Borgwarner Inc.

Gary E Hart

Neil E Robb

Theodore A Malott

Dale M Pickelman, Jr

Rick L Boyer

James Ignatovich

A hydraulically controlled fan drive system () having a method of engagement includes a housing assembly () containing a hydraulic fluid () and an engaging circuit (). The engaging circuit () includes a pitot tube () coupled within the housing assembly () that receives at least a portion of the hydraulic fluid (). An engaging circuit () engages the housing assembly () to a fan shaft () in response to supply of the hydraulic fluid () from the pitot tube ().

Hydraulic controlled fan clutch with integral cooling

A magnetorheological fan coupling () having a fan-drive subassembly (), an electromagnet subassembly (), and a magnetic medium (). The fan-drive subassembly () includes an output member () and an input member () rotatably mounted around the output member () with the magnetic medium () therebetween. The magnetic medium () has a shear stress that can be adjusted by a magnetic flux () for transferring torque between the input member () and the output member (). The electromagnet subassembly () includes a stationary electromagnet coil () for adjusting the shear stress of the magnetic medium () and regulating a torque transferred between the input member () and the output member ().

Magnetorheological fan coupling

A magnetorheological fan coupling () having an inverted construction with an input member () rotatably mounted to an output member (). The input member () defines a fluid chamber () with the output member () rotating therein and a magnetic medium () between the output member () and the input member (). The coupling () further includes an electromagnet subassembly () actuated by a controller () for adjusting the shear stress of the magnetic medium () and regulating the amount of torque transferred from the input member () to the output member ().

A hydraulically controlled fan drive system for controlling the cooling of an engine and having a method of engagement includes a housing assembly containing a hydraulic fluid and an engaging circuit. The engaging circuit includes a pitot tube coupled within the housing assembly that receives at least a portion of the hydraulic fluid as the housing assembly rotates to drive a clutch pack (and coupled fan) via static pressure. A fluid controller having binary control adjusts the static pressure within the pitot tube at a given rotational speed, thereby controlling the engagement of the clutch pack to a fully engaged drive (utilizing friction type engagement), a fully disengaged drive, and at least two partially engaged clutch positions (i.e. partially engaged utilizing a wet viscous type clutch engagement). To control static pressure release, the fluid controller may utilize a dual spool system valving arrangement or a parallel fixed orifice binary control.

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Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

Gary E Hart