Abstract: An electronic monitor is disclosed which continuously monitors the sound emanating from rotating machinery, non-rotating equipment, or any other sound-producing process or environment, as a means of detecting abnormalities and thus determining the operating condition thereof. The monitor continuously computes the power spectrum of the monitored sound and has two modes of operation: learn and operate. The monitor is placed in the learn mode during a time when the machine or process to be monitored is known to be operating normally. During the learn mode, the maximum and minimum acoustic power output from each of a plurality of digital bandpass filters is continuously maintained and updated in data memory as the acoustic signature of the machine or process being monitored.

Abstract: A cooling fan according to the present invention includes a housing. A fan assembly includes a plurality of fan blades carrying a rotor ring at the outer circumference of the fan assembly. A plurality of stator elements are supported by the housing to confront the rotor ring around only a portion of the outer circumference of the fan assembly. A motor controller is operatively connected to the stator elements to induce force on the rotor ring to turn the fan assembly.

Abstract: An eddy current fan drive cooling system is operable in a vehicle having a sheave rotating at a speed related to an engine speed. A driving assembly of the cooling system is attached to the sheave. A plurality of poles are exposed around an outer perimeter of the driving assembly. A plurality of windings are wrapped around the poles. The windings are electrically connected to receive a driving signal to generate a magnetic field around the poles. A driven assembly carrying a cooling fan is provided around the driving assembly. The driven assembly includes a plurality of concentric rings arranged around the exposed poles of the driving assembly. An eddy current torque is produced in the rings in response to magnetic flux passing through the rings from the exposed poles due to the magnetic field around the poles.

Abstract: A fan assembly (10) which incorporates variable pitched blades (152), is driven by the engine of a vehicle and is used in cooling the engine. A control system (248) is provided which is responsive to at least one signal representative of an operating parameter of the engine and a second signal indicative of a desired cooling requirement to establish an efficient pitch for the blades of the fan assembly. In one embodiment, the speed of the engine is sensed and used in combination with a cooling requirement signal developed by the engine control module (205) to regulate the pitch of the fan assembly. In a second embodiment, engine charge air temperature and coolant temperature signals are utilized in establishing the desired pitch. Furthermore, fuzzy logic controls (290) can be utilized to anticipate the cooling needs of the engine based on variations in the overall dynamic system as derived from information available through the engine control module.

Abstract: A fan assembly (10) includes first and second housing sections (70, 72) which, when mated by a first set of fasteners, define a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings (162) that lead to an internal housing chamber (82). The fan assembly (10) also includes a plurality of blade units (140), each of which includes an integral support stem (142) having a journal portion (148) rotatably mounted within a respective one of the openings (162), an enlarged flange portion (144) and a radial post portion (138) rotatably supported by a hub member (106) within the internal chamber (82). Each blade unit (140) preferably has a thrust bearing (156), bushing sleeve (158) and fan blade (152) integrated with the support stem (142), with the fan blade (152) being preferably molded to the support stem (142) following positioning of the thrust bearing (156) and bushing sleeve (158) to form an integral component.

Abstract: A rotational control apparatus (10, 10a) for controlling the transmission of rotational forces between first and second relatively rotatable members (26, 120, 120a) includes a piston (76, 76a) interconnected for concurrent axial movement with the second member through a bearing unit (146) which enables relative rotation and concurrent axial shifting of the piston (76, 76a) and the second member (120, 120a). The pistons (76, 76a) is only interconnected to the first member (26) through the use of one or more springs (116) such that at least partial relative rotation between the piston (76, 76a) and the first member (26) is accommodated.

Abstract: A fan clutch (A') includes an eddy current drive (224) having a first, magnetic field producing drive component rotatable with the output and a second, coupling drive component rotatable with the input in the form of a sheave (50'). The first drive component includes permanent magnets (226). The second drive component is of a one-piece construction including a steel ring (238) embedded in a body portion (241) formed of aluminum. The steel ring (238) includes locating ears (310) for properly locating and retaining the ring (238) in a mold half (324). Positioning tabs (312, 314) extend from the faces (302, 304) of the ring (238) and prevent the ring (238) from floating in the volume between the mold halves (318, 324) which forms the body portion (241) during the introduction of the molten aluminum. The body portion (241) is integrally formed with circumferentially spaced air moving vanes (264) and an annular disc portion (260) for mounting to the sheave (50').

Abstract: A device (10) is disclosed for intercepting the input of a system (23) of an internal combustion engine (12) normally provided to a solenoid valve (22) for actuating a fan clutch (20). A pressure switch (24) is provided in the pressure line between the solenoid valve (22) and the fan clutch (20). The input is received by terminals (27, 28) and is passed on to a transistor (53) which turns on and allows current flow to the solenoid valve (22) during a first period of time. If a second transistor (48) turns on because the pressure switch (24) remains open as a set point is not sensed in the pressure line and does not discharge a time delay circuit formed by a combination of a resistor (44) and a capacitor (46), then the voltage of the gate of the first transistor (53) is pulled down to turn the transistor (53) off and interrupt the current flow to the solenoid valve (22).

Abstract: A versatile apparatus (2) for controlling the transmission of rotational forces between first and second rotatable members preferably takes the form of a clutch that can be activated by axially shifting an internal actuation member (140) through the introduction of either liquid or gaseous mediums. The clutch includes first and second transmission members (177, 281) which are rotatably mounted within a housing (5) and adapted to be attached to the first and second rotatable members respectively. A coupling assembly (226), preferably including first and second sets of axially spaced interface elements (252-254 and 274, 275), is interposed between the transmission members (177, 284) within the housing and axial movement of the actuation member (140) causes the interface elements (252-254 and 274, 275) to be frictionally engaged.

Abstract: A roller bushing assembly (21d, 21e, 21f) designed to enable a low tolerance, frictional fit within an out-of-round or otherwise distorted support member (5, 9) includes a bushing member (29a, 216) having an outer surface (102) machined to provide various axially spaced, annular grooves (127-130, 132 and 242-250). Between or directly adjacent respective ones of the annular grooves (127-130, 132 and 242-250) are defined a plurality of axially spaced and radially extending ribs (113-122 and 232-240). The axial outermost ribs (113, 122 and 240) are preferably elongated relative to the remaining ribs (114-121 and 232-239) and have annularly chamfered portions (124, 125 and 252). The ribs (113-122 and 232-240) are adapted to shear upon mounting of the bushing member (29a, 216) within an out-of-round or otherwise distorted support. By providing the shearable ribs (113-122 and 232-240), the bushing assembly (21d, 21e, 21f) can be effectively mounted within a greater range of varying sized support members.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for controlling the transmission of rotational forces between first (14) and second (66) members through an axially shiftable friction element (56) that rotates in unison with the first member (14) and can be selectively brought into engagement with the second member (66) is provided with a forced air cooling system that functions to cool the interface between the friction element (56) and the second member (66), as well as a first bearing (54) allowing relative rotation between the friction element (56) and an actuation member (38). A flow of cooling air is developed during operation of the apparatus by fins (172,174) formed about an outer radial surface portion of the friction element (56) and the air is caused to flow through enlarged lobe cut-out sections (156) in the second member (66) along the interface and through holes (164) formed in the friction element (56) which are arranged opposite the first bearing (54).

Abstract: A versatile apparatus (2) for controlling the transmission of rotational forces between first and second rotatable members preferably takes the form of a clutch that can be activated by axially shifting an internal actuation member (140) through the introduction of either liquid or gaseous mediums. The clutch includes first and second transmission members (177, 281) which are rotatably mounted within a housing (5) and adapted to be attached to the first and second rotatable members respectively. A coupling assembly (226), preferably including first and second sets of axially spaced interface elements (252-254 and 274, 275), is interposed between the transmission members (177, 284) within the housing and axial movement of the actuation member (140) causes the interface elements (252-254 and 274, 275) to be frictionally engaged.

Abstract: A device (10) is disclosed for intercepting the input of a system (23) of an internal combustion engine (12) normally provided to a solenoid valve (22) for actuating a fan clutch (20) when rotation of a fan (16) is desired. The input is received by terminals (42, 43) and is conditioned and passed on to a timer (96) and a controller (97). A vacuum switch (24) senses whether the fan (16) is rotating and provides a second input to the controller (97). In the event that an input is provided by the system (23) and the time delay signal has been provided by the timer (96) and also in the event that an input is provided by the system (23), the time delay has expired, and the second input is provided by the vacuum switch (24), the controller (97) provides an actuation output to terminals (71, 73) connected to the solenoid valve (22) by use of actuation provisions (98) to actuate the fan clutch (20).

Abstract: A pump (10) is disclosed including an integral clutch and including a housing (26) divided into a clutch zone and a pump zone by a dividing wall (58). An input shaft (12) including a clutch spider (16) is rotatably mounted by a ball roller bearing (54) to a clutch end plate (50). An output shaft (14) is rotatably mounted by linear roller bearings (62, 76) to a pump end plate (68) and the dividing wall (58). A disk pack (20) is slideably mounted to the clutch spider (16) and the output shaft (14) and sandwiched by a piston (34) moved by fluid pressure outward relative to a pressure cylinder (36) and against a pressure plate (28) removably connected to the axial end of the output shaft (14). Thus, axial clutch actuation loads are transmitted only through the disk pack (20) and not to any of the bearings (54, 62, 76). The free axially outer end of the output shaft (14) extends through the pump zone and is located in the pump end plate (68).

Abstract: Rotational control apparatus (A) in the preferred forms of fan clutches is disclosed including shoulder bolts (78) extending through axially extending voids (146) formed in axially extending portion (66) and flange (76) of first and second shell housings (62, 68). The shoulder bolts (78) secure the shell housings (62, 68) together to prevent relative movement therebetween. The apparatus (A) further includes a piston (80) having tabs (144) extending from the outer periphery thereof into the voids (146) and including openings having bushings (134) therein for slideable receipt on the shoulder bolts (78). Springs (138) are mounted on standoffs (210) extending in the voids (146) and abutting with the shoulder of the shoulder bolts (78).

Abstract: Rotational control apparatus in the forms of fan clutches (A, A') are shown including an eddy current drive (224). Specifically, the eddy current drive (224) includes a plurality of permanent magnets (226) mounted circumferentially spaced and with alternating polarity by a holder (228) to the input or output of the clutch (A, A') and a magnetically conductive ring (242) mounted to the other of the input or output of the clutch (A, A'). Thus, the output portion and the fan blades mounted thereto are driven at engine speeds when the clutch (A, A') is air actuated and are driven at a rotational speed less than engine speed by the eddy current drive (224) when the clutch (A, A') is not air actuated and without separate controls for the eddy current drive (224). A housing (62) comprises the output portion of the clutch (A) which is rotatably mounted by a bearing (58) to the hub portion (24) of a friction disc (28) which comprises the input portion of the clutch (A).

Abstract: Apparatus (300) is disclosed for locking a key (322) in a keyway (302) of a shaft (10) and of a hub slideably receiving the shaft (10). The key (322) is tapered and includes a top extending at an acute angle to the bottom, with the keyway (302) of the shaft (10) having a bottom wall (306) at the acute angle to the axis of the shaft (10). A push rod (312) is rotatable in an axial bore (308) in the shaft (10) and includes a threaded portion (318) threaded into a threaded counterbore (310) of the axial bore (308). The forward end of the push rod (312) is interconnected to the key (322) by a lip (336) formed in the key (322) extending into a notch (316) formed in the push rod (312). Rotation of the push rod (312) causes the push rod (312) to move axially in the axial bore (308) which in turn axially moves the key (322) in the keyway (302).

Abstract: Rotational control apparatus in the preferred forms of fan clutches (A) are shown including an eddy current drive (224). Specifically, the eddy current drive (224) includes a plurality of permanent magnets (226) mounted circumferentially spaced and with alternating polarity by a holder (228) to a radially extending surface (232) of a housing (62) rotatably mounted by a bearing (58) to the hub portion (24) of a friction disc (28). A magnetically conductive ring (242) is mounted on the opposite axial side of the friction disc (28) than the surface (34) engaged by a friction ring (86, 252) which is rotatably fixed but axially displaceable relative to the housing (62). In the embodiments shown, the friction ring (86, 252) is biased in a disengaged condition from the friction disc (28) by springs (138, 256) and is moved to an engaged condition by a fluid actuated piston (80).

Abstract: Rotational control apparatus in the preferred forms of fan clutches (A, A') are shown including an eddy current drive (224). Specifically, the eddy current drive (224) includes a plurality of permanent magnets (226) mounted circumferentially spaced and with alternating polarity by a holder (228) to the input of the clutch (A, A') and a magnetically conductive ring (242) mounted to the output of the clutch (A, A'). Thus, the output portion and the fan blades mounted thereto are driven at engine speeds when the clutch (A, A') is air actuated and are driven at a rotational speed less than engine speed by the eddy current drive (224) when the clutch (A, A') is not air actuated and without separate controls for the eddy current drive (224). In preferred forms, a housing (62) comprises the output portion of the clutch (A) which is rotatably mounted by a bearing (58) to the hub portion (24) of a friction disc (28) which comprises the input portion of the clutch (A).

Abstract: A rotational control apparatus (A) having a rotatable input (26 or 180) and output (26 or 180) with respective interface discs (106, 180). Three sets of two diametrically opposed pistons (64 and 66, 68 and 70, 72 and 74) are controllable to rotatably relate the interface discs (106, 180). The piston sets (64 and 66, 68 and 70, 72 and 74) include piston heads (76) with dissimilar diameters such that each of the sets of pistons (64 and 66, 68 and 70, 72 and 74) may apply a dissimilar torque for a given amount of air pressure. Each of the piston sets (64 and 66, 68 and 70, 72 and 74) may be actuated independently or in combination with each of the other sets of pistons (64 and 66, 68 and 70, 72 and 74) such that the interface discs (106, 180) may be rotatably related to each other with varying degrees of torque.