The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 11, 1981
Filed:
Jun. 08, 1979
Richard E Glasson, Columbus, IN (US);
Jerre F Lauterbach, Columbus, IN (US);
Cummins Engine Company, Columbus, IN (US);
Abstract
A viscous fluid clutch is provided which embodies first, second and third drive members rotatable about a common axis. The second drive member is provided with an internal chamber in which both the first and third drive members are disposed. A predetermined amount of viscous fluid is disposed within the chamber. The third drive member is positioned between the first drive member and a chamber-forming wall of the second drive member. The second and third drive members rotate as a unit and the third drive member is movable axially independently of said second drive member. Corresponding surfaces of the first and third drive members form therebetween an annular fluid shear space concentric with the rotary axis of the drive members. The chamber-forming wall of the second drive member is provided with a thermal-responsive membrane having a segment thereof independently movable axially of the first drive member in response to predetermined ambient temperature changes. Axial movement of the membrane effects axial movement of the third drive member and varies the configuration of the annular fluid shear space. All of the drive members are adapted to rotate as a unit when the first and third drive members are in closest axial proximity and the annular fluid shear space is substantially filled with the viscous fluid.