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:
Sep. 03, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 21, 2000
Georg Kwoka, Much, DE;
GKN Viscodrive GmbH, Lohmar, DE;
Abstract
A viscous coupling for lockingly connecting two parts which are rotatable relative to one another, having the following characteristics: a first coupling part is provided in the form of a rotational housing; a second coupling part is provided in the form of a hub; the first coupling part and the second coupling part are arranged so as to be rotatable relative to one another and, while being positioned co-axially inside one another, together form a sealed annular chamber; inside the chamber, there are arranged axially-alternating first coupling plates in the shape of annular discs with means for providing a non-rotatable connection with the first coupling part, and second coupling plates in the shape of annular discs with means for providing a non-rotatable connection with the second coupling part; otherwise, the annular chamber is at least partially filled with a viscous fluid; the coupling plates, in their entirety, are divided into at least two functionally different sets of coupling plates each of which set comprises first and second coupling plates and forms separated axial regions positioned one behind the other; at least one set of coupling plates is provided with means allowing the first or the second coupling plates to be controllably connected to, or separated from, the respective coupling part.