Horton, Inc.

Ingersoll-rand Company

Gi Scientific, LLC

Scott Miller

Thomas Schmidt

Bastian Brand

Derek Savela

David R Hennessy

William Francis Gevers

Michael Stevens

Darrell A Stock

William Frances Gevers

Tristan Carlson

An axial flow fan for use with a vehicle cooling system includes a hub defining an axis of rotation, and at least five blades supported on the hub. Each blade includes a leading edge, a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, a pressure side extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, a suction side opposite the pressure side, a tip, and a root opposite the tip along a blade length. A solidity of the axial flow fan, measured as a percentage of an annular flow area between an outer diameter of the hub and an outer diameter of the tips of the blades projected onto a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation that is occupied by the blades, is less than 40%.

Low solidity vehicle cooling fan

A viscous clutch () includes a housing assembly (), a rotor assembly (), a reservoir () to hold a supply of a shear fluid, a working chamber () operatively positioned between the housing assembly and the rotor assembly, and a fluid return bore (-B) 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 () from the working chamber to the reservoir.

Viscous clutch with return bore through rotor

A viscous clutch (') includes a rotor (), a housing () that at least partially surrounds the rotor, a center shaft () rotationally fixed to the housing, a mounting disk () rotationally fixed to the rotor, a working chamber () defined between the rotor and the housing, a reservoir () for holding a supply of shear fluid, an electromagnet (), a valve assembly () to selectively control flow of the shear fluid between the reservoir and the working chamber, and a flux guide () operatively positioned between the electromagnet and the armature. At least a portion of the mounting disk extends outside the housing. The valve assembly including an armature (-) that is selectively movable in response to magnetic flux generated by the electromagnet, and the magnetic flux is transmitted between the armature and the electromagnet along a flux circuit. The flux guide extends through the mounting disk.

Live center viscous clutch

Viscous clutch with adjustable pump mechanism

A viscous clutch includes a rotor, a housing member, a working chamber located between the housing member and the rotor, a reservoir to hold viscous fluid that is configured to rotate with the rotor, a return bore in fluid communication between the working chamber and the reservoir, a first passage from the reservoir to the working chamber, a second passage from the reservoir to the working chamber, and a valve. The second passage is spaced from the first passage, and can extend substantially radially through the rotor. The valve is configured to selectively regulate flow of the viscous fluid through the first passage, and the second passage is unobstructed such that the viscous fluid can pass from the reservoir to the working chamber regardless of the operational state of the valve. Viscous fluid present in the working chamber rotationally couples the rotor and the housing member.

Multi-speed viscous clutch

A fluid compression system includes a compressor unit that directs a flow of compressed fluid to a first heat exchanger. A second heat exchanger receives a flow of coolant. A blower produces a flow of ambient air that passes through the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger so as to direct cooling air through both heat exchangers. A variable speed motor is coupled to the motor in addition to a control system to vary the motor speed between a low speed and a high speed.

Variable speed air blowing system

A viscous clutch (') includes a stationary journal bracket (&#x2032;) defining a mounting shaft (--&#x2032;), an output member (&#x2032;) rotatably supported on the mounting shaft about an axis (A), an input member (&#x2032;) rotatably supported on the mounting shaft about the axis, and a working chamber (&#x2032;) 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 (&#x2032;) of the viscous clutch to a rear face (&#x2032;) 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.

Integrated viscous clutch

A valve assembly for a viscous clutch includes an orifice plate defining a bore to allow the passage of a fluid through the orifice plate, a reed valve secured relative to the orifice plate, an armature comprising a magnetic flux-conducting material, an anchor spring secured to the armature, and a stiffening plate. The reed valve includes a tongue configured to selectively cover the bore of the orifice plate, and a first pivot location along the tongue. A second pivot location is defined along the anchor spring at an edge of the stiffening plate. The first and second pivot locations are spaced from each other. The armature is configured to selectively apply a force to the reed valve to pivot at least a portion of the tongue about the first pivot location.

Growing community of inventors

Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

Scott Miller