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:
May. 12, 1992
Filed:
Apr. 22, 1991
Lawrence C Kennedy, Kettering, OH (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A viscous fluid clutch includes a clutch plate rotatably driven by an input shaft. The clutch plate includes a plurality of concentric, annular lands and grooves in a rear face which are mated with complementary lands and grooves of a clutch body to form a shear zone. A plurality of passages are provided in the clutch plate lands and grooves for directing fluid from a reservoir to the shear zone. A first system of arcuate ramps are provided in a front surface of the clutch plate facing a pump plate of the clutch. The arcuate ramps are radially aligned with pump plate orifices and enhance the pump-out of fluid through the orifices. If desired, a second system of circumferential ramps can be provided about the periphery of the clutch plate to enhance the pump-out of fluid.