Patent ID: 9133889
Filing Date: 2015-09-15
Classification: F16D,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A fan clutch device to be mounted to a drive pulley, the fan clutch device comprising: an input member that is removably mountable with the drive pulley such that the input member rotates with the drive pulley; an output member that is adjustable in an axial direction between first and second positions relative to the input member; a clutch ring arranged between the input member and the output member, the clutch ring including a first friction surface that engages an opposing friction surface when the output member is in the first position such that the output member rotates at a first speed with the input member; a piston which is adjustable in an axial direction relative to the input member; a central shaft passing through first and second bearings, the output member being mounted on the first bearing and the input member being mounted on the second bearing; first and second spring-engaging members which are disposed between the first and second bearings; a spring arranged between the first and second spring-engaging members which biases the piston, the first bearing, and the first spring-engaging member toward a nose cap at a front of the fan clutch device; and an eddy current drive system that urges the output member to rotate at a second speed different from the first speed when the output member is in the second position, the eddy current drive system including: an electrically conductive ring attached to the input member wherein the permanent magnets and the electrically conductive ring are positioned axially rearward of the clutch ring, wherein a fluid-receiving fluid chamber is defined in part by the piston and the nose cap such that when pressurized air enters the fluid-receiving chamber, the piston, the first bearing, and the first spring-engaging member are adjusted in an axially rearward direction against a bias force of the spring thereby urging the output member into the second position, and wherein the permanent magnets and the ring magnet mounting plate are disposed axially forward of the electrically conductive ring such that the permanent magnets and the electrically conductive ring present an axial gap therebetween.