Borgwarner Inc.

James Ignatovich

Shiwei Qin

Neil E Robb

Theodore A Malott

Gerard M Light

Dale M Pickelman, Jr

Gary E Hart

Dale Pickelman

A driven accessory that includes an input member, a cover, an output member, a clutch and a clutch actuator. The input member is rotatable about an axis and has a hub, an outer rim, and a radially extending web that couples the hub to the outer rim. The cover is coupled to the input member for common rotation about the axis and cooperates with the input member to define a clutch cavity. The clutch is received in the clutch cavity and selectively transmits rotary power between the input member and the output member. The clutch actuator is selectively operable to change the operational state in which the clutch operates. The clutch actuator has an electromagnetic coil that is disposed outside the clutch cavity. The hub is disposed along the axis between the clutch and the electromagnetic coil.

Driven accessory

A solenoid assembly having a solenoid core, coil and flux plate. The flux plate has inner and outer ring members connected by connecting members. A stop member with a ledge is used to selectively prevent an armature member from coming into contact with the flux plate.

Solenoid assembly for friction clutch

A pulley member, particularly for an electromagnetically controlled friction clutch in an accessory drive assembly. The pulley member has two mating metal cup members bonded together with a central hub member. Through-hole slots or openings are provided in each of the cup members to provide a break in magnetic flux. A non-magnetic insert member is positioned between the cup members covering the through-holes and sealing them from contamination from environmental factors. The pulley member can be used with vehicle engine accessories such as water pumps and cooling fans.

Metal pulley with non-magnetically susceptible insert

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 (). An electrical control circuit () having a relief valve assembly () coupled to a main controller () is used to control the fluid pressure within the pitot tube () that controls the engagement of the housing assembly ().

Fan drive having pressure control (fluid) of a wet friction fan drive

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.

Hydraulic fan drive system employing binary control strategy

An electronically-controlled viscous coupling is coupled to a water pump to control the coolant flow rate of engine coolant to an engine at a given engine speed to maximize fuel economy and minimize emissions. The viscous coupling has a stationary electrical coil that, when excited by electrical current, induces the driven disk to flex away from an input disk within the viscous, thereby increasing the size of the shear area, thereby decreasing the amount of torque produced to drive the water pump shaft and impellers that control the coolant flow rate. A carrier coupled to the back of the driven disk maximizes the amount of flex allowed to the driven disk, thereby assuring a maximum decrease in rotational speed of the impellers at a given engine speed and ensuring that the driven disk does not contact the stationary coil.

Growing community of inventors

Ceresco, MI, United States of America

James Ignatovich