Abstract: A heat exchanging arrangement includes a first flow circuit for a first fluid to be cooled, which has a first inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The heat exchanging arrangement includes a second flow circuit for a second fluid, which is in thermal communication with the first flow circuit. The heat exchanging arrangement includes a third flow circuit configured to port a portion of the first fluid from a first location of the first flow circuit to a second location of the first flow circuit, the first location being downstream of the second location.

Abstract: A device that employs shear forces to transmit energy includes an outer housing assembly, a disk, and a reservoir with a working fluid. The disk is received in and rotatable relative to the outer housing assembly. A working cavity is formed between a rotor portion of the disk and the outer housing assembly into which the working fluid is received to create shear forces. A plurality of flow altering structures are disposed on the outer housing assembly and are configured to reduce a thickness of a boundary layer of the working fluid in the working cavity in areas that are local to the flow altering structures.

Abstract: A bimetal fan clutch may include a disc-shaped rotor that is affixed to a shaft coupled with an engine between a lower case fixed to the shaft via a bearing and an upper case covering the lower case and having a space, an oil storage that is attached to one face of the rotor to be housed in the space and has a projection inserted into a central hollow part formed in the upper case, a bimetal oil valve that is provided inside the oil storage, wherein the bimetal oil valve changes its shape in response to heat transferred through a bimetal assembly mounted through the projection and thereby opens/closes a through-hole formed in the oil storage, and a return line that is formed in the lower case so that oil ejected to the space through the through-hole is collected into the oil storage.

Abstract: A fan apparatus is disclosed which includes a fan coupled to a drive mechanism via a viscous clutch. The viscous clutch includes a drive chamber containing a hydraulic fluid with an amount of hydraulic fluid in the drive chamber being related to a torque transmitted from said drive mechanism to the fan; a valve coupled to the drive chamber controlling flow of hydraulic fluid into the drive chamber; a bimetallic strip coupled to the valve; and a heating element coupled to the viscous clutch close to the bimetallic strip. The bimetallic strip is located in a position open to ambient air.

Abstract: A fan apparatus is disclosed which includes a fan coupled to a drive mechanism via a viscous clutch. The viscous clutch includes a drive chamber containing a hydraulic fluid with an amount of hydraulic fluid in the drive chamber being related to a torque transmitted from said drive mechanism to the fan; a valve coupled to the drive chamber controlling flow of hydraulic fluid into the drive chamber; a bimetallic strip coupled to the valve; and a heating element coupled to the viscous clutch close to the bimetallic strip. The bimetallic strip is located in a position open to ambient air.

Abstract: A temperature-controlled fluid friction coupling is actuated by a flow of viscous fluid flowing into or out of shearing surface gaps disposed therein. An, the actuating pin is movable in a direction parallel to a surface of a partition. A swing-type valve lever is in contact with the actuating pin near a root end of the valve lever, and a swing end of the valve lever is arranged slidably movable while in contact with a surface of the partition having a valve opening therein. In response to a deformation of the temperature sensitive element caused by a change of air temperature, the actuating pin moves in a direction parallel to the surface of the partition, and then the swing end of the valve lever moves so as to open and close the valve opening. Thus, the fluid flow from a reservoir chamber to a torque transmitting chamber is controlled.

Abstract: A temperature-controlled fluid friction coupling is actuated by a flow of viscous fluid flowing into or out of shearing surface gaps disposed therein. In this invention, the actuating pin is arranged movable in a direction parallel to the surface of the partition. The swing-type valve lever contacts with the actuating pin near the root end thereof, and the swing end of the valve lever is arranged slidably movable keeping in touch with the surface of the partition having the valve opening therein.

Abstract: A fan fluid coupling includes a housing that is rotateable mounted to a shaft. A driving disc is rigidly mounted to the shaft and is rotateably disposed within the housing. Oil is disposed in the housing and transmits torque from the driving disc to the housing. The volume of oil adjacent the driving disc is varied directly in accordance with temperature. Thus, more torque is transmitted to the housing when temperature is high and when cooling needs are greatest. At least one outer surface of the housing has cooling fins in the form of short radially aligned plates. The cooling fins are arranged from a central portion on the housing toward the outer edge and are spaced from one another in radially and circumferential directions. The cooling fins reduce the temperature of the oil, and hence avoid heat-related reductions in viscosity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluid clutch which can prevent the occurrence of ‘a drag phenomenon’ in various conditions so that a fan noise can be reduced and the reduction of fuel expense is enhanced.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a fluid coupling assembly (20, 120, 220, 320 and 420) of the type including a housing having spaced side walls (24, 124, 224 and 434) extending radially relative to an axis (A) and defining a fluid chamber surrounding a disc (30, 130) supported by a shift (26) extending through and rotatably supported by one of the side walls with cooling fins for cooling the fluid chamber. The invention is characterized by fabricating a cooling sub-assembly (44, 46, 48, 144, 244, 246, 248, or 444) of cooling fins connected to a ring (50, 54, 58, 150, 250, 350, 450 and 472) having an axis with the cooling fins extending radially and axially of the ring. Subsequently, the cooling sub-assembly is secured to the housing by placing the ring axially between the side walls so as to transmit heat from the housing to the cooling fins. The housing and/or the disc may be fabricated from sheet metal.

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