Abstract: When a driver performs a steering operation with a small steering angle when a vehicle is stopped, a viscous clutch of a viscous heater is turned on after setting an idling rotational speed of an engine to a high value to prevent an engine stall. Further, when a driver performs the steering operation with a large steering angle when the vehicle is stopped, the viscous clutch is not turned on so that the viscous heater is not operated, thereby greatly reducing a driving load applied to the engine and a V-belt thereof.

Abstract: A viscous fluid heater includes a housing for accommodating a heating chamber and a heat exchanging chamber. Viscous fluid is contained in the heating chamber, and circulating fluid circulates through the heat exchanging chamber. A cylindrical rotor is located in the heating chamber, which rotates to shear the viscous fluid in the heating chamber and thus generate heat which heats the circulating fluid in the heat exchanging chamber. The cylindrical rotor is hollow, which defines a reservoir chamber within the rotor to contain the viscous fluid. The rotor has at least one, and preferably a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart communicating passages between its interior reservoir chamber and the viscous fluid heating chamber which surrounds the rotor, so that viscous fluid flows from the reservoir chamber into the heating chamber, in which it flows outwardly to the ends of the rotor. The viscous fluid returns to the reservoir chamber via axial passages in the respective end walls of the rotor.

Abstract: A wind operated heating device is operated by a rotor. The heater has a liquid reservoir and a rotary element which is immersed in the liquid in the reservoir. The rotary element is driven by the rotor so as to heat the liquid. The rotor is connected to the rotary element by a shaft. A shield is arranged to rotate with the rotary element and is movable relative thereto such that the position of the shield member relative to the rotary element varies in dependence on the rotation speed of the rotary element so that the shield member provides a greater resistance to rotation at higher than at lower speeds of rotation.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heat generator including a housing assembly in which a heat generating chamber confining therein a heat generative 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 disc-like rotor element, the inner wall surfaces of the heat generating chamber and the outer faces of the rotor element defining small fluid holding and/or heat generating gaps in which the viscous fluid is filled so that it is forced to make a circulatory movement within the heat generating chamber by the rotating rotor element via at least one through-passage which is arranged to pierce the outer surfaces of the disc-like rotor element, and have either an obliquely extending through-bore of which the center line extends along the rotating direction of the rotor element, or an axially linear through-bore having a sloping recess formed in at least one of the opposite bore ends to obliquely extend in a dire

Abstract: A method of generating heat and a heat generator comprising a rotor with an intake port, a plurality of inner and a plurality of outer holes. The heat generator also comprises a front rotor housing for housing the rotor. The front rotor housing has a plurality of pockets and a discharge port. The fluid enters the heat generator through the intake port and the rotor rotates forcing the fluid through said the inner holes causing the fluid to collide with the pockets and return through the outer holes and flow out of the heat generator through the discharge port.

Abstract: A viscous heater which can increase the amount of generated heat without any special means of enlarging the heat generating effective region. A heater housing is made up of an intermediate housing (1), a cylindrical stator member (2), a front housing (5) and a rear housing (6). The heater housing defines therein a heat generating chamber (7) and a heat radiating chamber (water jacket) (8) around the heat generating chamber. Front and rear drive shafts (12A), (12B) and a rotor (20) are disposed in the heat generating chamber (7) to be rotatable together, while silicone oil as a viscous fluid is also sealed in the heat generating chamber (7) A plurality of grooves (31, 32) extending in the axial direction of the rotor are formed respectively on an outer circumferential surface of the rotor (20) and an inner circumferential surface of the stator member (2), the grooves serving as shearing force increasing means.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heater including a stator having a stationary surface and a rotor having a rotary surface. The rotary surface is opposed to the stationary surface to define a clearance therebetween for the accommodation of a viscous fluid. A circulating fluid flows through a heat exchanging chamber. The rotor rotates about its axis and shears the viscous fluid to produce heat. The heat is transmitted to the circulating fluid from the viscous fluid. The rotary surface is inclined with respect to the rotor axis. The stationary surface is inclined in conformity with the rotary surface.

Abstract: A viscous heater includes a heat generating chamber 10 of a sealed structure. The viscous heater is further provided with a storage chamber SR, which is in communication with the heat generating chamber 10 at its central part, via a recovery hole 3c, a feed groove 3f and a feed hole 3e formed in a rear plate 3 and a rear housing 4. The storage chamber SR can store an amount of the viscous fluid, which exceeds the volume of a heat generating gap between an inner surface of the heat generating chamber and an outer surface of a rotor 16. The speed of degradation of the viscous fluid is slowed, while eliminating the necessity of a strict administration of a charged amount of the viscous fluid.

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: Specifically configured dual rotor, multi-lobed, rotary gas compressors in a piping system will provide clean gas heating and re-circulation that will quickly and efficiently heat a connected process chamber or process piping section. Substantial heat is quickly generated through mechanical agitation of the gas molecules that pass through the inlet and outlet of a dual rotor, multi-lobed, rotary gas compressor. The invention application of a dual rotor, multi-lobed, rotary gas compressor as a means of imparting heat to a gas stream provides an economical source of convective heat for closed and open loop piping applications.

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 heat generator includes: a shear chamber in which viscous fluid is contained and heat is generated by shearing the viscous fluid with a rotor rotating therein; and a space receiving viscous fluid drained from the shear chamber. The heat generator is rotated always as far as an engine rotates because it is driven by the engine without a clutch. The viscous fluid in the shear chamber is drained into the receiving space disposed underneath the shear chamber when the rotor halts or the heat generator is not in operation. The drained viscous fluid is pushed up again into the shear chamber when the rotor is re-started or the heat generator becomes in operation again. The heat generator is re-started easily with a very small starting torque because there is almost no viscous fluid left in the shear chamber and accordingly power to shear the viscous fluid with the rotor is not required.

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 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 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: In a heating apparatus according to the present invention, when a temperature of cooling water in a cooling water circuit is equal to a set cooling water temperature or less, a viscous clutch is turned on to operate a viscous heater disposed in the cooling water circuit, for maintaining the temperature of the cooling water in the cooling water circuit at a predetermined value. A shaft of the viscous heater is rotated by a water-cooled engine through a belt transmitting mechanism and the viscous clutch. The set cooling water temperature is increased in accordance with an increase of a target air temperature calculated based on a set temperature, an inside air temperature, an outside air temperature, and a sunlight amount to optimize a used condition of the viscous heater.

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 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 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 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.

Abstract: A variable capacity type viscous heater is provided in which the capacity reduction is carried out securely, and which can inhibit a viscous fluid from deteriorating the endurable heat generation even after a long period of service. For instance, it includes a heat-generating chamber, a collector passage, a supply passage, and a control chamber, which are formed therein. The collector passage is communicated with a central region of the heat-generating chamber, and is capable of opening and closing. The supply passage is communicated with a lower region of the heat-generating chamber. The control chamber is communicated with the collector passage and the supply passage. A silicone oil, held in the heat-generating chamber, is collected into the control chamber by the Weissenberg effect by way of the opened collector passage, thereby carrying out the capacity reduction.

Abstract: An improved viscous fluid type heater is disclosed. The heater has a heating chamber that has a inner peripheral surface and a pair of inner side surfaces and a heat exchange chamber disposed adjacent to the heating chamber. The heating chamber houses a cylindrical rotor that has an outer peripheral surface and a pair of outer side surfaces. The outer peripheral surface is opposed to the inner peripheral surface by a first space. The outer side surface is opposed to an associated inner side surface by a second space that communicates the first space. The rotor rotates and shears viscous fluid to generate heat in the spaces. The heat generated in the spaces is transmitted to the heat exchange chamber to heat circulating fluid circulating in the heat exchange chamber and an external fluid circuit. The rotor has a storing chamber defined therein. A first passage connects the first space with the storing chamber to shift the viscous fluid from the storing chamber to the first space.

Abstract: The viscous type heat generator includes a housing having a heating chamber and a heat radiating chamber. A rotor is rotatably arranged in the heating chamber so that a viscous fluid is subjected to a shearing action to generate heat. The rotor is fitted on a drive shaft in such a manner that the rotor can not rotate but can move axially relative to the drive shaft. The front and rear end surfaces of the rotor have wedge effect producing means for correcting an axial offset of the rotor in the heating chamber by the wedge effect caused by the pressure of viscous fluid while the rotor is rotating. This wedge effect producing means comprises at least three inclined recesses extending in the circumferential direction, the bottoms of which become gradually shallower in the direction opposite to the rotational direction of the rotor. The inclined recesses are arranged at circumferentially regular intervals and at radially equal positions from the center of the rotor.

Abstract: A heating method and apparatus for vehicles. A viscous fluid type heater is located in a vehicle fluid circuit. The heater has a heating chamber that holds viscous fluid and a rotor. The rotor rotates to shear the viscous fluid and produce heat. The heat is transmitted to a heat exchange chamber located adjacent to the heating chamber. The rotor rotates at variable rotation velocity, which affects the temperature of the viscous fluid. Circulating fluid in the fluid circuit and is heated in the heat exchange chamber. The heater includes a reservoir chamber communicating with the heating chamber to store viscous fluid. The heater has a valve that selectively connects and disconnects the reservoir chamber with the heating chamber to regulate heat production. The apparatus has a detecting device for detecting a temperature or a speed that is indicative of the temperature of the viscous fluid.

Abstract: A method for controlling a viscous heater for a vehicle. The vehicle has an engine, an engine cooling system for heating coolant, a passage, a radiator and the viscous heater. The radiator heats the passage using heat from the coolant. The viscous heater uses the driving force of the engine to heat the coolant separately from the engine cooling system. The method includes a step of cutting off the transfer of the driving force of the engine to the viscous heater when the engine is being started. The method also includes a step of transferring the driving force of the engine to the viscous heater when the engine is running.

Abstract: A friction-generated heat device using oil as a medium. The device uses a unique disc and housing which continuously generates heat and causes the medium to flow from the center to the perimeter of the disc where the medium is collected and discharged to a point where it can be used to provide heat.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heat generator including a housing assembly defining a heat generating chamber and an additional chamber communicated through fluid passageway means with the heat generating chamber, these chambers forming a fluid-tight chamber for accommodating a viscous fluid, 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 together therewith 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 additional chamber and a fluid supply passageway for supplying the viscous fluid from the additional chamber into the gap.

Abstract: In a heating apparatus according to the present invention, a water valve disposed between a viscous heater and a heater core is controlled by a servomotor to be interlocked with an air mixing damper. An opening degree of the water valve is calculated based on a target damper opening degree of the air mixing damper, and a flow amount of cooling water circulating into a cooling water passage is calculated based on the opening degree of the water valve. When the flow amount of the cooling water is smaller than the set flow amount, an electromagnetic coil of the viscous clutch is turned off. In this way, a rotational driving force is not transmitted from the engine to a shaft of the viscous heater to prevent viscous fluid from being heated abnormally.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heater including a heating chamber and a heat exchange chamber, which is adjacent to the heating chamber. The heating chamber contains viscous fluid and a rotor. The heat exchange chamber is connected to a coolant circuit. The rotor is rotated by a drive shaft to shear the viscous fluid and produce heat in the heating chamber. The heat is transferred to the heat exchange chamber from the heating chamber to heat coolant passing through the heat exchange chamber and circulating in the fluid circuit. The heating chamber has a rear wall. The rotor has a rear surface facing the rear wall. Viscous fluid located between the wall and the rotor is sheared when the rotor rotates. A support shaft is supported by the rotor. The support shaft is eccentrically coupled to the drive shaft, which forces the viscous fluid located between the wall and the rotor to be periodically displaced. This prevents prolonged heating of any part of the fluid, which extends the life of the fluid.

Abstract: An improved viscous fluid heater is disclosed. The heater has a rotor that is operably coupled to a drive shaft. The rotor is disposed in a heating chamber filled with viscous fluid. The rotor is rotated with the drive shaft to shear the viscous fluid and generate heat in the heating chamber. The rotor has a flat rotor body and a boss. The boss has an axial length greater than that of the rotor body. A mechanism is provided with at least the boss. The mechanism mounts the rotor on the drive shaft and transmits torque of the drive shaft to the rotor.

Abstract: Mounted on the body of a fan blade is a micro-electro mechanical system which includes at least one thin silicon film forming an integrated circuit, and an actuator connected to the circuit for generating vibrations. If used as a noise-killing system, the actuator generates vibrations which offset (reduce) unstable air flows along the blade body. If used in a heat exchanger to improve the heat exchange effect, the system generates vibrations which amplify the unstable air flow, e.g., to amplify turbulence and vortexes.

Abstract: A heating system for a vehicle is provided which does not require a large boarding space in an engine room very much, which can be manufactured at a reduced cost, and which can fully heat a passenger compartment of a vehicle when an engine is started. For instance, in the vehicle heating system, a water pump (WP) and a viscous heater (VH) is incorporated into an installation housing (1), a plate (2) and a cover (3) which are bonded to a cylinder block of an engine. The water pump (WP) and the viscous heater (VH) are driven by a drive shaft (11) which is shared by them. Moreover, the viscous heater (VH) includes an auxiliary water jacket (WJ.sub.2). The auxiliary water jacket (WJ.sub.2) is communicated with a main water jacket (WJ.sub.1) of the engine by way of a pump chamber (4) of the water pump (WP), and is further communicated with a heater core for heating a passenger compartment of a vehicle.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heat generator includes a housing assembly defining a 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 supported by the housing assembly separately from the drive shaft to be rotationally 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 faces of the rotor element, for heat generation under a shearing stress applied by the rotation of the rotor element. Frictional coupling means are provided for frictionally coupling the drive shaft with the rotor element and for mechanically transmitting a rotation of the drive shaft to the rotor element to permit the rotor element to rotate in the heat generating chamber at a speed not higher than a predetermined thermal limit speed.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an oil storage chamber for temporarily accumulating a high-viscosity oil is formed below a heat-generating chamber for accumulating high-viscosity oil which generates heat when a shearing force is applied thereto. When an electromagnetic coil of an electromagnetic clutch is set off, i.e., a rotation of a rotor of a viscous heater is stopped, the high-viscosity oil in the heat-generating chamber moves into the oil storage chamber by own weight thereof, and a liquid level of the high-viscosity oil in the heat-generating chamber is greatly reduced. In this way, when the electromagnetic coil of the electromagnetic clutch is turned on to start the rotor of the viscous heater, a torque applied to the rotor is greatly reduced, with the result that a stress applied to the rotor is reduced.

Abstract: In a hydrodynamic heat generator for a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine having a cooling water circuit with a circulating pump, the hydrodynamic heat generator comprises a generator housing part which is integrated with a pump housing part and defines a water space which is in communication with the pumping space and includes a bladed rotor and a bladed stator firmly supported in the generator housing part adjacent the water space and an electromagnetic clutch for engagement of the bladed rotor with a drive shaft which extends through the heat generator housing part into the pump housing part and carries, at its end in the pump housing part, an impeller for circulating the cooling water.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heat generator including a drive shaft for receiving a rotative drive force from an external drive source and mounting thereon a plurality of rotor elements to be rotated together with the drive shaft, a housing assembly in which at least one first heat generating component chamber confining therein a heat generative viscous fluid to which a shearing action is applied by the rotor elements, a second heat-generating-performance variable chamber confining a heat generative viscous fluid to which shearing action is applied by the rotor element, and a heat receiving chamber in which heat exchanging liquid flows therethrough to receive heat from the first and second heat generating chambers. The viscous fluid type heat generator further may includes a control chamber for controlling an amount of the viscous fluid in the second heat-generating-performance variable chamber, and a heat-generating-performance changing unit.

Abstract: A viscous heater is provided which can securely inhibit a viscous fluid from leaking even after extended use. For instance, the heater is provided with a shaft-sealing apparatus which seals a driving shaft between a heat-generating chamber and a bearing apparatus. The shaft-sealing apparatus is arranged so that it is cooled by a front water jacket which is disposed adjacent to it.

Abstract: A variable capacity type viscous heater is provided which can carry out the capacity control reliably, and which can inhibit the endurable heat-generating efficiency of a viscous fluid from deteriorating even after a long period of service. For instance, its rear housing 6 is provided with a control chamber 9 which is communicated with a central region of a heat-generating chamber 7, and which has an internal volume capable of expanding and contracting. When a rotor 14 is kept rotated, a silicone oil held, in the heat-generating chamber 7, expands the internal volume of the control chamber 9 by the Weissenberg effect in the capacity reduction. As a result, the heating is relieved, because the silicone oil, held in the heat-generating chamber 7, is collected into the control chamber 9.

Abstract: A viscous fluid type heat generator adapted for being incorporated in a heating system has front and rear housings in which a heat generating chamber containing therein a viscous fluid and a heat receiving chamber permitting a heat exchanging liquid to flow therethrough. The heat generator also has a drive shaft rotatably supported by an anti-friction bearing unit and having mounted thereon a rotor element rotating in the heat generating chamber to apply a shearing action by which the viscous fluid generates heat absorbed by the heat exchanging liquid flowing in the heat receiving chamber. The heat generator has an intermediate substance unit arranged between the heat generating chamber and the anti-friction bearing unit so as to provide a thermal isolation therebetween. The intermediate substance unit may be a shaft sealing unit, a closed vacant chamber or a combination of the shaft sealing unit and the closed vacant chamber.

Abstract: A viscous heater is provided which can be manufactured readily and less expensively. For instance, it includes a rear housing 6 which is constituted by a rear plate 2 and a rear housing body 3. The rear plate 2, the rear housing body 3 and a front housing 1 are overlapped and fastened by a through bolt 5, and thereby a rear water jacket RW is formed by the rear plate 2 and the rear housing body 3.

Abstract: An auxiliary motor vehicle heating system that supplements the motor vehicle's main heating system. The auxiliary motor vehicle heating system is not dependent upon the same heat energy source as the motor vehicle's main heating system. Consequently, the auxiliary heating system can provide heat when the main heating system is not able to provide heat. This permits the auxiliary motor vehicle heating system to operate and provide heat when the main motor vehicle heating system is not capable of providing heat. Consequently, this invention provides the capability for the windshield and other glass areas of the vehicle to be cleared and heat provided to the occupants of the vehicle even when the motor vehicle engine is not operating and warm. In one embodiment, the heating system is also capable of providing cooling air for cooling as an alternative to heat.