FR2497305A1 - THERMOSENSIBLE COUPLING TO LIQUID - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A LIQUID COUPLING, CONTROLLED BY A THERMOSENSITIVE ELEMENT. WHEN THE BILAME 10 DEFORMS, AT A DETERMINED ROOM TEMPERATURE, THE LINK ROD 9 ACTS ON AN ELASTIC SHUTTER 5 TO OPEN A COMMUNICATION 5 BETWEEN AN OIL TANK 6 AND A CHAMBER 4, OR THE TORQUE OF MOTOR SHAFT 1 , IS THEN TRANSMITTED, BY A DISK 7, TO THE CASE OF 4 AND 6, TO WHICH FOR EXAMPLE A FAN IS FIXED. ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION, ONE OF THE ENDS OF ROD 9 IS SCREWED IN 8 OR 10, AND ITS OTHER END IS APPLIED AGAINST 10 OR 8. THE INVENTION IS APPLICABLE IN PARTICULAR TO COOLING FANS OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINES.

Description

The invention relates to a thermocouple

  liquid-sensing device for controlling the rotation of a cooling fan attached thereto for cooling an internal combustion engine, for example on an automobile, and more particularly a thermosensitive liquid coupling of this type, comprising a rod connection link engaged between a thermosensitive element, such as a bimetallic strip, and a shutter,

  to establish an adjustable connection between them.

  Liquid couplings of the type described are widely used to eliminate a loss of

  engine power, and suppress the fan noise.

  or reduce fuel consumption. The accou-

  liquid-containing element comprises a thermosensitive element, or bimetallic element, which begins to deform when the air

  ambient passing through the radiator reaches a certain

  temperature (about 50 to 800 ° C, depending on the car on which the fluid coupling is installed), thus allowing the connecting rod to be lifted by the elasticity of the shutter, which is mounted in a tank of 'oil. The shutter, when released by the connecting rod thus lifted, opens a flow control orifice, which is provided in a partition supporting said shutter, to allow oil to flow, through the orifice, in a torque transmission chamber,

  which makes a faster

  cooling fan, attached to the coupling

to liquid.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3 of the appended drawings, a conventional fluid coupling comprises a connecting rod 19, the ends of which are abutted against a bimetallic strip 20, fixed to a support 21, itself mounted on the front face of a cover, and against a shutter 18, having an end riveted to a partition 17, so as to open and close a flow control orifice 17 'thereof, which allows the bimetal 20 and the partition 17 to move in unison through the connecting rod 19. Variable axial dimensions of these components and the differences in dimensions between them during assembly, or their different elasticities.

  rents, tend to prevent opening and closing

  uniformity of flow control orifices

  For example, a difference of 0.1 em in the long run

  The length of the rod 19 results in a difference in temperature of approximately $ 10. It is therefore necessary for the manufacturers to have a stock of connecting rods whose length varies in steps of 0.05 mm. on the liquid couplings, connection rods chosen by repeated functional tests. Such an adjustment process is complicated and

  long, and thus leads to a decrease in productivity.

  A first object of the invention is to allow the realization of a thermally sensitive coupling.

  to that which einine the previous difficulty.

  A second object is to enable the realization

  a thermosensitive liquid coupling which

  has a relatively simple structure.

  According to the invention, a connecting rod interposed between a heat-sensitive element, mounted on a front face of a lid, and a shutter, fixed to a partition so as to open and close a flow control orifice of that here is

  screwed at one end or through the thermo-

  sensitive either through the shutter.

  The goals, peculiarities and advantages men-

  of the invention, as well as others, will emerge

  better from the following description of the accompanying drawings,

  which show, by way of examples, certain preferred embodiments of the invention, and in which: FIG. 1 is a section of a coupling

  thermosensitive liquid according to a first embodiment

of the invention.

  FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a thermosensitive liquid coupling according to a second embodiment

of the invention.

  FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing a thermosensitive coupling to

classic type liquid.

  As shown in Figure 1, a tree of

  1, having a flange 1 'for its connection with an automobile engine, for example, supports, by a ball bearing B, a sealed casing, driven, which comprises a body 2 and a cover 3 mounted on

  this one. The inside of the housing is divided into a tank

  see oil, 6, and a torque transmission chamber, 4, by a partition 5 disposed in the cover 3, near the end of the drive shaft 1, opposite the flange 1 ', the partition 5 being pierced with an eccentric orifice, flow control, 5 '. The tree

  1 supports in a fixed way, on its end

  mity, a drive disk 7, disposed in the torque transmission chamber 4, a small gap 4 'being held between the drive disk 7 and a surface of the body 2 which is opposite, to transmit a torque of drive disk 7 at

casing.

  An elastic shutter 8 is mounted in the oil reservoir 6 and is riveted at one end to the partition 5, its other end being positioned to open and close the flow control orifice 5 '. A thermosensitive element, or bimetallic element, in the form of a plate, is fixed by its ends

  opposed to a support 11, itself fixed to an annular face

  the cover 3 of the housing. A connecting rod 9 passes axially through the lid 3 and abuts

  at one end against bimetallic strip 10, its other end

  mité being screwed, at 14, through the shutter 8.

  As a result, the connecting rod 9 allows the bimetal 10 and

  shutter 8 to move axially in unison.

  The housing contains a retainer 12 disposed in a region where the oil collects under the effect of the centrifugal forces generated when the drive disc 7 is rotated. The collected oil is "pumped" by the retaining member 12 through a circulation passage 13, which communicates with the torque transmission chamber, 4, and the oil reservoir 6. The body 2 has a plurality of tapped holes 15, for receiving screws for fixing

  fan blades (not shown) to the body 2.

  According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 2, one end of the rod 9 is screwed at 14 through the bimetallic strip 10, its other end being

in abutment against the shutter 8.

  The threaded end of the connecting rod 9 and the co-operating threaded portion of the bimetallic strip 10 or the shutter 8 are fastened together by an adhesive to obtain an instantaneous connection as soon as the rod

  link 9 has been set to activate the ob-

  8 at a desired room temperature.

  During an adjustment operation, the connecting rod 9 is rotated about its axis for

  adjust the axial distance between bimetallic strip 10 and

  8, until said shutter 8 is about to open the flow control orifice by its own elasticity, the bimetallic strip being maintained at a desired ambient temperature, chosen for the operation of the valve. 8. As a result, it

  It is not necessary to stock linkage rods

  sound of various lengths to choose one, or repeat running tests on link rods before selecting the desired rod. A single connecting rod is sufficient for each fluid coupling during adjustment. The liquid couplings according to the invention can be assembled in

  a shorter time than the couplings of the prior art

  24973c3 laughing, and they have uniform operating characteristics. Although some preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail, many modifications can be made to them.

  without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (3)

claims   1. Thermosensitive coupling with liquid,   having a housing, which includes a body, a cover   dead on it and a partition fixed to the lid, the body and the partition defining together a   torque transmission chamber, while the cou-   vercle and the partition together define an oil reservoir, a drive disk, disposed in the torque transmission chamber, a small gap being maintained between this disk and a surface of the body which defines the transmission chamber of   torque, a flow control orifice passing through   the partition for providing communication between the oil reservoir and the torque transmission chamber, a shutter mounted on said partition so as to open and close the flow control orifice, and a heat-sensitive element mounted on the cover, coupling characterized by a connecting rod, one end of which is screwed either through the shutter, or through the thermosensitive element, and whose other end is held in abutment against the thermosensitive element or against the 'shutter   to establish an adjustable connection between them.   2. Coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat-sensitive element   comprises a plate-shaped b-blade.   3. Coupling according to any one of   claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the   housing comprises a retaining member disposed in the torque transmission chamber, and a circulation passage, providing communication between the oil reservoir and the torque transmission chamber, for   bring oil from this chamber to the tank.