Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

David M Hudson

David Bernard Drennen

Ronald G Huth

Lawrence C Kennedy

A fan clutch includes a housing and a cover cooperating to contain a viscous fluid. A pump plate divides an interior of the fan clutch into a working chamber and a reservoir. A driven clutch plate, disposed in the working chamber, includes hub and disk portions. A wiper is mounted on the pump plate adjacent a discharge orifice so that a first clearance is provided between the wiper and a front surface of the disk portion. An annular blocking wall is formed on the front surface of the disk portion radially inbound of the wiper. The height of the blocking wall is such that a second clearance formed between the blocking wall and the pump plate is less than or substantially equal to the first clearance, thereby forming a dynamic seal.

Clutch plate with blocking wall for a viscous fluid clutch

A viscous fluid clutch includes an internally-mounted pump plate for separating a working chamber from a reservoir. Discharge ports in the pump plate permit fluid flow from the reservoir to the working chamber. Return orifices in the pump plate direct return flow back to the reservoir. A rotatable control arm is supported by arcuate baffle walls formed in a cover to enhance the seal provided at the discharge ports. The baffle walls limit the amount of fluid which can collect at a discharge port from the reservoir when the clutch is at rest.

Baffle wall for a cover of a viscous fluid clutch and method

A viscous fluid clutch includes an internally-mounted pump plate for separating a working chamber from a reservoir. Fill openings in the pump plate permit fluid flow from the reservoir to the working chamber. Orifices in the pump plate direct return flow back to the reservoir. Fluid accumulators formed in a cover are aligned with each of the pump plate orifices. A non-radical channel formed in the cover begins at a respective accumulator and terminates at an inner reservoir chamber. Centripetal forces of the rotating clutch pump fluid from the accumulators to the reservoir. The geometry of the channels prevents migration of fluid from the reservoir to the working chamber without the use of mechanical valves when the clutch is at rest.

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Kettering, OH, United States of America

David M Hudson