Patent ID: 6942083

Claim:
A fan apparatus, comprising: a fan coupled to a drive mechanism via a viscous clutch, said viscous clutch further comprising: a drive chamber containing a hydraulic fluid, an amount of hydraulic fluid in the drive chamber being related to a torque transmitted from said drive mechanism to said fan; a valve coupled to said drive chamber controlling flow of hydraulic fluid into said drive chamber; a bimetallic strip coupled to said valve, said bimetallic strip moving said valve to a more open position when a temperature of the bimetallic strip increases, thereby increasing said amount of hydraulic fluid supplied to said drive chamber; and a heating element coupled to said viscous clutch in close proximity to said bimetallic strip wherein said bimetallic strip is located in a position open to ambient air wherein said heating element is supplied electrical current through a slip ring arrangement on said viscous clutch.