Patent ID: 8672111
Filing Date: 2014-03-18
Classification: B60G,F16D,F16F

Abstract:
1. A viscous coupling comprising: a case body for forming a working chamber which contains a viscous fluid; a shaft inserted into the case body, the shaft being relatively rotatable with respect to the case body; a plurality of first plates coupled to the shaft; and a plurality of second plates coupled to the case body and disposed in the working chamber, the second plates being spaced apart from the first plates with a pitch therebetween in an axial direction of the shaft, wherein the pitch between the first plates and the second plates is adjustable by deforming either of the first plates and the second plates in response to the rotation speed of the shaft or the case body, wherein each first plate has an inclined portion, the inclined portion being inclined in the axial direction as viewed in a cross-section parallel to an axis of the shaft, and a region including an open end and the inclined portion of each first plate has a plurality of movable plates divided by slits extending radially with the shaft as a center thereof, wherein an end portion on an open-end side of each movable late has a greater mass than an end portion on a coupled-end side thereof, wherein each second plate has a region opposite to the inclined portion of each first plate, the region extending in parallel to the inclined portion of each first plate, and wherein the pitch varies in response to a deformation of the movable plates under a force working thereon by the rotation of the shaft or the case body.