Patent ID: 6336538
Filing Date: 2002-01-08
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A fluid coupling, comprising:a drive shaft; a housing relatively rotatably supported to said drive shaft; an operation plate arranged in said housing, said operation plate defining first and second chambers, said operation plate having a communicating hole for fluid communication between said first and second chambers; a driven wheel arranged adjacent to said operation plate; a rotor arranged in said second chamber, said rotor being fixed to said drive shaft; a torque-transfer part interposed between outer peripheries of said driven wheel and said rotor, said torque-transfer part transmitting torque of said rotor to said housing; a valve mechanism which opens and closes said communicating hole of said operation plate in accordance with an ambient temperature of said housing, said valve mechanism adjusting a flow rate of working fluid flowing from said first chamber to said second chamber; a passage formed through said driven wheel, said passage bringing working fluid out of said communicating hole to said torque-transfer part; an auxiliary chamber arranged between said driven wheel and said operation plate, said auxiliary chamber bringing working fluid out of said communicating hole to said passage; and a positioning mechanism arranged between said operation plate and said driven wheel, said positioning mechanism ensuring circumferential positioning of said operation plate and said driven wheel.