Abstract: A viscous friction clutch includes a rotor, a housing that is rotatable relative to the rotor, a working chamber located between the rotor and the housing such that a volume of shear fluid can be selectively introduced to the working chamber to contact both the rotor and the housing, an electromagnetic coil, a valve assembly that controls the volume of the shear fluid present in the working chamber, and a flux path that magnetically links the electromagnetic coil and the valve assembly. The flux path passes through a flux guide part made of a ferromagnetic material that extends through the rotor in an interior of the viscous friction clutch and across a flux gap that traverses both an air gap and a non-ferromagnetic portion of the housing.

Abstract: A transmission system includes planetary gearing with a ring gear, a plurality of planet gears, a carrier, and a sun gear, a forward clutch operatively connected between the ring gear and carrier, a reverse brake operatively connected between the carrier and a rotationally fixed location, and a control subsystem to switch the transmission system between forward and reverse operational modes in the which the ring gear and the sun gear rotate in the same or opposite rotational directions, respectively. A control subsystem actuation stroke can actuate both the forward clutch and the reverse brake based on a common control signal.

Abstract: An axial flow fan for use with a vehicle cooling system includes a hub defining an axis of rotation, and at least five blades supported on the hub. Each blade includes a leading edge, a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, a pressure side extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, a suction side opposite the pressure side, a tip, and a root opposite the tip along a blade length. A solidity of the axial flow fan, measured as a percentage of an annular flow area between an outer diameter of the hub and an outer diameter of the tips of the blades projected onto a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation that is occupied by the blades, is less than 40%.

Abstract: A clutch assembly includes a stationary journal bracket assembly having a base, a stub shaft that extends axially from the base, and a passage, a threaded bracket journal coupled to the stub shaft and accessible through the passage, pulley bearings supported on the threaded bracket journal, an integrated pulley/shaft including a pulley and a center shaft, and a clutch mechanism. The center shaft includes a cup-like hub and a distal portion that extends axially from the cup-like hub. The cup-like hub is supported on the pulley bearings, located at least partially within a blind hollow interior area of the cup-like hub. The threaded bracket journal is located at least partially within the hollow interior area of the cup-like hub.

Abstract: A clutch assembly includes a journal bracket having a center shaft, a drive feature rotatably supported on the center shaft of the journal bracket and configured to accept a torque input to the clutch assembly, a clutch pack that is controllable to selectively transmit torque between an input and an output, a housing attached to the clutch pack that includes a stub shaft, a removable connection engaged between the drive feature and the stub shaft such that torque is transmittable through the removable connection during operation of the clutch assembly, and one or more perpendicular engagement features on the stub shaft configured to accept a tool to engage and disengage the removable connection. At least one of the perpendicular engagement features is exposed to line-of-sight access from a location substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the clutch pack.

Abstract: A viscous clutch includes an input member rotatable about an axis of rotation, an output member selectively rotatable about the axis of rotation, a working chamber bounded by the input member and the output member, a reservoir, a release bore that fluidically connects the reservoir to the working chamber, a leading wiper that extends into the working chamber, a leading pump bore positioned adjacent to the leading wiper that fluidically connects the working chamber to the reservoir, a trailing wiper that extends into the working chamber, and a trailing pump bore positioned adjacent to the trailing wiper and downstream of the leading pump bore that fluidically connects the working chamber to the reservoir. The trailing wiper has a width that is greater than a width of the leading wiper.

Abstract: A viscous clutch includes a housing, an input device rotationally fixed to the housing, a rotor, a working chamber, a reservoir, a valve, and a quick disconnect bushing. The housing has a base, a cover, and a housing hub connected in in a rotationally fixed configuration. The input device is a pulley, a sprocket, and/or a gear. The rotor has a rotor disk and a rotor hub connected in a rotationally fixed configuration, and a central opening extends entirely through the rotor hub. The reservoir is carried by the housing and overlaps the input device in an axial direction. The quick disconnect bushing is removably secured to the rotor hub at the central opening and permits a rotationally fixed engagement between the rotor and an item driven by the clutch, such as an output shaft.

Abstract: A clutch assembly includes a clutch mechanism and an energy harvesting device. The clutch mechanism includes an input member, an output member, and an actuating mechanism to govern selective torque transmission from the input member to the output member. The actuating mechanism is powered by electrical current. The energy harvesting device is electrically connected to the actuating mechanism, and the energy harvesting device is configured to scavenge available energy to generate the electrical current that powers the actuating mechanism.

Abstract: A viscous clutch includes a shaft, a rotor disk, a housing having a base, a working chamber, a reservoir fluidically connected to the working chamber, a valve, an electromagnetic coil, and a flux guide that passes through the housing. The rotor disk includes a conductive portion made of a magnetic flux conductive material that forms a hub of the rotor disk that contacts the shaft and another portion. The base includes a hub with an axially-extending ring, and an armature of the valve is located radially outward of the axially-extending ring. The electromagnetic coil is located at an opposite side of the rotor disk from the reservoir. A magnetic flux circuit extends from the electromagnetic coil to the flux guide, then to the armature of the valve, then to the conductive portion of the rotor disk, then to the shaft, and then back to the electromagnetic coil.

Abstract: A modular fan assembly includes a center hub assembly and a first blade attached to the center hub assembly. The center hub assembly includes a first plate and a second plate each having an outer edge and a planar capture surface. The planar capture surfaces of the second plate is arranged parallel to the planar capture surface of the first plate. The first blade includes a mounting pad and a working portion. The mounting pad has opposite, parallel planar surfaces positioned in contact with the respective planar capture surfaces of the first and second plates. The working portion extends beyond the outer edges of the first and second plates. A thickness of the first blade is smaller proximate the outer edge of the first plate than at the mounting pad to create a first gap between the first blade and the first plate at the outer edge.

Abstract: An electromagnetic coil assembly (34) includes a coil sub-assembly (34C) and a tower sub-assembly (34T). The coil sub-assembly includes a coil housing (70) having a first opening (70-4A; 70-4B), a coil winding (72), a tower mount (74) having a base (74-1) adjoining the first opening and extending along a first surface (70I) of the coil housing, and a first mount bushing (76A; 76B) secured to the base. The first mount bushing is electrically connected to the coil winding. The tower sub-assembly includes a tower housing (90) positioned at a second surface of the coil housing located opposite the first surface, a first tower bushing (96A; 96B) electrically connected to the first mount bushing, and a first fastener (98A; 98B) securing the first tower bushing to the first mount bushing. The first fastener is engageable to the first mount bushing from proximate the second surface of the coil housing.

Abstract: A fan blade (134) includes a working region (148) having a leading edge (138) and a pressure side (136). A plurality of flow modification features (150-1 to 150-4) are positioned at the working region, including first and second flow modification features (150-1, 150-2, 150-3) each having a wedge shape with a pointed end (152) and a wider end (154), and located on the pressure side. A length of the first flow modification feature is less than a chord length of the fan blade, and the pointed end of the first flow modification feature is spaced from the leading edge. A length of the second flow modification feature is less than the chord length of the fan blade, and the pointed end of the second flow modification feature is spaced from the leading edge. The first and second flow modification features are spaced from each other to define a channel (156) therebetween.

Abstract: A viscous clutch includes an input member, an output member, a working chamber defined between the input member and the output member, a reservoir to hold a supply of a shear fluid, a valve that controls a flow of the shear fluid between the reservoir and the working chamber along a fluid circuit that fluidically connects the reservoir and the working chamber, a bearing, and an electromagnetic coil supported by the bearing. The electromagnetic coil includes a coil housing and a winding that forms multiple turns within an interior volume of the coil housing, wherein the coil housing has a stepped configuration to at least partially accommodate the bearing within a first step. Selective energization of the electromagnetic coil actuates the valve.

Abstract: A viscous clutch includes an input member, an output member, a working chamber, a reservoir to hold a supply of a shear fluid, an outlet, a return bore, an accumulator, and a first wall having an arcuate segment. The reservoir is connected to the working chamber by a fluid circuit, along which the outlet passes the shear fluid from the reservoir to the working chamber and the return bore returns the shear fluid pumped out of the working chamber to the accumulator. The accumulator is arranged in series with the reservoir in the fluid circuit. The first wall is positioned within the reservoir to separate a first portion from a second portion.

Abstract: A torque transmission system (20) for transmitting torque from a prime mover (22) along a drivetrain includes a clutch device (28) configured to accept a torque input from the prime mover, an intermediate pulley (32), a belt (30) operatively engaged between the clutch device and the intermediate pulley, an angle gearbox (36) configured to change a spatial orientation of torque transmitted between an input and an output of the angle gearbox, a driveshaft (34) operably engaged between the intermediate pulley and the angle gearbox, and an output device (38) configured to accept a torque output from the angle gearbox. The clutch device is located upstream from the intermediate pulley and the angle gearbox along the drivetrain.

Abstract: A viscous clutch (20; 20?) includes a rotor (26), a housing (24) that at least partially surrounds the rotor, a center shaft (22) rotationally fixed to the housing, a mounting disk (30) rotationally fixed to the rotor, a working chamber (38) defined between the rotor and the housing, a reservoir (36) for holding a supply of shear fluid, an electromagnet (34), a valve assembly (32) to selectively control flow of the shear fluid between the reservoir and the working chamber, and a flux guide (54) operatively positioned between the electromagnet and the armature. At least a portion of the mounting disk extends outside the housing. The valve assembly including an armature (32-3) that is selectively movable in response to magnetic flux generated by the electromagnet, and the magnetic flux is transmitted between the armature and the electromagnet along a flux circuit. The flux guide extends through the mounting disk.

Abstract: A viscous clutch includes an input member, an output member, a working chamber, a reservoir to hold a supply of a shear fluid, an outlet, a return bore, an accumulator, and a first wall having an arcuate segment. The reservoir is connected to the working chamber by a fluid circuit, along which the outlet passes the shear fluid from the reservoir to the working chamber and the return bore returns the shear fluid pumped out of the working chamber to the accumulator. The accumulator is arranged in series with the reservoir in the fluid circuit. The first wall is positioned within the reservoir to separate a first portion from a second portion.

Abstract: A valve system (44) for reducing morning sickness effects in a viscous clutch (20) having a reservoir (38) with a bore (46-1) includes a valve element (44-1), a counterweight portion (44-2), a pivot (44-3), and a biasing member (44-4). The pivot is located in between the valve element and the counterweight portion, and the valve element and the counterweight portion are configured to commonly move about the pivot between open and closed positions. The biasing member is configured to bias the valve element to cover the bore in the closed position by default. The counterweight portion is configured to counteract the biasing member under centrifugal loading such that the valve element at least partially uncovers the bore in the open position.

Abstract: A viscous clutch includes an input member, an output member, a working chamber defined between the input member and the output member, a reservoir to hold a supply of a shear fluid fluidically connected to the working chamber by a fluid circuit, a valve that is electromagnetically actuatable to selectively control a flow of the shear fluid along the fluid circuit, a control coil assembly, and a securing mechanism. The control coil assembly includes a modular center hub removably attached to the input member, an electromagnetic coil and a coil bearing rotatably supporting the electromagnetic coil on the modular center hub. The securing mechanism is removably attached to the input member radially inward of the working chamber and the reservoir, and includes a radially outwardly extending flange.

Abstract: A viscous clutch (20) includes a housing assembly (28), a rotor assembly (26), a reservoir (38) to hold a supply of a shear fluid, a working chamber (40) operatively positioned between the housing assembly and the rotor assembly, and a fluid return bore (26-1B) that optionally extends radially through at least an outer diameter portion of the rotor assembly to the working chamber. Selective introduction of the shear fluid to the working chamber facilitates selective torque transmission between the housing assembly and the rotor assembly. The fluid return bore can form at least a portion of a fluid return path (50) from the working chamber to the reservoir.