EP1566547A2 - Fluid coupling for vehicle fan - Google Patents

Abstract

The fluid coupling (1) is for a motor vehicle's fan which has a rotatably mounted shaft (15), a drive component (2) mounted and rotatably fixed on the shaft, a driven component (3) rotatably mounted on the shaft, and a coupling section between the driving and driven components and holding a viscous fluid. The fan, and especially the fan blades (5), are connected to the outer section of the driven component by a fastening element which consists at least partially of plastic or is plastic coated. Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) a device for the operating of a ventilation system for a motor vehicle including the aforesaid fluid coupling; and (B) a use for a fluid coupling which is to operate a ventilation system for a motor vehicle.

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid friction clutch for a Motor vehicle fan.

Such fluid friction clutches are known in the art and are used for radiator fans or as drives for such to provide adequate Heat dissipation of the example generated by a fuel motor To allow heat energy. Such fan clutches are especially for medium power vehicles, such as Transporters, SUVs, light trucks and agricultural applications used.

In addition to electrically controlled fan clutches also find bimetallic driven Couplings use, especially when using of liquid friction clutches have only secondary storage rooms. However, this embodiment has lower control issues Speed and a rapid connection of the clutch or its start-up characteristic on. In particular, this is for vehicles with gasoline rotors disadvantageous in which the ratio between rated speed and idle speed of the rotor assumes relatively large values.

Furthermore, so-called "fan boom" or "morning sickness" problems are known. These are caused in particular by the fact that the transmission range the clutch at Motorteeriauf (fan boom) or at parked Engine (moming sickness) is relatively heavily filled with oil and the fan is in Result of higher engine speeds and the associated switched Ventilation clutch an unnecessary and / or unpleasant air noise caused.

Object of the present invention is known in the art Fan clutch to improve and in particular a cheaper To allow production of such a coupling.

The fluid friction clutch according to the invention for a motor vehicle ventilator has at least one rotatably mounted shaft, on which at least a rotatably mounted drive body and at least one rotatably mounted Output body is arranged. Between the drive and output body a coupling region is provided which receives a viscous fluid and thereby a torque between the drive body and the output body able to transfer. The fluid friction clutch is thereby characterized in that a fan, in particular the fan blades of the fan by means of at least one, in particular at least partially Plastic existing or partially plastic-coated, to the axis of rotation concentric fastening ring with the outer region of the output body get connected.

As drive body of the fluid friction clutch according to the invention according to the present invention at least partially profiled discs understood that are rotatably or non-rotatably mounted on a shaft and the Transmission of a predetermined torque can be used.

As a driven body are also at least partially profiled discs understood that cooperate with at least one drive body in the manner that directly or indirectly a predetermined torque of the drive body is transmitted to the output body.

As a fastening ring according to the present invention, in particular a metal ring understood with at least one predetermined area of the output body is connected and in a predetermined range is arranged on the fans or in the area of the fan blades.

The fastening ring is preferably made of metallic materials, However, according to a particularly preferred embodiment made of a plastic or a composite material, such as Plastic, carbon fiber composites and the like.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the fluid friction clutch at least a first and at least a second Flow path, softer at least one Fluldvoratsraum with at least connect a coupling area. Furthermore, at least one controllable Device provided, with which at least one flow path, but in particular the flow paths are opened and closed.

Flow paths become regions according to the present invention the fluid friction clutch understood that at least partially of the flowing through viscous fluid.

According to another particularly preferred embodiment extends at least one flow path in the radial direction as far as within the Drive body that the mouth of the flow path above the fluid level opens in the fluid reservoir of the fluid friction clutch. As a fluid storage room is according to a particularly preferred embodiment understood the space within the fluid friction clutch, which is radial within the flow path responsible for the influx of the viscous fluid in the coupling region is provided, and in the axial direction both by at least the drive and / or driven body and in the Housing of the fluid friction clutch is clamped.

According to another particularly preferred embodiment, the Hub of the fan through the at least partially plastic-coated mounting ring educated.

Under a plastic jacket is according to the present invention understood a coating selected from a group of materials is what paints, natural or artificial plastics, resins, combinations from this and the like.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the fastening ring Openings, which with respect to a given radius the axis of rotation are arranged. These openings have according to a another particularly preferred embodiment in a given Area and in the openings themselves no plastic casing, where is not excluded, a corrosion protection layer in these areas applied.

According to a preferred embodiment, the fluid friction clutch a central connection accessible from the front.

As a front side according to the present invention, the side of the fluid friction clutch understood, for example, by the air flow of the fan or by the wind of a motor vehicle, in particular is streamed frontal. This can be, for example, the front that belongs to a radiator of the vehicle is aligned.

According to a further particularly preferred embodiment are on the to the front side facing the output body slats, in particular Cooling fins arranged. These extend according to a particularly preferred Embodiment of the radially outer regions of the drive body radially inwardly, in particular in the embodiment with a central connection, the area of the central connection itself recessed is. The same applies to the areas of the fastening ring, with which this is connected to the output body.

According to a preferred embodiment, the fluid friction clutch is characterized in that the fastening ring with the output body is connected by a connection type which consists of a group of connection types is selected which force, positive and / or cohesive Compounds, such as rough connections, riveted joints, Adhesive bonds, soldering, welding joints, combinations thereof and have the like.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the Fiüssigkeitsreibkupplung in the axial extension of a drive device of a motor vehicle, such as a water pump of a motor vehicle arranged. This can be both a fixed connection, as well as a detachable Be connection, as z. B. by a central connection extending in the axial Direction extends in the rotation shaft.

The support of the output body is carried out according to another particular preferred embodiment by means of a driven-side bearing of Fluid friction clutch and another bearing that the drive device assigned.

The fluid friction clutch has according to a further particularly preferred Embodiment controllable devices for the flow paths which are controllable according to a particularly preferred embodiment Rocker arms are, preferably by means of an electromagnetic actuator in their position can be changed.

The electromagnetic actuator has, for example, magnetic coils, the according to a particularly preferred embodiment in the field of bearings the rotating axes and / or directly in the region of the housing of the drive device are arranged.

The magnetic flux of the electromagnetic actuator is according to a particular preferred embodiment at least via a ferromagnetic Hub and / or axis of the clutch, for example, an adjacent Component causes. Furthermore, the magnetic flux will over at least causes a ferromagnetic component, which preferably one, in a is not ferromagnetic pulley inserted sleeve, which itself is made of ferromagnetic material. Goal of this arrangement is to build a closed ring of the magnetic field, via which the controllable devices or the controllable device, such as a rocker arm, are reliably controlled can.

According to another particularly preferred embodiment, the electromagnetic actuator but also arranged on the front side of the clutch become.

According to another particularly preferred embodiment, the Coupling area of the fluid friction clutch for transmitting a Torque substantially profile structures, which at least one each Side of the output and drive body are arranged concentrically and interlock with a given distance.

The invention also includes an apparatus for operating a Ventilation system, in particular for a motor vehicle, which at least a fan, a power plant, a connecting element and at least a fluid friction clutch according to the present invention comprises. Also the use of a fluid friction clutch according to the invention for operating a ventilation system for a motor vehicle is within the meaning of present invention.

The invention will be described below with reference to various embodiments explained. It should be noted, however, that the illustrated embodiments should not diminish the scope of the invention, but Rather, exemplary embodiments are given, inter alia correspond to the scope of the present invention.

So shows:

Fig. 1a

a cross-sectional view of a fluid friction clutch according to the invention;

Fig. 1b

a cross-sectional view of the drive according to Fig. 1a and a fan;

Fig. 1c

Top view of the drive and the fan of Fig. 1b;

Fig. 2

a sectional perspective view of a drive body with control device;

Fig. 3

an alternative embodiment of a fluid friction clutch in cross-section;

Fig. 4

a further alternative embodiment of an inventive Fluid friction clutch in combination with parts of a Water pump;

Fig. 5

a cross section through a further alternative embodiment a fluid friction clutch according to the invention;

Fig. 6

a sectional perspective view of a two-sided profiled drive body with control device according to the Fluid friction clutch from FIG. 5.

Fig. 1a shows a fluid friction clutch according to the invention in a cross-sectional view. On the shaft 15, a drive body 2 is rotatably mounted, on the outer regions of a profile 4 is attached. This Profile engages in a correspondingly staggered profile of the output body 3, which is rotatably mounted on the shaft by means of the bearing 9. Of the Drive body 2 also has a flow path 13 which extends radially from the storage space 12 in the direction of the radial Abschlusses.des output body 3 extends and in fluid communication with the coupling portion between the profiles of the drive body 2 and the output body 3 is. According to the embodiment shown here, this flow path is used the supply of the viscous fluid in the coupling region. Adjacent to the flow path 13 is located in the storage space 12, in which under Others, a rocker arm 10 is received, the function of his Setting position, the opening of the flow path 13 opens or closes.

Furthermore, an actuator 11 is shown which, according to the embodiment shown here a coil having a magnetic field via electrical lines can build up.

With the output body 3 is a ring 6 via a fastening screw 8 connected, which a fastening device for the fan blades. 5 represents. In the area of the fastening screw 8 is the plastic casing 7 so reduced that the mounting ring 6 largely flat the output body 3 up or rests and by means of fastening screws. 8 can be connected to the output body 3. Preferably, the Plastic sheath of the same material that makes up the fan blades 5 are made.

In Fig. 1 a, a fastening screw is shown, with it in mind The present invention is a variety of mounting screws to use.

By dividing the individual elements of the fluid coupling shown here Among other things, a very rapid return of the oil be reached from the coupling region into the reservoir 17, whereby the known in the art negative phenomena, such as the so-called "fan boom" and "morning sickness" avoided or at least can be reduced. Thus, in particular by the controllable Reflux of the viscous fluid via a flow path the effect of Return pump (not shown) can be greatly increased, creating a rapid emptying of the coupling region is made possible.

The function and design of such a coupling is described in DE 102 38 739.7, and is incorporated by reference herein Invention.

To further improve this function of the clutch, the pantry should 12 are carried out with a maximum diameter so that the centrifugal force-dependent back pressure of the return pump as low as possible remains. This large diameter of the storage space 12 can, for example achieved by the one-sided waiver of the drive body profiling (4) become. Furthermore, this results in the possibility that on a forming technology resorted to cost-producible rear housing cover 14 can be.

Fig. 1b and 1c show the drive of Fig. 1a with an impeller in one Cross section and top view.

Here, the fan ring 37, the fan screw 36, the fasteners 8 and the cooling fins of the vent hub 35 shown. Femer is also the partially plastic-coated fastener 6 to recognize the according to the embodiment shown here, a fastening ring with given recesses is.

The reference numeral 15 is the axis of rotation or shaft of the drive.

Fig. 2 shows a sectional perspective view of the drive body 2 with a control device of Fig. 1a. Here are next to the drive body 2 and its profiling 4 of the flow path 13, the return opening 20 of another flow path, the reservoir 23 and to recognize the valve lever 24. On the valve lever is a magnet armature 22nd provided, in particular for transmitting the actuating force from the actuator on the valve lever is used.

To avoid an undesirable increase in idle speed of Fan with clutch disconnected, the return hole 20 so far be extended to the inside, that the mouth above the liquid level is located in the storage room 23. This is especially important if very high drive speeds are required, as in these Cases of pressure on the fluid due to centrifugal force in the return bore 21 can dominate the starting pressure of the pump. This can cause that the clutch would partially switched inadvertently.

To further improve the heat dissipation of the fluid friction clutch to achieve the largest possible diameter of the To provide front. As a result, the front side housing half the Fluidreibkupplung be effectively equipped with cooling fins. On the other hand, one speaks as far as possible against an excessive air intake uniform flow through the cooling network of a motor vehicle with Cooling air, which at a large-scale hub diameter in the herein lying area would not be possible.

For this reason, according to the embodiment shown here the screwing of the Hub Hub to a relatively large diameter placed, wherein in the connection area, the plastic jacket at least for the fastening screws and their passage openings is omitted. In addition to the improved heat transport leads the larger Diameter of the screw connection to reduce the mechanical Tensions, due to the larger lever arm of the force on the Mounting area of the fan.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of an inventive Fluid friction clutch in cross section, in particular one of the Front accessible central screw 34 is provided.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of an inventive Fluid friction clutch in combination with a water pump or parts hereof. In this embodiment, the centrally bolted coupling is on a water pump mounted in the way that the shaft 15 for both Water pump as well as for the fluid friction clutch rotatably by means of Central fixing 34 are connected.

It should be noted, however, that it is also within the spirit of the present invention Another type of connection for the shaft of the water pump and the To use centrifugal clutch, as for example by means of a one-piece Shaft or an intermediate gearbox.

The drive according to this alternative embodiment is via pulley 30, which is rotatably connected to the shaft 15. The actuator 11 for the actuation of the rocker arm 10 is according to this embodiment not over a ball bearing of the rotating shaft, but is mounted on the housing of the water pump 32. The magnetic flux is passed over the steel hub of the pulley 30 to the armature 37 and causes the change in position of the rocker arm 10 when energized of the actuator 11 via the control lines 36. The magnetic reflux via the inserted into the pulley stähleme sleeve 31, wherein according to a particularly preferred embodiment, the pulley in this case, a non-ferromagnetic, d. H. Not magnetically conductive material, such as aluminum or alloys Hieron and / or the like is produced.

Another advantage of this alternative embodiment is that the number the necessary bearing for operating the water pump or the fluid friction clutch can be reduced, so that, as shown in Fig. 4, only two bearings 9 sufficient for fastening the components.

As in the other figures. Already shown in FIG. 4 are the fan blades 5, the cooling fins 35, the fastening screw 8 and the metal ring 6 to recognize.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show further alternative embodiments of the invention Fluid friction clutch, in which compared to the previously described fluid friction clutches of the actuator on the front the coupling is attached.

In Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the outer housing of the actuator 11 and the control lines 36 to recognize. About the recesses in the center of rotation of the cooling fins 35, the actuator is in operative connection with the rocker arm 10 of the liquid friction clutch.

The housing 14 at least closes the fluid friction clutch towards the front liquid-tight, wherein according to the embodiment shown here the drive body on both side surfaces a profiled section As a coupling region, which in correspondingly shaped profiles of the output body 27 engages. It is the flow path 13 and the storage space 12 to recognize the viscous fluid. The driven pulley 27 is further supported on the shaft 15 via the bearing 9.

FIG. 6 shows a section of the fluid friction clutch from FIG. 5 in which a perspective cut view of the drive body included the actuator 11 and its connection means 36 is shown. To recognize the profiled portions of the drive body 28, wherein further the valve lever 24 for opening and closing the flow paths and its arrangement is shown with respect to the actuator.

Claims (20)

Fluid friction clutch for a motor vehicle fan, with a rotatably mounted shaft 15, a rotatably mounted on the shaft drive body 2, a rotatably mounted on the shaft output body 3 and arranged between the drive and driven body, a viscous fluid receiving coupling region,
characterized in that
a fan, in particular the fan blades 5 are connected by means of a fastener to the outer region of the output body 3, wherein the fastener is at least partially made of plastic or plastic coated. Fluid friction clutch in particular according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the fastening element is at least one ring segment and / or a structured ring and / or a ring with predetermined recesses. Fluid friction clutch in particular according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
at least one first and at least one second flow path are provided, which connect a fluid reservoir 12 to the coupling region and the flow paths at least one controllable device 10 is provided, with which the flow paths are opened and closed. Fluid friction clutch in particular according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
at least one flow path extends in the radial direction within the drive body so far that the flow path opens above the fluid level in the fluid reservoir 12. Fluid friction clutch in particular according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
the hub of the fan is formed by the at least partially plastic-coated fastening ring 6. Fluid friction clutch in particular according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
the fastening ring has openings which are arranged on a predetermined radius with respect to the axis of rotation. Fluid friction clutch in particular according to at least claim 6, characterized in that
no plastic sheath 7 is provided in the openings and in a predetermined area around the opening. Fluid friction clutch in particular according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
the fluid friction clutch has an accessible from the front central connection 34. Fluid friction clutch in particular according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
the fastening ring 6 is connected to the output body 3 by a connection type which is selected from a group of connection types, which force, form and / or materially connections, such as screw, rivet, adhesive, solder, welded joints, combinations thereof and the like. Fluid friction clutch in particular according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
on the side facing the front of the driven body slats, in particular cooling fins 35 are arranged. Fluid friction clutch in particular according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
the coupling is arranged in the axial extension of a drive device, in particular a water pump of a motor vehicle. Fluid friction clutch in particular according to at least claim 11, characterized in that
the rotatable support of the clutch takes place by means of a driven-side bearing 9 of the liquid fuel friction clutch and a bearing of the drive device. Fluid friction clutch in particular according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
the controllable device 10 for the flow paths is in particular at least one controllable rocker arm, which is preferably changed by means of an electromagnetic actuator 11 in its parking position. Fluid friction clutch in particular according to at least claim 13, characterized in that
the electromagnetic actuator 11 has magnetic coils which are arranged in the region of the bearings of the rotating axis and / or directly in the region of the housing of the drive device. , Fluid friction clutch in particular according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
the magnetic flux of the electromagnetic actuator is at least via a ferromagnetic hub and / or axis of the clutch. Fluid friction clutch in particular according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
the magnetic flux via a ferromagnetic component, which is preferably a-inserted in a non-ferromagnetic pulley sleeve 31 made of ferromagnetic material. Fluid friction clutch in particular according to at least claim 13, characterized in that
the electromagnetic actuator 11 is arranged on the front side of the coupling. Fluid friction clutch in particular according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
the coupling region for transmitting a torque is formed essentially by intermeshing, concentric profile structures 4 on at least one side of each of the output 2 and drive body 3. Device for operating a ventilation system for a motor vehicle, which at least one fan, a drive unit, a Connecting element and at least one fluid friction clutch according to at least one of the preceding claims. Use of a liquid friction clutch according to at least one of the preceding claims for operating a ventilation system for a motor vehicle.

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