engine cooling water and an outlet 15 for the engine cooling water, which are connected to respective conduits in the engine cooling system by means of a coupling device. The coupling device include coupling pipes 50A and 50B which are connected to the respective conduits in the engine cooling system at respective directing angles to allow the coupling pipes 50A and 50B to be aligned with the respective conduits.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heater is disclosed. The heater has a rotor that is mounted on a drive shaft for integral rotation therewith in a heating chamber. The rotor rotates to shears and heats viscous fluid that is accommodated in a clearance defined between an inner surface of the heating chamber and an outer operation surface of the rotor opposed to the inner surface. The operation surface and the inner surface are formed of different materials. The inner surface and the operation surface has a coating for altering characteristics.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heat generator which includes a housing assembly defining a heat generating chamber and a heat receiving chamber arranged adjacent to the heat generating chamber via a partition wall disposed therebetween. A rotor element is mounted to be rotated by a drive shaft for rotation within the heat generating chamber. A viscous fluid is held in a gap defined between the inner wall surfaces of the heat generating chamber and the outer faces of the rotor element, for heat generation under shearing stress applied by the rotation of the rotor element. A heat exchanging fluid circulates through the heat receiving chamber to receive heat transferred through the partition wall from the heat generating chamber. A plurality of grooves, protuberances or expression are formed on at least one of the inner wall surfaces of the heat generating chamber to increase the total heat transfer surface area in the inner wall surfaces, and thus enhance a heat transfer efficiency through the partition wall.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heat generator including a housing assembly in which a fluid-tight heat generating chamber confining therein a viscous fluid to which a shearing action is applied by a disc-like rotor element rotated by a drive shaft, and having inner wall surfaces confronting outer surfaces of the rotor element, the inner wall surfaces of the fluid-tight heat generating chamber and the outer faces of the rotor element defining a gap in which the viscous fluid is held, the rotor element being provided with one or more through-holes formed in an outer peripheral portion and a radially inner portion thereof with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotor element so that the through-holes cooperate with one or more non-circumferentially extending elongate indentations provided in the inner wall surfaces of the fluid-tight heat generating chamber during the rotation of the rotor element to expand a heat generating region formed by the gap.

Abstract: A viscous heater is provided with a front side plate 2 and a rear side plate 3, which are arranged so that a heat generating chamber 5 is formed between their facing back surfaces and which are stored in a housing so that heat emission chambers FW and RW are formed between the side plates and the housing. The housing is formed by a front housing having a tubular part 1c which extends axially for storing the front and side plates radially inwardly of the tubular part 1c and a rear housing 4. Thus, sealing is necessary only at a location where the front and rear housings 1 and 4 are connected with each other. Thus, a very simple structure is sufficient for preventing any leakage of the recirculated fluid.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heater is disclosed. The heater has a front housing and a rear housing secured to each other. The front housing has a space in which a first partitioning plate and a second partitioning plate located immovably fitted. A heating chamber that is defined between the first plate and the second plate accommodates viscous fluid. A rotor is rotatably supported in the heating chamber. The rotor rotates and shears the viscous fluid to generate heat. A heat exchange chamber is defined by the first and the second partitioning plates and disposed adjacent to the heating chamber. The heat exchanging chamber allows circulating fluid to flow therethrough so that the circulating fluid is heated by the heat transmitted to the heat exchanging chamber from the heating chamber.

Abstract: A heat generator is disclosed that has its driving state constantly monitored and can be disconnected from a power source after an abnormality of its drive mechanism is detected. A plurality of holes are formed at equal angular intervals along the periphery of a disk-shaped rotor, which is capable of rotating in unison with a drive shaft. A magnetic sensor is mounted in a rear housing in a manner opposed to the holes. The drive shaft is selectively connected to the outer drive source via an electromagnetic clutch. A closed magnetic circuit, which is formed in the heat generator by magnetic flux leakage from the electromagnetic clutch, extends through the rotor and the magnetic sensor. When the rotor is rotating normally, the magnetic flux is periodically disturbed by the holes, and the magnetic sensor outputs a pulse signal indicative of the sensed periodic disturbance of the magnetic flux.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heat generator having a heat generating chamber in which heat generation by the viscous fluid is carried out in response to the rotation of a rotor element applying a shearing action to the viscous fluid, a heat receiving chamber in which heat exchanging liquid flows to receive heat from the heat generating chamber, a heat generation control chamber containing the viscous fluid to be supplied into the heat generating chamber and receiving the viscous fluid withdrawn from the heat generating chamber. The heat generator has a fluid supplying passage for supplying the viscous fluid from the heat generation control chamber into the heat generating chamber, a fluid withdrawing passage for withdrawing the viscous fluid from the heat generating chamber into the heat generation control chamber, and a flap valve deformable to open and close one of the fluid supplying and fluid withdrawing passages in response to a change in the heating requirements.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heat generator having a heat generating chamber in which viscous fluid is confined to frictionally generate heat by an application of shearing action due to rotation of a rotor element rotated by a drive shaft, a heat receiving chamber arranged adjacent to the heat generating chamber to permit heat exchanging liquid to receive heat from the viscous fluid within the heat generating chamber during flowing through the heat receiving chamber, partitioning walls arranged in the heat receiving chamber to define a plurality of radially inner and outer concentric annular liquid passages between a liquid inlet for entrance of the heat exchanging liquid and a liquid outlet for delivery of the heat exchanging liquid, and a liquid guide arranged in a position adjacent to the liquid inlet to divert a part of the heat exchanging liquid entering the heat receiving chamber toward the radially outermost liquid passage in the heat receiving chamber.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heat generator having a sealed heat generating chamber in which heat generation in the viscous fluid is carried out in response to the rotation of a rotor element received in the heat generating chamber and applying a shearing action to the viscous fluid, the sealed heat generating chamber having front and rear heat generating chamber portions on both sides of the rotor element and a large annular gap extending between the front and rear heat generating chamber portions and surrounding the rotor element to provide a fluid communication between the front and rear heat generating chamber portions in order to prevent the viscous fluid in the first and second heat generating portions from being unequally degraded.

Abstract: A variable heat-generating performance viscous fluid type heat generator having a heating chamber in which an electrorheological fluid is confined to generate heat upon being subjected to a shearing action by the rotation of a rotor element within the heating chamber, a heat receiving chamber arranged adjacent to the heating chamber and permitting a heat exchanging liquid to receive heat from the electrorheological fluid and to circulate through the heat receiving chamber and an external heating circuit, and a controllable electricity conducting unit adjustably conducting electricity through the electrorheological fluid so as to adjustably change the viscosity of the electrorheological fluid to thereby vary the heat-generating performance of the viscous fluid type heat generator.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heat generator including a housing assembly defining a heat generating chamber, a fluid storing chamber communicated through fluid passageway means with the heat generating chamber, and a heat receiving chamber for permitting a heat exchanging fluid to circulate therethrough to receive heat from the heat generating chamber. A rotor element is mounted on a drive shaft for rotation in the heat generating chamber with a gap defined between the inner wall surfaces of the heat generating chamber and the outer faces of the rotor element. The fluid passageway means includes a fluid withdrawing passageway for withdrawing the viscous fluid from the gap into the fluid storing chamber and a fluid supply passageway for supplying the viscous fluid from the fluid storing chamber into the gap.