JPH01176818A - Temperature sensitive type fluid fan coupling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To aim at enhancing the function for regulating the rotational speed by forming a lead-out port for leading liquid from a front chamber into a rear chamber so as to be wide with a lower resistance thereby a suitable amount of liquid in accordance with the operation of a temperature sensitive element is fed into a fluid coupling, irrespective of changes in the viscosity of the liquid. CONSTITUTION:A fan casing 21 is sectioned by a partition plate 23 into a front chamber 24 which reserves therein liquid 26 having a predetermined viscosity, and a rear chamber 25. A bimetal temperature sensing element 27 drives a liquid lead-out mechanism 32 composed of a center shaft 28, a link 29 and a lead-out pipe 31 in association with a temperature passing through the fan casing 21 so as to control the amount of the liquid from the front chamber 24 to the rear chamber 25. Further, the link 29 is disposed so as to face the inner peripheral wall 24 of the fan casing 21 at its swing part and adjusts the opening area of a liquid passage 42 on the front chamber 24 side so as to control the lead-out amount of the liquid. Accordingly, it is possible to regulate the rotational speed irrespective of the viscosity of the liquid.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a temperature-sensitive fluid fan coupling device, and more particularly to a temperature-sensitive fluid fan coupling device for mounting a radiator cooling fan or the like in an automobile.

(Prior art) -i. A temperature-sensitive fluid fan coupling device has a function of adjusting the fan rotation speed by changing the slip ratio of a fluid coupling using the temperature sensing operation of a temperature sensing element. For example, the fan is installed between a radiator cooling fan of an automobile and a fan drive source. Such a temperature-sensitive fluid fan coupling device increases the fan rotation speed to forcibly send cooling air to the radiator when the temperature of the air passing through the radiator increases when the vehicle is running at low speed or idling. On the other hand, when the temperature of the air passing through the radiator becomes low during normal driving, the fan is prevented from rotating more than necessary to improve fuel efficiency, reduce fan noise, and shorten warm-up time.

Conventional temperature-sensitive fluid fan coupling devices of this type include those described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-170926 and Japanese Utility Model Application No. 58-6996, as shown in Fig. 6.7. is shown. In FIG. 6.7, when the rotating shaft 2 is rotationally driven by an engine (not shown) via the power transmission means 1 such as a pulley, the fluid coupling 3 transfers the fluid from the rotating shaft 2 through the fluid 5 in the fan casing 4. A fan (not shown) that transmits torque to the fan casing 4 and is attached to the outer periphery of the fan casing 4
rotates. At this time, the liquid 5 in the front chamber 6 and rear chamber 7 of the fan casing 4 is urged radially outward in the fan casing 4 by centrifugal force and remains in an annular shape. Further, the dam 9 engaged with the rotating plate 8 of the fluid coupling 3 wipes off the liquid 5 adhering to the outer peripheral surface 8a of the rotating plate 8, and introduces the liquid 5 into the front chamber 6 via the liquid passage 10. Therefore, the amount of liquid 5 in the rear chamber 7 is reduced, the torque transmitted by the fluid coupling 3 is reduced, and the fan rotation speed is reduced.

On the other hand, when the temperature of the air passing through the radiator received by the front part of the fan casing 4 increases, the temperature sensing element 11 deforms in response to the air temperature, and performs a temperature sensing operation to rotate the valve element 12. At this time, the valve hole 13a of the partition plate 13 and the valve body 12 provide an opening 14 for leading out the liquid according to the temperature sensing operation of the temperature sensing element 11.
is formed so that the end portion 14a of the opening 14 moves from radially inward to radially outward of the fan casing 4 depending on the temperature of the air passing through the radiator. The liquid 5 in the front chamber 6 that remains radially inward from the end 14 a of the opening 14 is led out to the rear chamber 7 through the opening 14 and supplied to the fluid coupling 3 . Therefore, when the temperature of the air passing through the radiator increases, the transmission torque of the fluid coupling 3 increases, and the fan rotation speed increases. That is, the fan rotation speed is adjusted according to the temperature of the air passing through the radiator, so that the fan does not rotate more than necessary.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in such a conventional temperature-sensitive fluid fan coupling device, the valve hole 13a of the partition plate 13
The liquid outlet opening 14 formed by the valve body 12 has an acute-angled end 14a, and the end 14a allows the liquid 5 to flow out when the liquid 5 is led out from the front chamber 6 to the rear chamber 7. Since the structure is located near the surface, when the viscosity of the liquid 5 changes due to a rise or fall in the temperature of the liquid 5, for example, the fluid resistance of the narrow end 14a increases or decreases, and the substantial end 14a , that is, the liquid level position in the front chamber 6 was largely displaced in the radial direction of the fan casing 4 . For this reason, the amount of liquid 5 led out to the rear chamber 7 does not correspond appropriately to the rotation of the valve body 12, and it is necessary to control the amount of liquid 5 led out to a very small amount to smoothly increase the fan rotation speed. There was a problem in that the fan rotation speed adjustment function could not be fully utilized.

(Purpose of the Invention) Therefore, the present invention provides a wide outlet for leading the liquid from the front chamber to the rear chamber to have a wide shape with low fluid resistance. The purpose of this invention is to fully exhibit the fan rotation speed adjustment function of a temperature-sensitive fluid fan coupling device by supplying an appropriate amount of liquid to the fluid coupling.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a fan casing having a front chamber and a rear chamber partitioned by a partition plate, and a fan casing that is attached to the front part of the fan casing.
A temperature sensing element that operates in response to the temperature of the air received by the fan casing, and a liquid delivery mechanism that operates in response to the temperature sensing operation of the temperature sensing element and can draw liquid from the front compartment to the rear compartment. , a fluid coupling that has a rotating shaft attached to the rear part of the fan casing and a rotating plate fixed to the rotating shaft, and transmits torque from the rotating shaft to the fan casing via the rotating plate and a liquid introduced into the rear chamber. and a liquid introduction mechanism for introducing liquid in the rear chamber into the front chamber in cooperation with a rotary plate of the fluid coupling, and the liquid introduction mechanism is arranged at a radial outer end of the partition plate so as to open into the rear chamber. It has a radiating outer end opening that is movably connected and a radiating inner end opening that opens in a predetermined area into the front chamber. It is composed of a discharge tube that controls the amount of liquid discharged by rotating toward and away from the peripheral wall.

(Function) In the present invention, the outlet pipe formed in a predetermined shape is rotated so that the radiating inner end opening approaches and separates from the inner circumferential wall of the fan casing in accordance with the temperature sensing operation of the temperature sensor, and the outlet pipe is passed through the outlet pipe. The amount of liquid led out from the front chamber to the rear chamber is controlled. Therefore, when controlling the amount of liquid drawn out, the radial inner end opening having a predetermined area that is not affected by changes in liquid viscosity is located near the liquid surface, and the amount of liquid drawn out gradually increases or decreases as the fan rotation speed increases or decreases. The fan rotation speed adjustment function is fully demonstrated through minute control.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. 1 to 5 are diagrams showing one embodiment of the present invention, and are examples in which the present invention is applied to a coupling for a radiator cooling fan of an automobile.

First, the configuration will be explained. In FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral 21 denotes a fan casing, and the fan casing 21 has a radiator cooling fan (not shown) attached to its outer periphery and is disposed on the rear side of the vehicle body of the radiator 22. The fan casing 21 has a partition plate 23, and inside the fan casing 21 there is a front chamber 24 partitioned by the partition plate 23.
and a rear chamber 25 are defined. A liquid 26 having a predetermined viscosity is stored in the front chamber 24 of the fan casing 21, and the liquid 26 is, for example, silicone oil with a small viscosity temperature coefficient. Reference numeral 27 denotes a temperature sensing body made of bimetal or the like, and the temperature sensing body 27 is formed in a spiral shape. The temperature sensing element 27 has one end 27a attached to the front part 21a of the fan casing 21 and the other end 27b connected to the central shaft 28. It is designed to sense temperature so that it deforms due to the temperature of the air passing through it and rotates the central shaft 28. The center shaft 28 passes through the front part 21a of the fan casing 21 and is connected to a link 29 inside the front chamber 24, and the link 29 is connected to the center shaft 28.
At one swinging end 29a, which swings due to the rotation of the lead-out pipe 3,
It is rotatably connected to 1.

The outlet pipe 31 has a smooth liquid outlet passageway 3 with a substantially circular cross section.
1a, and the outlet pipe 31 has a radial outer end opening 31b that opens into the rear chamber 25 and a radial inner end opening 31c that opens into the front chamber 24.

The radiating outer end opening 31b of the outlet tube 31 is rotatably connected to the radiating outer end of the partition plate 23, and when the link 29 swings due to the temperature sensing operation of the temperature sensing element 27, the outlet tube 31 radiates. The inner end opening 31c is the inner peripheral wall 2 of the fan casing 21.
It is adapted to rotate in response to the temperature sensing operation of the temperature sensing element 27 so as to approach and separate from 1b. At this time, the liquid 26 in the fan casing 21 is transferred to the fan casing 21 by centrifugal force based on the rotation of the fan casing 21, which will be described later.
Since the liquid 26 is biased toward the inner peripheral wall 21b and retained in an annular shape, the rotation of the outlet pipe 31 causes the radial inner end opening 31c to sink into the liquid 26, causing the liquid 26 to pass from the front chamber 24 through the outlet pipe 31. It can be led out to the rear chamber 25. That is, the central shaft 28, the link 29, and the outlet pipe 31 constitute a liquid outlet mechanism 32 that can guide the liquid 26 from the front chamber 24 to the rear chamber 25 in accordance with the temperature sensing operation of the temperature sensor 27. Liquid ejection mechanism 32
The amount of liquid discharged is controlled by rotating the discharge pipe 31.

Further, a rotating shaft 3 is provided at the rear part 21c of the fan casing 21.
3 is rotatably attached, and the rotating shaft 33 is rotationally driven by an engine (not shown) via a power transmission means 34 such as a pulley. Reference numeral 35 denotes a fluid coupling, and the fluid coupling 35 consists of a driving-side uneven portion 36 having a plurality of coaxial annular protrusions and a driven-side uneven portion 37 formed to engage with the driving-side uneven portion 36 with a slight gap (see details). (not shown).

The driving side uneven portion 36 is a rotating plate 38 fixed to the rotating shaft 33.
The driven side uneven portion 37 is formed on the fan casing 21.
When the rotating shaft 33 rotates, torque is transmitted from the driving side uneven portion 36 to the driven side uneven portion 37 by fluid friction based on the viscosity of the liquid 26 in the rear chamber 25. That is, the fluid coupling 35 is connected to the rotating shaft 33
The fan casing 21 is driven by transmitting torque from the rotating shaft 33 to the fan casing 21 through the rotation 1tIi 38 and the liquid 26 led out into the rear chamber 25. It has become.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, a dam 41 is engaged with the outer peripheral portion 38a of the rotating plate 38, and the dam 41 is attached to the fan casing 21. The dam 41 comes into sliding contact with the outer circumferential portion 38a of the rotary plate 38 according to the sliding speed of the fan casing 21 and the rotary plate 38 when the fluid coupling 35 is operated, and wipes off the liquid 26 adhering to the rotary plate 38 and removes the liquid 26 from the fan casing 21. The liquid is introduced into the front chamber 24 through a liquid passage 42 formed in the front chamber 24.

That is, the dam 41 and the liquid passage 42 are connected to the fluid coupling 35
The liquid introducing mechanism 43 cooperates with the rotary plate 38 to introduce the liquid 26 in the rear chamber 25 into the front chamber 24, and the pumping action of the liquid introducing mechanism 43 causes the liquid 26 to flow into the front chamber 24 and into the liquid outlet. The liquid is circulated through the mechanism 32, the rear chamber 25, and the liquid introduction mechanism 43.

Note that the other swinging end 29b of the link 29 faces the inner circumferential wall 21b of the fan casing 21, and the link 29
The swinging end portion 29b is configured to reduce the opening area of the liquid passage 42 on the front chamber 24 side to limit the amount of liquid introduced into the front chamber 24 when the temperature of the air passing through the radiator 22 is high. (See Figure 5).

Further, 45 is a bearing such as a radial ball bearing, and the bearing 45 pivotally supports the rotating shaft 33 and also restricts movement of the fan casing 21 and the rotating shaft 33 in the axial direction when the fan is driven. There is. 46.47
are seal rings, and seal rings 46 and 47 are respectively attached to the fan casing 21 and are attached to the front chamber 24.
Alternatively, the rear chamber 25 is kept liquid-tight.

Next, the effect will be explained.

When the rotating shaft 33 is driven by the engine via the power transmission means 34, the liquid 26 remaining in the rear chamber 25 is transferred from the rotating shaft 33 to the fan casing 2 by the fluid coupling 35.
Torque is transmitted to the fan casing 21 and the fan rotate at a relatively low rotation speed. At this time, the liquid 26 in the fan casing 21 is urged toward the inner circumferential wall 21b of the fan casing 21 by centrifugal force based on the rotation of the fan casing 21, and the liquid 26 in the front chamber 24 forms an annular shape with the inner circumferential wall 21b as the bottom surface. stay in. At the same time, the liquid 26 adhering to the outer peripheral portion 38a of the rotary plate 3 is wiped off by the dam 41 of the liquid introduction mechanism 43, and then introduced into the front chamber 24 via the liquid passage 42. Therefore, the amount of liquid 26 in the rear chamber 25 is gradually increased by $i, the effective power transmission area of the fluid coupling 35 is gradually reduced, the sliding speed of the fluid coupling 35 is increased, and the fan rotation speed is decreased. Note that during this time, the radially inner end opening 31c of the outlet pipe 31 is located only 62 times above the level of the liquid 26 that remains annularly within the fan casing 21, that is, on the radially inward side of the fan casing 21. ing.

On the other hand, when the temperature of the passing air from the radiator 22 that is received by the front part 21a of the fan casing 21 increases, the temperature sensing element 27 deforms in response to the air temperature and performs a temperature sensing operation.
The outlet pipe 31 of the liquid outlet mechanism 32 rotates around the radiating outer end opening 31b in response to the temperature sensing operation of the temperature sensing element 27. At this time, the radial inner end opening 31c of the outlet pipe 31 sinks into the liquid 26 while approaching the inner circumferential wall 21b of the fan casing 21, and the liquid 26 staying inward from the radial inner end opening 31c is transferred to the liquid outlet passage 31a. It is led out from the front chamber 24 to the rear chamber 25 through the front chamber 24. Therefore, when the temperature of the air passing through the radiator increases, the amount of liquid 26 in the rear chamber 25 increases, the effective power transmission area of the fluid coupling 35 gradually increases, and the fan rotation speed increases. That is, the fan rotation speed is adjusted according to the temperature of the air passing through the radiator 22, which helps improve the fuel efficiency of the engine that is the driving source, shorten the warm-up time, and reduce fan noise.

Here, the liquid 26 passes through the outlet pipe 31 and enters the front chamber 24.
When the liquid 2G is led out to the rear chamber 25, the radial inner end opening 31c of the outflow pipe 31 is located near the surface of the liquid 26 before or during the outflow of the liquid 2G, but the liquid outflow passage 31a
Since it is a smooth passage with a substantially circular cross section, the radial inner end opening 31c acts as a wide outlet. That is, since the fluid resistance is extremely small compared to the conventional outlet shape which has an acute angle and tends to cause contracted flow, the actual opening position will not be displaced due to a change in the viscosity of the liquid 26. Therefore, the amount of liquid 26 drawn out accurately corresponds to the rotation of the outlet tube 31, and the minute control of the amount of liquid drawn out in accordance with the temperature sensing operation of the temperature sensing element 27 is facilitated. As described above, in this embodiment, the radial inner end opening 31C of the lead-out pipe 31 is formed in a predetermined shape.
The fan casing 21 responds to the temperature sensing operation of the temperature sensing element 27.
Since the radial inner end opening 31c, which is rotated toward and away from the inner peripheral wall 21b and has a predetermined area that is not affected by changes in the viscosity of the liquid 26, is located near the liquid surface, the amount of the liquid 26 drawn out depends on the fan rotation speed. The fan rotation speed adjustment function is fully demonstrated by controlling the amount of rotation to gradually increase or decrease. Therefore, especially when starting up the fan driving force, the amount of liquid drawn out can be minutely controlled to smoothly start up the fan rotation speed.

In this embodiment, the liquid 4 outlet passage 31a of the outlet pipe 31 has a substantially circular cross section, but the present invention is not limited to this.
Needless to say, it is sufficient if the cross section has a wide ΦI outlet shape that corresponds to minute quantity control.

(Effects) According to the present invention, the outlet tube is rotated in response to the temperature sensing operation of the temperature sensing element, and the radial inner end opening of the outlet tube having a predetermined opening area is brought close to and separated from the inner circumferential wall of the fan casing. Since the amount of liquid drawn out is controlled by the radial inner end opening, which is not affected by changes in liquid viscosity, it is possible to position the radial inner end opening near the liquid surface and control the amount of liquid drawn out to the fluid coupling in a very small amount.
The fan rotation speed adjustment function of gradually increasing or decreasing the fan rotation speed can be fully utilized.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 5 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a temperature-sensitive fluid fan coupling device according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the temperature-sensitive fluid fan coupling device, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the liquid discharge mechanism, FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line ■-■' in FIG. 2 showing the discharge pipe, and FIG.
V-IV' line arrow sectional view, Figure 5 is v-v' in Figure 2
6.7 is a diagram showing a conventional temperature-sensitive fluid fan coupling device, FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the temperature-sensitive fluid fan coupling device, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ■-■' in FIG. 6; FIG. 21...Fan casing, 21a...Front part, 21b...Inner peripheral wall, 21c...Rear part, 23...Partition plate, 24 ...Front chamber, 25...Rear chamber, 26...Liquid, 27...Temperature sensing element, 31...Outlet pipe, 31b ... Radiation outer end opening, 31c ... Radiation inner end opening, 32 ... Liquid ejection mechanism, 33 ... Rotation shaft, 35 ... ... Fluid coupling, 38 ... Rotating plate, 43 ... Liquid introduction mechanism.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A fan casing having a front chamber and a rear chamber separated by a partition plate, a temperature sensing element attached to the front part of the fan casing and operating in response to the temperature of the air received by the fan casing, and a temperature sensing element It has a liquid ejection mechanism that operates in response to temperature sensing and can draw liquid from the front chamber to the rear chamber, a rotating shaft attached to the rear of the fan casing, and a rotating plate fixed to the rotating shaft. A fluid coupling that transmits torque from the rotating shaft to the fan casing via the rotary plate and the liquid led to the rear chamber, and a liquid introduction that cooperates with the rotary plate of the fluid coupling to introduce the liquid in the rear chamber into the front chamber. a radial outer end opening rotatably connected to the radial outer end of the partition plate so as to open into the rear chamber, and a radial inner end opening that opens into the front chamber with a predetermined area. The fan casing is configured with a lead-out pipe that has a radial inner end opening and rotates toward and away from the inner circumferential wall of the fan casing to control the amount of liquid delivered in accordance with the temperature-sensing operation of the temperature-sensing element. A temperature-sensitive fluid fan coupling device featuring: