Patent ID: 6267214
Filing Date: 2001-07-31
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A viscous coupling (11) comprising inner and outer parts (21, 41) supported inside one another and rotatable relative to one another around a common longitudinal axis, and forming an annular space (31) which is filled with a highly viscous medium in which there are arranged inner plates (27, 29) which are non-rotatably connected to said inner part (21) and form a set of inner plates, as well as outer plates (48) which are non-rotatably connected to said outer part (41) and form a set of outer plates, said inner plates (27, 29) and said outer plates (48) being arranged so as to alternate in the longitudinal direction for the purpose of generating a coupling effect between said two parts (21, 41) when the latter rotate relative to one another, wherein a partial set (29) of one of said complete sets of inner plates and outer plates is directly carried by a sleeve (25) which is coupled to the respective one of said inner part (21) and said outer part (41) of the coupling (11), which carries said complete set of inner plates or outer plates in such a way that it can be uncoupled in respect of relative rotation at a raised rotational speed in that it provides a two-part characteristic curve with a declining jump function of coupling forces over rotational speed.