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:
Jan. 08, 1991
Filed:
Dec. 19, 1989
Herbert Taureg, Hennef, DE;
Heinz Klein, St. Augustin, DE;
Viscodrive GmbH, Lohmar, DE;
Abstract
A viscous shear coupling, comprising a first part in the form of a housing (2), a second part (3) disposed within the housing to define an annular closure therebetween, a first set of annular plates (11) in the enclosure secured for rotation with the first coupling part interleaved with the plates (12) of a second set of plates, secured for rotation with the second coupling part (3) and a viscous liquid at least partially filling the enclosure, wherein the plates are provided with through slots (13, 14) which are arranged so that parts of the slots move into and out of area of axial alignment as the sets of plates rotate relative to one another. The slots in one set of plates are inclined to the radii of the plates, while the slots in the other set of plates may be radial such that in one direction of rotation of the first set of plates relative to the second set of plates the axially aligned areas of the slots of two adjacent plates move inwardly towards said axis, and in the opposite direction of rotation of the first set of plates relative to the second of plates the axially aligned areas of the slots of two adjacent plates move outwardly away from said axis. The coupling is able to transmit differing torques according to the direction of relative rotation between the plates, so that it is useful for an inter-axle drive line in a four-wheel drive motor vehicle.