Fluid clutch device

Patent 5469947 Issued on November 28, 1995. Estimated Expiration Date:

August 27, 2013. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

2886151

3047507

Electronic temperature control
Patent #: 4325225
Issued on: 04/20/1982
Inventor: Price, II

Control method for air conditioning systems for vehicles
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Inventor: Suzuki

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Double element electroviscous fluid clutch
Patent #: 4898266
Issued on: 02/06/1990
Inventor: Garrett, et al.

Electroviscous fluid clutch
Patent #: 4898267
Issued on: 02/06/1990
Inventor: Garrett, et al.

Variable speed coupling system for cooling an engine
Patent #: 4920929
Issued on: 05/01/1990
Inventor: Bishop

Variable inertial mass flywheel
Patent #: 5007303
Issued on: 04/16/1991
Inventor: Okuzumi

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Inventors

Assignee

Fujikura Ltd.

Application

No. 112323 filed on 08/27/1993

US Classes:

192/21.5, FIELD RESPONSIVE FRICTIONAL MEDIA TYPE62/133Responsive to vehicle body motion or traction

Examiners

Primary: Pitts, Andrea L.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier, & Neustadt

Foreign Patent References

0317186 EP. 05/12/1989
0335086 EP. 10/12/1989
0356145 EP. 02/12/1990
0395007 EP. 10/12/1990
3205017 DE. 08/12/1983
1-250626 JP. 10/12/1989
2122150 GB. 01/12/1984
2169374 GB. 07/12/1986

International Class

F16D 027/00

Foreign Application Priority Data

1992-09-20 JP

Abstract

There is disclosed a fluid clutch device for controlling transmission of motive power of a vehicular engine to accessory equipment such as an oil pump for a power steering mechanism or an air compressor for an air conditioner. The clutch device includes first and second members arranged for relative rotation about a common axis. The first member is operated by the vehicular engine while the second member is constructed to operate the accessory equipment. The first and second members are accommodated in a hermetically sealed clutch casing which is filled with an electroviscous fluid. A source of high voltage potential is provided for applying a voltage to the electroviscous fluid, and various units for generating information regarding driving of the accessory equipment are also used. A clutch control unit is electrically connected to the source of high voltage potential and the information-generating units, and regulates the voltage applied to the electroviscous fluid based on the information generated from the information-generating units to vary a driving power for operating the accessory equipment.