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:
Apr. 08, 2003
Filed:
Jan. 11, 2001
Dale A. Stretch, Novi, MI (US);
William Eybergen, Windsor, CA;
Wade A. Smith, Mayville, MI (US);
David Turner, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US);
Thomas A. Gee, Allen Park, MI (US);
BorgWarner, Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
An electronically controlled magnetorheological fluid based fan drive assembly used to increase the rotational speed of a coupled radiator cooling fan. Introducing a magnetic field within a working chamber between a drive ring and an output member increases the viscosity of a magnetorheological fluid by changing the state of the fluid from a free flowing liquid to a semi-solid state. The shear rate of the magnetorheological fluid can be increased to create additional torque to drive the output member and coupled radiator fan at a higher rotational speed to cool the engine coolant flowing through a closely coupled radiator. The magnetic field is induced by directing a flow of electrical current through an electronic coil coupled within the fan drive assembly , and an electronic control unit coupled to the electronic coil controls the amount of electrical current flowing through the coil . This maintains the temperature of the engine block within an acceptable temperature range at a particular engine speed.