Patent ID: 9482144
Filing Date: 2016-11-01
CPC Classification: F01P,F16D

Claim Text:
1. An air-actuated fan clutch comprising: a drive shaft that is rotatable about an axis; a clutch element that coupled to the drive shaft for rotation therewith; a friction liner disposed about the clutch element; a clutch housing that is rotatable relative to the drive shaft about the axis, the clutch housing being movable relative to the clutch element along the axis between a first position, in which the clutch element, the friction liner and the clutch housing cooperate to permit transmission of rotary power between the clutch element and the clutch housing, and a second position in which transmission of rotary power between the clutch element and the clutch housing is inhibited; a clutch spring that biases the clutch housing toward the first position; a piston that is movable along the axis between a piston neutral position and a piston activated position, wherein movement of the piston from the piston neutral position to the piston activated position causes corresponding movement of the clutch housing into the second position, and wherein movement of the piston from the piston activated position to the piston neutral position causes corresponding movement of the clutch housing into the first position; a first directional valve having a first port, a second port and a first valve element, the first port being adapted to be coupled to a source of fluid pressure, the second port being coupled in fluid communication with the piston, the first valve element being movable between a first element position, in which the first and second ports are not in fluid communication with one another, and a second element position in which the first and second ports are in communication with one another; and an actuator that is coupled to the first directional valve and configured to be coupled to the source of fluid pressure, the actuator providing at least one output that is configured to move the valve element of the first directional valve, the at least one output being at least partly based on a magnitude of a fluid pressure acting on the actuator, the magnitude being greater than or equal to a predetermined fluid pressure.