Patent ID: 6725812
Filing Date: 2004-04-27
Classification: F01P

Abstract:
A viscous coupling 50 operatively coupled to a water pump 52 in an internal combustion engine, the viscous coupling comprising:a clutch shaft 60 coupled to a water pump shaft 68 of the water pump 52; a clutch plate 62 coupled to said clutch shaft 60, said clutch plate 62 having a clutch shear area; a pulley 56 operatively connected to said clutch shaft by a bearing 61, said pulley 56 capable of independently rotating around said clutch shaft 60 when a drive belt 76 coupled to said pulley 56 and an engine crankshaft is rotated, said pulley 56 having a pulley shear area; a cover 58 coupled to said pulley 56, said cover 58 and said clutch plate 62 defining a reservoir 66; a working chamber 64 defined by said pulley 56 and said clutch plate 62; a shear area 67 defined by said clutch shear area and said pulley shear; and a viscous fluid contained within said reservoir 66, said working chamber 64, and said shear area 67, wherein said rotation of said pulley 56 around said clutch shaft 60 in response to movement of said drive belt 76 causes said viscous fluid to shear in said shear area 67, thereby creating torque to drive said clutch plate 62 in response to the torque, thereby causing rotation of said clutch shaft 60 and said water pump shaft 68.