Abstract: A scroll-type compressor 1 of the present invention comprises a fixed scroll 30, a movable scroll 51 which orbits so that it slides along the fixed scroll 30, draws, and compresses gas, and a housing 3 which includes a discharge port 6 from which the gas compressed by the movable scroll 51 is discharged; wherein a cooling fin 35, which directly contacts at least a part of the compressed gas, receives heat from the compressed gas, and reduces the temperature of the compressed gas, is included inside the discharge port 6. In the scroll-type compressor in the present invention the cooling fin is provided in the discharge port. When the cooling fin is provided in the discharge port, and not around the discharge port, the discharge gas of high temperature directly contacts the cooling fin, so that the cooling efficiency of the compressor is improved.

Abstract: The scroll-type compressor with an integrated motor of the present invention comprises a housing 1, a fixed scroll 21 fixed to the housing 1, a movable scroll 31 installed eccentrically to the fixed scroll 21, and a motor portion 5, and is characterized in that the housing 1 comprises a high pressure chamber 25 to which compressed gases are supplied, a first cooling chamber 26′ installed contiguous to the high pressure chamber 25 and to which cooling fluid is supplied, a second cooling chamber 42 which cools the motor portion 5 and is supplied with the cooling fluid, and a fluid passage 7 that connects the first cooling chamber 26′ and the second cooling chamber 42 and passes the cooling fluid in the direction from the first cooling chamber 26′ to the second cooling chamber 42.

Abstract: In a heat generator for a vehicle according to the present invention, an operation chamber defined in the heat generator is composed of a heat generation area (7) which receives therein a rotor, a storage area (8) which contains viscous fluid, and a boundary opening (9) of a relatively large surface area, which connects the two areas. The boundary opening is provided with a pair of transfer openings (35A, 35B) in a point-symmetric arrangement with respect to the rotation axis C of the rotor. Guide portions (41A, 41B), each corresponding to each of the openings, are provided in the storage area. With this structure, since at least one of the transfer openings and the guide portion corresponding thereto are located below the surface level L of the viscous fluid regardless of the attachment angle of the heat generator, the exchange and circulation of the viscous fluid can be carried out between the heat generation area and the storage area, in accordance with the rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: A heating pump 10 includes a rotor 20 having a plurality of blades 21. A dividing wall 15 radially extends within an interior portion of the heating pump 10. The dividing wall 15 has a width W. A distance L is defined along a circular arc between adjacent blades 21 in an intermediate position 21a along the radial direction of the blades 21. A ratio W/L is preferably about 0.07 to 0.36, more preferably about 0.11 to 0.30 and most preferably, about 0.20.

Abstract: A heat generator comprises a partitioning wall 34 in opposed relation to a rotor in a heat generating area, in which the partitioning wall is formed with a supply groove 38 for introducing the viscous fluid to the outer peripheral area of the heat generating area from a storage area, and a recovery groove 39 for leading out the viscous fluid to the storage area from the outer peripheral area of the heat generating area. The shape, position and the mounting angle of the supply groove 38 and the recovery groove 39 are designed to set the outflow ratio &agr; to not more than 0.92. The outflow ratio &agr; is defined as the ratio (&agr;=Qout1/Qin) of the amount Qout1 of the viscous fluid flowing out from the heat generating area due to the forcible transfer function of the recovery groove 39 to the total amount Qin of the viscous fluid flowing from the storage area into the heat generating area.

Abstract: In a heat generator of the invention in which a drive shaft 8 is made of an iron-type metal, a rotor 9 includes a main rotor body 9a made of an aluminum-type metal for shearing a silicone oil SO and a bush 9b made of an iron-type metal inserted in the main rotor body 9a and secured to the drive shaft 8 while being positioned in contact with the inner race 7a of a bearing device 7. The main rotor body 9a has at least a gap &Dgr; relative to the inner race 7a of the bearing device 7, and is permitted to undergo thermal expansion.

Abstract: A control apparatus and method for controlling an automotive heater apparatus. The heater apparatus includes a coolant circuit for cooling an engine, a coolant circulating through the circuit, a heat generator for transferring heat to the coolant, and a heater core for transferring heat from the coolant. The heat generator houses a viscous fluid and a rotor selectively connected to and disconnected from the engine by a clutch. The clutch connects the engine with the rotor to shear the viscous fluid and generate heat. When the rotating speed of the rotor exceeds a rotor speed limit, which varies in accordance with the detected coolant temperature, the clutch disconnects the rotor of the heat generator from the engine and de-activates the heat generator.

Abstract: A method for producing a rotor assembly of a heat generator. The rotor assembly includes an inner rotor and an outer rotor that is rotated integrally with the inner rotor. The producing method includes forming the inner rotor from iron or iron alloy, and casting the outer rotor around the inner rotor by aluminum or aluminum alloy so that the outer rotor is firmly fixed to the inner rotor without slippage when heated.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heat generator, which shears viscous fluid for generating heat. The heater includes a rotor located in a heating chamber and viscous fluid accommodated in the heating chamber. The rotor is rotated integrally with a drive shaft by a vehicle engine. The rotor includes a boss for attaching the rotor to the drive shaft. The boss has a double-ringed structure for reinforcing the attachment of the boss to the drive shaft.

Abstract: A heating system incorporating a heat generator confining therein a heat-generative fluid to viscously generate heat when a shearing action is applied to the fluid by a rotor element, and a heat-generation controller including a heat-generation adjusting actuator which adjustably changes the heat-generating performance of the heat generator on the basis of a signal detected as a first control signal indicating a change in the rotating speed of the rotor element and a preset reference signal. A second control signal detected to indicate a temperature of the heat-generative fluid is used to adjustably change the preset reference signal. The operation of the heating system is controlled by a method in which the first control signal is compared with the preset reference signal to determine whether or not the heat-generation adjusting actuator should actuated to change the heat-generating performance of the heat generator.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heat generating apparatus having a housing forming a cylindrical heat-generating chamber having a cylindrical wall surface and an axially spaced flat annular wall surface, and a rotatably supported rotor element having a cylindrical base portion and an axially extending tubular portion integral with the base portion forming a substantially cylindrical outer face and a cavity portion used as a fluid-storing chamber, the cylindrical portion of the rotor element cooperating with the cylindrical wall surface of the housing to define a main part of a heat-generating gap holding a viscous fluid which generates heat in response to an application of a shearing force to the viscous fluid in response to the rotation of the rotor element.

Abstract: An improved viscous heater for a vehicle heating system is disclosed. The viscous heater has a heat generator including a rotor that agitates viscous fluid to generate the heat. A vehicle engine transmits its rotation to the rotor via an electromagnetic clutch. A thermosensitive switch is attached to the heat generator and selectively connects and disconnects the electromagnetic clutch with electric power source. The thermosensitive switch is selectively activated and deactivated based on magnitude of the heat generated by the agitated viscous fluid. The thermosensitive switch is deactivated when the ambient temperature is in excess of the predetermined uppermost value (T) and activated when the temperature in smaller than the predetermined lowermost value (T-.DELTA.T).

Abstract: A torque limiting device for a compressor. An input shaft of the compressor is connected to the torque limiting device so that the power source driving the compressor will not be affected if abnormal conditions cause the compressor to generate an excessive load. A flexible connector is located between the power source and the compressor. The flexible connector is deformed when torque is applied to the compressor input shaft. When the applied torque exceeds a predetermined value, a spring is permitted to expand axially, which uncouples the compressor from the power source. The torque at which the device uncouples is stable and predictable.

Abstract: A coolant circulation system for circulating a coolant through a coolant passage of a liquid-cooled engine, a radiator of an engine cooling system and a heat exchanger of a passenger compartment heating system. The coolant circulation system includes a coolant circuit provided for a fluidic communication between the coolant passage, the radiator and the heat exchanger. A coolant is forcibly circulated in the coolant circuit by a coolant pump. The coolant circulation system further includes a supplementary heat source arranged in the coolant circuit to heat the coolant flowing out of the heat exchanger. The coolant heated by the supplementary heat source is directed to the coolant passage. The supplementary heat source may be formed as a viscous fluid type heat generator.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heating apparatus capable of achieving both reliable prevention of deterioration in the heat-generating performance of a viscous fluid and reliable prevention of leakage of the viscous fluid from the apparatus, and having a heat generating chamber provided with a first and a second storing region for storing a silicone oil to avoid an application of a shearing action from a rotor element to the viscous fluid and a heat generating gap. The silicone oil is held in the heat generating chamber so that it is able to flow between the heat generating gap and the first storing region which is directly affected by a thermal condition in the heat generating gap. The second storing region is substantially separated from the first storing region and is not directly affected by the thermal condition in the heat generating gap. The flow of the silicone oil between the first and second storing regions is adjustable by a movable element.

Abstract: A vehicle heater for generating heat for heating a vehicle compartment. The heater includes a rotor rotated by a vehicle engine. The rotor has a predetermined thickness and a peripheral edge. The heater further includes a heating chamber for accommodating the rotor and a fluid. The fluid is heated in the heating chamber when the rotor rotates. The heater further includes a reservoir. The fluid from the heating chamber is stored in the reservoir. The heater further includes a return passage connecting the reservoir and the heating chamber. The fluid returns from the heating chamber to the reservoir through the return passage. The return passage has an entrance opening in an inner wall of the heating chamber. The entrance opening faces the peripheral edge of the rotor, and the maximum width of the entrance opening is greater than the thickness of the rotor.

Abstract: In the heater of the present invention, a heating chamber accommodates a viscous fluid. A rotor is located in the heating chamber. The rotor rotates and shears the viscous fluid to generate heat. The heat generated in the heating chamber is transferred to the heat exchanger and heats a fluid that flows through the heat exchanger. A reservoir stores the viscous fluid. The reservoir has an upper portion and a lower portion, and the lower portion has a greater volume than the upper position. A return passage connects the heating chamber to the reservoir so that the viscous fluid moves from the heating chamber to the reservoir when the rotor rotates. A supply passage connects the reservoir to the heating chamber so that the viscous fluid flows from the reservoir to the heating chamber.

Abstract: A compressor mounted on a vehicle is disclosed. The compressor includes an apparatus for transmitting rotational power from an engine to drive shaft of the compressor via a pulley. The apparatus has a spring coupled to one of the pulley and the drive shaft. A deformable ring is coupled to the other one of the pulley and the drive shaft. The deformable ring is deformed by heat. The spring and the deformable ring are being held in abutment against each other by the force of the spring so as to transmit the rotational power to each other. A contact ring is interposed between the spring and the deformable ring. The contact ring has a rigidity larger than that of the deformable ring. The spring and the contact ring frictionally contact one another to generate the heat that deform the deformable ring when load generated in the drive shaft is in excess of a predetermined value.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for a vehicle with a simplified piping structure in a fluid pressure operating system, to a heat exchanger while preventing a pulsation of the operating fluid in the system from being directly transmitted to a cabin, thereby suppressing an occurrence of a noise in the cabin. A fluid pressure operating system includes an oil pump 12 rotated by an engine 21 and an actuator 20 operated by the operating fluid issued from the oil pump 12. A heat exchanger 39 is arranged between an outlet of the oil pump 12 and the actuator 20. Heat generated at the oil pump 12 in the fluid pressure operating system 11 is passed to the engine cooling water at the heat emitter and is used for heating the cabin.

Abstract: An improved viscous heater is disclosed. The viscous heater has a heating chamber accommodating viscous fluid and a rotor. The rotor rotates to shear and heat the viscous fluid. The heating chamber has a pair of inner flat surfaces and an inner peripheral surface. The rotor has a pair of outer flat surfaces that respectively opposes the inner flat surfaces by predetermined gaps and an outer peripheral surface that opposes the inner peripheral surface. The outer peripheral surface has peripheral edge portions each angularly and continuously extending from the outer flat surface. The peripheral edge is chamfered so that the rotor is prevented from interfering with the inner flat surfaces.