Patent ID: 8100239
Filing Date: 2012-01-24
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
1. A fan clutch device to be mounted to a drive pulley, the fan clutch device comprising: an input portion that is removably mountable to the drive pulley so that the input portion rotates with the drive pulley; an output portion including a hub that is selectively movable relative to the input portion, and a piston adjustable in an axial direction relative to the input portion, the piston being adjustable between first and second positions, wherein the output portion rotates at a first speed with the input portion when the piston is in the first position; and an eddy current drive system that urges the output portion to rotate at a second speed different from the first speed when the piston is adjusted to the second position, the eddy current drive system including permanent magnets coupled to the output portion, and an electrically conductive ring coupled to the input portion and arranged radially outward from the permanent magnets so that a radial gap is defined between the permanent magnets and the ring, wherein the electrically conductive ring comprises radially extending cooling fins to dissipate heat, the cooling fins being rotatably related to the drive pulley at all times when the input portion is mounted to the drive pulley, and and wherein the cooling fins of the conductive ring are tapered such that each of the cooling fins is larger in size proximate to the drive pulley when the input portion is mounted to the drive pulley.