Viscous Shear Patents (Class 192/58.4)
  • Patent number: 11926010
    Abstract: A processing apparatus includes: an apparatus main body including a base portion that is movable and a liquid supply unit that supplies a liquid to the base portion; a chuck portion connected to the base portion and including an attachment hole that is open outward; and a processing tool detachably mounted on the chuck portion. The processing tool includes a cylinder fitted into and held by the attachment hole, a drive unit disposed inside the cylinder and including a rotating body to be rotated around a central axis by the liquid introduced from the liquid supply unit via the base portion, a rotary shaft protruding outward from an inside of the cylinder along the central axis to rotate integrally with the rotating body, and a tool portion connected to a tip of the rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiki Tazawa, Masaki Shiwaki
  • Patent number: 11815142
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a magnetorheological (MR) brake. The MR brake includes a rotor constructed at least partially of a ferromagnetic material, and a housing that supports the rotor such that the rotor and the housing are rotatable relative to each other about an axis, wherein the housing and rotor are configured such that a fluid gap is defined between the housing and the rotor, and wherein portions of the housing adjacent the rotor are constructed at least partially of a ferromagnetic material. An MR fluid is disposed in the fluid gap. A current-carrying coil is excitable to generate a magnetic field within ferromagnetic portions of the rotor and the housing and acts on the MR fluid. At least one element constructed of a material having low magnetic permeability is configured route the lines of magnetic flux through surrounding higher permeability material on opposite sides of the fluid gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Patrick Wellborn, Jason Mitchell, Robert Webster, III
  • Patent number: 11073182
    Abstract: A viscous coupling may include: a housing part and an input body rotatable relative to the housing part that at least partially delimit an interior space; a shaft rotatable relative to the housing part and on which an output body arranged in the interior space may be formed for conjoint rotation with the shaft; a coupling region formed between the output and input bodies and configured to hold a viscous fluid to assure a coupling between the input body and the output body; a holding chamber for collecting coolant leaking from the coolant pump; a housing wall conformed integrally with the housing part and partially delimiting the holding chamber; and an actuator housing and an electric actuator therein by which a degree of the coupling between the input body and the output body may be adjustable. The actuator housing may at least partially cover the holding chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Inventor: Martin Gross
  • Patent number: 10502212
    Abstract: A motor-operated compressor includes a casing having an inner space in which a driving motor, an orbiting scroll and a fixed scroll are accommodated, and a controller provided outside the casing. The casing includes an intake hole formed at a side adjacent to the controller and an exhaust hole formed at a side adjacent to the fixed scroll on the basis of the driving motor. The casing includes a communication passage formed between the casing and a stator of the driving motor, such that a refrigerant introduced into the inner space through the intake hole is introduced into the suction chamber through the driving motor. A back pressure space supporting the orbiting scroll is sealed by oil. The stator has teeth on its inner circumferential surface and protrusions on its outer circumferential surface, each protrusion being located within a width range of each tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Junggu Lee, Taekyoung Kim, Yicheol Choi, Joohyung Kim, Ilyoung Park, Bumsuk Kim, Junyoung Lim
  • Patent number: 10067092
    Abstract: A noisemaker system includes a node of an infrastructure system; and a noisemaker connected in fluid communication with the node, the noisemaker including a noisemaker housing defining a noisemaker cavity, and a pulsing device positioned within the noisemaker cavity, the pulsing device configured to contact a fluid within the noisemaker cavity and generate an acoustic signal within the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Valentin Mircea Burtea, Bruce Robertson
  • Patent number: 9903423
    Abstract: A fluid friction clutch (1) including a housing (2, 3), a clutch plate (4) which is situated on an end (5) of a shaft (6) mounted centrally within the housing (2, 3), a working chamber (9) between the housing (2, 3) and the clutch plate (4), a supply chamber (10) for clutch fluid, and a supply channel (11A, 11B) which leads from the supply chamber (10) to the working chamber (9). A feed pump element (14) which is rotatable with respect to the housing (2, 3), is situated rotationally fixed on the shaft (6), and defines a shear gap (12) with the housing (2, 3). A valve (17) is situated between the feed pump element (14) and the supply chamber (10), the valve (17) in the closed position effectively establishing a main working path (HA) between the feed pump element (14) and the working chamber (9), and the valve (17) in an open position unblocking a discharge path (EP) between the feed pump element (14) and the supply chamber (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Wolfgang U. Sorg
  • Patent number: 9109631
    Abstract: A slip coupling includes two coupling elements and a clamping nut screwed onto one coupling element to press the other coupling element against the one coupling element so that a torque acting on one coupling element is transmitted slip-free to the other coupling element and limited to a sliding torque as the coupling elements slip against one another. Free play disks are disposed between the clamping nut and the other coupling element. Interacting driver elements received by the clamping nut, the free play disks and the other coupling element enable the coupling elements to slip against one another up to a critical angle without rotation of the clamping nut. When clamping nut is caused to rotate, a contact pressure of the other coupling element on the one coupling element and thereby a holding torque transmittable in a slip-free manner is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AG
    Inventor: Bernd Pfannschmidt
  • Patent number: 8989608
    Abstract: A rotating mechanism driving apparatus is disclosed that includes a frictional transmission configured to output torque via a viscous fluid, the torque being input from the motor; an input shaft rotational amount detecting part configured to detect a rotational amount of an input shaft of the frictional transmission; an output shaft rotational amount detecting part configured to detect a rotational amount of an output shaft of the frictional transmission; an input torque detecting part configured to detect input torque of the frictional transmission; a slip amount calculating part configured to calculate a slip amount between the input shaft and the output shaft; and abnormal state determining part configured to determine abnormal state of a rotating mechanism connected to the output shaft of the frictional transmission based on the input torque and to determine an abnormal state of the frictional transmission based on the slip amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Asano, Takahisa Koike
  • Patent number: 8893868
    Abstract: A viscous fluid clutch for use as a clutch for a cooling fan for a vehicle, the clutch includes an input shaft, a rotor assembly, a first housing portion, a second housing portion, a coil assembly, and a brush box. The rotor assembly is coupled to the input shaft. The first housing portion is coupled to the second housing portion and the second housing portion is rotatably disposed on the input shaft. The first and second housing portions define a fluid reservoir for receiving the rotor assembly and a viscous fluid, preferably of the magnetorheological type. The coil assembly is coupled to the first housing portion. The brush box is operably coupled to the coil assembly. When the coil assembly is energized by the brush box, a magnetic field is created that acts upon the magnetorheological fluid to vary the torque transfer of the input shaft to the housing and the fan connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignees: Mahle Behr USA Inc., General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence C. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 8851257
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluid accumulator chamber (1) of a fluid clutch device having an inner boundary wall (2) which runs around a central axis of rotation (M), having an outer boundary wall (3) which runs around axis of rotation (M), and having at least one filling opening (4) arranged in the outer boundary wall (3), wherein the outer boundary wall (3) has, at the location of the filling opening (4), a maximum spacing (R1) to the central axis (M), which spacing decreases continuously to a point (P) of minimum spacing (R3) to the central axis (M).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Rothoff, Frank M. Haase
  • Patent number: 8527168
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining a rotational speed parameter for determining a setpoint torque for driving a drivetrain. The drivetrain comprises a first and at least one second drive assembly for driving a hybrid vehicle. The first drive assembly can be coupled to the drivetrain by means of a clutch. The second drive assembly is mechanically coupled to the drivetrain. When the hybrid vehicle is being driven by means of at least the first drive assembly, the rotational speed parameter corresponds to the value of a shaft rotational speed. When the hybrid vehicle is being driven only by means of the second drive assembly, the rotational speed parameter corresponds to the value of a determined rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Maass, Christian Vienken, Manfred Hellmann, Kai Moegle
  • Patent number: 8408371
    Abstract: A fan clutch is provided to which a fan may be removably attached with the aid of a flange ring, the fan clutch having a housing that comprises a first front housing part and a second rear housing part to which the flange ring is attachable with the aid of connecting elements. The housing has circumferential attachment niches which are situated in an offset manner in the circumferential direction on both the front and the back of the housing and into which attachment tabs situated on the flange ring are insertable either from the front of the fan clutch or from the rear thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gerold Schultheiss, Joerg Angermaier, Eberhard Sixt, Sven Setzer
  • Publication number: 20130000998
    Abstract: A viscous fan drive for an engine cooling system has an output coupling defining a fluid operating chamber, an input coupling disposed in the fluid operating chamber, and a driveshaft coupled to the input coupling and defining a driveshaft axis. A main bearing has an inner race coupled to the driveshaft and an outer race coupled to the output coupling, the main bearing defining a bearing axis, wherein the bearing axis is normally substantially coincident with the driveshaft axis. A brace is disposed between the outer race of the main bearing and the output coupling. The engine cooling system may be provided on a machine having a rotatable frame that promotes precession of the output coupling, wherein the brace prevents movement of the main bearing along the driveshaft in response to the output coupling precession.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Steven P. Trower, William C. Morris, Sudhakar Lakshminarayanan, Rishabh Sinha, Dongming Tan
  • Patent number: 8336692
    Abstract: A fan drive (1) includes a drive shaft (6), a fluid friction clutch (2) as well as a fan (3). The fluid friction clutch (2) includes a drive disc (5) as well as a housing (4) having a front-end housing part (4a) and a rear-end housing part (4b). The housing (4) is journalled on a drive shaft (6) via at least one bearing (7). Air flows against the fluid friction clutch (2) and the fan (3) in flow direction (L). An air-conveying unit (13) is mounted in flow direction (L) behind the fluid friction clutch (2). The fan drive is especially for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Eberhard Sixt, Kurt Klein, Michael Jacob
  • Publication number: 20120279820
    Abstract: A viscous clutch (30; 30?) includes a stationary journal bracket (32; 32?) defining a mounting shaft (32-1; 32-1?), an output member (34; 34?) rotatably supported on the mounting shaft about an axis (A), an input member (34; 34?) rotatably supported on the mounting shaft about the axis, and a working chamber (50; 50?) defined between the input member and the output member to selectively transmit torque there between when a shear fluid is present. The mounting shaft extends axially through the viscous clutch from a front face (62; 62?) of the viscous clutch to a rear face (56; 56?) of the viscous clutch, with the rear face defining a mounting surface for mounting the viscous clutch at a mounting location. The front and rear faces are located at opposite sides of the viscous clutch and face in opposite directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: HORTON, INC.
    Inventors: David R. Hennessy, Thomas Schmidt, Scott Miller
  • Publication number: 20120255827
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle having a radiator for cooling a cooling medium and a fan driven by a driveshaft of an internal combustion engine, the fan being arranged between the radiator and the internal combustion engine, a drive system for the fan has a viscous coupling and a vibration damper, which includes an elastic element and which dampens and/or decouples the vibrations between the driveshaft-side output of the internal combustion engine and the fan. The viscous coupling and the vibration damper are arranged between the internal combustion engine and the fan, wherein the vibration damper is arranged between the fan and the viscous coupling and dampens and/or decouples vibrations acting between the fan and the viscous coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: MAN Truck & Bus AG
    Inventor: Matthias LECHNER
  • Publication number: 20120207493
    Abstract: A rotating mechanism driving apparatus is disclosed that includes a frictional transmission configured to output torque via a viscous fluid, the torque being input from the motor; an input shaft rotational amount detecting part configured to detect a rotational amount of an input shaft of the frictional transmission; an output shaft rotational amount detecting part configured to detect a rotational amount of an output shaft of the frictional transmission; an input torque detecting part configured to detect input torque of the frictional transmission; a slip amount calculating part configured to calculate a slip amount between the input shaft and the output shaft; and abnormal state determining part configured to determine abnormal state of a rotating mechanism connected to the output shaft of the frictional transmission based on the input torque and to determine an abnormal state of the frictional transmission based on the slip amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Asano, Takahisa Koike
  • Publication number: 20110278123
    Abstract: A viscous fluid clutch for use as a clutch for a cooling fan for a vehicle , the clutch includes an input shaft, a rotor assembly, a first housing portion, a second housing portion, a coil assembly, and a brush box. The rotor assembly is coupled to the input shaft. The first housing portion is coupled to the second housing portion and the second housing portion is rotatably disposed on the input shaft. The first and second housing portions define a fluid reservoir for receiving the rotor assembly and a viscous fluid, preferably of the magnetorheological type. The coil assembly is coupled to the first housing portion. The brush box is operably coupled to the coil assembly. When the coil assembly is energized by the brush box, a magnetic field is created that acts upon the magnetorheological fluid to vary the torque transfer of the input shaft to the housing and the fan connected thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Lawrence C. KENNEDY
  • Publication number: 20110168512
    Abstract: A viscous shear fan drive mechanism for a cooling fan. A moveable valve disk is provided which controls the quantity of fluid in the operating chamber. An electronic actuation system activates piston and shaft members which move the valve disk against the bias of a return spring to open the fill holes, allow fluid communication between the reservoir and working chambers, and allow rotation of the cooling fan. Without activation of the electronic actuation system, the flow of fluid to the working chamber is prevented. A non-magnetic or insulating bushing member adjacent the piston and shaft members prevents the system from sticking in the actuation condition when power is eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventor: James Patrick May
  • Publication number: 20100163362
    Abstract: A fan drive (1) includes a drive shaft (6), a fluid friction clutch (2) as well as a fan (3). The fluid friction clutch (2) includes a drive disc (5) as well as a housing (4) having a front-end housing part (4a) and a rear-end housing part (4b). The housing (4) is journalled on a drive shaft (6) via at least one bearing (7). Air flows against the fluid friction clutch (2) and the fan (3) in flow direction (L). An air-conveying unit (13) is mounted in flow direction (L) behind the fluid friction clutch (2). The fan drive is especially for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Eberhard Sixt, Kurt Klein, Michael Jacobi
  • Patent number: 7708127
    Abstract: Accordingly, a control system for controlling a viscous clutch of a fan is provided. The control system includes a delta speed module that determines one of an over speed condition, an under speed condition, and a steady state condition based on a desired fan speed and an actual fan speed. A mode module determines a mode of the clutch based on the one of the over-speed condition, the under-speed condition, and the steady state condition, wherein the mode is one of a pump in mode, a pump out mode, and a closed loop mode. A valve control module that controls an operational state of the clutch valve based on the mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Turley, James A. Lasecki, Timothy P. Worthley, Michael J. Melaragni, Jeffrey A. Bozeman
  • Publication number: 20100018826
    Abstract: A fan clutch is provided to which a fan may be removably attached with the aid of a flange ring, the fan clutch having a housing that comprises a first front housing part and a second rear housing part to which the flange ring is attachable with the aid of connecting elements (8). The housing has circumferential attachment niches which are situated in an offset manner in the circumferential direction on both the front and the back of the housing and into which attachment tabs situated on the flange ring are insertable either from the from of the fan clutch or from the rear thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Gerold SCHULTHEISS, Joerg ANGERMAIER, Eberhard SIXT, Sven SETZER
  • Publication number: 20090064946
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fan drive device (1) for driving at least one fan impeller (2), comprising at least one first drivable coolable housing element (9, 10) with at least one output disc (13) which can be connected to the at least one drivable coolable housing element (9, 10) in such a way as to be capable of transmitting torque by fluid friction, wherein at least one fluid can be admitted to at least one torque-transmitting space, and the mass flow of said fluid can be regulated by means of a valve element (30), wherein the valve element (30) can be actuated by at least one actuator (26, 27), and at least a section of the actuator (26, 27) is arranged in at least one retaining element (33) for fastening to a motor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: BEHR GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Gerold Schultheiss, Rudolf Stoklossa, Roman Woiterski
  • Patent number: 7490707
    Abstract: A magnetorheological fan coupling (10) having a fan-drive subassembly (12), an electromagnet subassembly (14), and a magnetic medium (16). The fan-drive subassembly (12) includes an output member (22) and an input member (20) rotatably mounted around the output member (22) with the magnetic medium (16) therebetween. The magnetic medium (16) has a shear stress that can be adjusted by a magnetic flux (24) for transferring torque between the input member (20) and the output member (22). The electromagnet subassembly (14) includes a stationary electromagnet coil (62) for adjusting the shear stress of the magnetic medium (16) and regulating a torque transferred between the input member (20) and the output member (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Neil E. Robb, Rick L. Boyer, Gary E. Hart
  • Patent number: 7364025
    Abstract: A magnetorheological fan coupling (10) having an inverted construction with an input member (18) rotatably mounted to an output member (20). The input member (18) defines a fluid chamber (50) with the output member (20) rotating therein and a magnetic medium (52) between the output member (20) and the input member (18). The coupling (10) further includes an electromagnet subassembly (14) actuated by a controller (82) for adjusting the shear stress of the magnetic medium (52) and regulating the amount of torque transferred from the input member (18) to the output member (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Neil E. Robb, Rick L. Boyer, Gary E. Hart
  • Patent number: 6837350
    Abstract: A multiple working surface magnetic particle device for transferring torque between two rotatable members is disclosed. The magnetic particle device includes relatively rotatable members defining a gap therebetween containing a magnetically reactive medium. The magnetically reactive medium stiffens in the presence of a magnetic field interlocking the rotatable members. The multiple working surface design allows for a reduction in the size and weight of the magnetic field source resulting in a more compact, lighter weight magnetic particle device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Dale A. Stretch, Wade A. Smith
  • Patent number: 6789654
    Abstract: A multiple coupling fan drive provides power to a fan in a cooling system. An input shaft drives a constant viscous coupling and a variable viscous coupling, both of which are operative to drive the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: Jiubo Ma
  • Publication number: 20040140172
    Abstract: A multiple coupling fan drive provides power to a fan in a cooling system. An input shaft drives a constant viscous coupling and a variable viscous coupling, both of which are operative to drive the fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventor: Jiubo Ma
  • Patent number: 6725812
    Abstract: A viscous coupling, or clutch system, is either coupled to a water pump or combined with a water pump and is used for controlling the coolant flow rate in a cooling system. At engine idle or low speeds, wherein the water pump is driven at very close speeds to the input speed, the viscous coupling would have little effect on the speed of the pump. However, due to the presence of the viscous coupling, a larger water pump may be used, resulting in good coolant flow at engine idle or lower speeds. As engine speeds are increased, the viscous coupling slips, resulting in lower input speeds for the water pump, thereby reducing the risk of pump cavitation. By increasing the water pump speed at lower engine speeds and decreasing the water pump speed at higher engine speeds, the engine likely will operate at ideal temperatures, and thus fuel economy may be improved and emissions minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventor: George Edward Scott
  • Patent number: 6585092
    Abstract: An improved magnetorheological (MR) fluid fan drive design is disclosed. A critical area in the design of such fan drives is the gap for MR fluid between the rotor ring and the corresponding structure of the stator. The stator member must confine the MR fluid in the gap and the applied magnetic field for the fluid and the field coil close to it. In this disclosure a ferrous alloy stator insert is made as one piece and cast within a larger aluminum alloy stator body. A slot for the rotor ring is cut through stator insert separating it into two pieces that remain supported by the aluminum body. The magnetically permeable insert pieces confine the fluid and the magnetic field at the fluid gap around the rotor, and one of the stator insert pieces supports the field coil next to the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony L. Smith, Lawrence Craig Kennedy
  • Patent number: 6581739
    Abstract: A multiple working surface magnetic particle device for transferring torque between two rotatable members is disclosed. The magnetic particle device comprises relatively rotatable members defining a gap therebetween containing a magnetically reactive medium The magnetically reactive medium stiffens in the presence of a magnetic field interlocking the rotatable members. The multiple working surface design allows for a reduction in the size and weight of the magnetic field source resulting in a more compact, lighter weight device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Dale Arden Stretch, Wade Alan Smith
  • Publication number: 20030079952
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling the slip power of a viscous fluid fan drive clutch, especially of a cooling fan drive for an automotive vehicle. Data is prepared correlating slip power generation with clutch input and output speeds for the clutch and fan design. A maximum slip power for the operation of the cooling fan is specified by considering, for one, fan drive durability requirements. During operation of a computer based, fan speed control module, a desired fan drive speed is continually determined for the cooling requirements of the vehicle and the desired fan speed is compared, and adjusted, if appropriate, to avoid excessive slip power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Anthony L. Smith, Patrick Benedict Usoro
  • Patent number: 6318531
    Abstract: A viscous clutch of the magnetorheological fluid type includes an input drive member and an output driven member. A selectively energizable magnetorheological fluid is disposed in a working gap between one cylindrical member on the input member and two cylindrical members on the output shaft. A slip ring configuration on the output member is provided to permit the introduction of electrical energy to a coil assembly disposed on the output member, which coil is energized to establish a magnetic field in the working gap, thereby energizing the magnetorheological fluid. Wiper structures on the input and output members prevent the accumulation and/or centrifugal packing of the iron particles in the magnetorheological fluid adjacent the axial ends of the cylindrical members. A cavity for excess magnetorheological fluid or fluid draining from the working gap is provided between opposed members of the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignees: General Motors Corporation, Behr America, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Usoro, Anthony L. Smith, Chi-Kuan Kao, George Moser, Gordon Sommer
  • Patent number: 6269924
    Abstract: The present invention realizes a high-precision positioning with high stability, by fully utilizing a Bingham fluid characteristic possessed by an ERF (electro-rheological fluid). To this end, motion of a driving part is transmitted to a movable part via shearing stress of the ERF. Since the shearing stress can be variably controlled by adjusting an electric field to be applied to the ERF, the movable part can be moved to a target position by a predetermined output. When the movable part is to be stopped, the driving part is decelerated and stopped to thereby thermally dissipate an excessive kinetic energy of the movable part. By keeping on applying an electric field at the time of stopping, the movable part is exerted with an infinite apparent viscous stress by virtue of the Bingham fluid characteristic, to thereby suppress an influence of an external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Sugimoto, Tsuyoshi Saito
  • Patent number: 6182808
    Abstract: A differential device (11) of the type including a clutch pack (23), engaged by a ball ramp actuator (21), which is initiated by a viscous coupling (19;101). The output of the device (11) is an output shaft (13) which is hollow and extends through the entire axial extent of the device. The viscous coupling (19;101) includes, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, an annular input coupling member (25) and an annular output coupling member (27), within the input member, to define therebetween a cylindrical viscous shear chamber (29). The output coupling member (27) at least partially surrounds the first ramp plate (41) of the ball ramp actuator (21), and is in driving engagement therewith, for improved packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Erlen B. Walton, Michael W. Nank, William N. Eybergen, James K. Spring
  • Patent number: 6173823
    Abstract: A viscous fluid clutch includes a rotor attached to an output from an engine, a stator attached to a fan assembly and a coil assembly having at least a portion attached to the stator. A first gap is defined between the rotor and the stator and a second gap is defined between the rotor and the coil assembly. The first and second gaps are filled with a magneto rheological (MR) fluid. The coil assembly creates a magnetic field in the first and second gaps to vary the viscosity of the MR fluid to produce a variable speed viscous fluid clutch. The coil assembly includes coil windings which are supplied with power through a slip ring assembly. Both the coil windings and the wiring between the slip ring assembly and the coil windings are isolated from the magneto rheological fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignees: BEHR America, Inc., General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: George Moser, Gordon Sommer, Patrick B. Usoro, Anthony L. Smith