Patent ID: 9664238
Date: 2017-05-30
CPC Classifications: F16D

Claim:
1. A viscous clutch drive comprising: a clutch disk that is rotatable about a rotary axis, the clutch disk having a disk member with an outer circumferential end, the disk member having a plurality of first channels, which are disposed concentrically about the rotary axis, a scavenge passage, and a supply passageway that intersects the first channels, the scavenge passage extending radially through the clutch disk and intersecting the outer circumferential end; a housing that defines a cavity and a plurality of second channels, the clutch disk being received in the cavity and being rotatable relative to the housing, the housing being an output member of the viscous clutch drive and cooperating with the clutch disk to define a working chamber in which the first and second channels are disposed; a reservoir cover coupled to the disk member for common rotation about the rotary axis, the reservoir cover cooperating with the disk member to define a reservoir and a supply conduit that fluidly couples the reservoir to the supply passageway, the scavenge passage of the clutch disk having a radially inward end that intersects the reservoir; a wiper coupled to the clutch disk for rotation therewith, the wiper being positioned on the outer circumferential end proximate a radially outer end of the scavenge passage; a valve member received between the reservoir cover and the disk member, the valve member having a valve element that is movable relative to the clutch disk between a first position, in which the valve element engages the disk member and the reservoir cover to close the supply conduit to thereby inhibit fluid flow from the reservoir and the supply passageway, and a second position that permits fluid flow from the reservoir to the supply passageway; and a bimetal actuator coupled to the housing, the bimetal actuator having an output member that is coupled to the valve element for common movement.