JPH01176821A - Temperature sensing type fluid fan coupling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To aim at ensuring a satisfactory rise-up of rotational speed and a drive force upon maximum output operation by providing an urging means for a valve element in a lead-out valve, which urges the valve element in different directions in accordance with operating conditions of a fluid coupling so as to obtain an optimum opening degree. CONSTITUTION:A weight serving as an urging means 13 is disposed on the opening part 11c side of the radially inner end of a lead-out pipe 11 which is rotated about a center shaft 8 by a temperature sensing element through the intermediary of a link 9. The urging means 13 urges the lead-out pipe 11 as a lead-out valve in the valve closing directions of the lead-out valve on the side nearer to the valve closing side than a middle position, where the lead-out pipe 11 has a predetermined opening degree. With this arrangement, the amount of liquid in the rear chamber is controlled to a slight amount in accordance with the operating conditions of the fluid coupling and the temperature sensing element. Accordingly, it is possible to enable the rotational speed to smoothly rise-up and to exhibit a sufficient drive force upon large output operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a temperature-sensitive fan coupling device,
More specifically, the present invention relates to a temperature-sensitive fluid fan coupling device for mounting a radiator cooling fan or the like in an automobile.

(Prior Art) In general, 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, 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 engine fuel efficiency, reduce fan noise, and shorten warm-up time.

A conventional temperature-sensitive fluid fan coupling device of this type is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-241534. In this device, when the temperature of the air passing through the radiator that is received by the front part of the fan casing equipped with the cooling fan increases, the temperature sensing element deforms in response to this air temperature, causing the valve installed in the front chamber of the fan casing to deform. Rotate your body. The valve body engages with a partition plate that partitions the front chamber and the rear chamber, and together with the valve hole formed in the partition plate, forms a valve for discharging liquid, and the valve opening degree is changed by rotating the valve body. It controls the amount of fluid delivered from the front chamber to the fluid joint in the rear chamber. Also,
A weight body of a predetermined weight is directly or indirectly attached to the free end side of the valve body, and the centrifugal force of the weight body based on the rotation of the fan casing is used to bias the valve body in a predetermined direction. , the valve opening degree is supplementarily reduced as the fan rotation speed increases. That is, by supplementarily reducing the transmission torque of the fluid coupling in response to the rise of fan rotation, the fan driving force and fan noise are prevented from increasing rapidly.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in such a conventional temperature-sensitive fluid fan coupling device, the valve body is constantly forced to reduce the valve opening while the fan casing is rotating. Since the configuration applies a biasing force in the direction, relatively good start-up characteristics can be obtained, but when the radiator temperature becomes high and maximum output is required to further increase the fan rotation speed, the temperature increase There was a problem in that the valve opening degree corresponding to the current value could not be obtained, and sufficient fan driving force could not be exerted.

(Objective of the Invention) Therefore, the present invention urges the valve body in different directions depending on the operating state of the fluid coupling, thereby promoting the optimal valve opening of the outlet valve and improving the startup characteristics of the fan rotation speed. The purpose is to ensure sufficient fan driving force at high output.

(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 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 liquid led out to the rear chamber. and a liquid introduction mechanism that cooperates with a rotary plate of the fluid coupling to introduce the liquid in the rear chamber into the front chamber, and the liquid discharge mechanism rotates in response to the temperature sensing operation of the temperature sensing element. A lead-out valve that has a valve body and controls the amount of liquid flowing out by changing the valve opening degree by rotating the valve body, and a lead-out valve that is attached to the valve body and is attached to the valve body to one side from an intermediate position where the lead-out valve reaches a predetermined opening degree. and a biasing member that biases the valve body toward the valve-closing side and a biasing member that biases the valve body toward the valve-opening side on the other side.

(Function) In the present invention, the biasing means attached to the valve body of the outlet valve biases the valve body toward the valve closing side on one side from the rotational intermediate position where the outlet valve reaches a predetermined opening degree, and on the other side. The valve body is urged toward the valve opening side. Therefore, biasing forces in different directions are applied to the valve body when the fan starts rotating on one side and when the fan outputs a large output on the other side, which promotes the optimal valve opening of the outlet valve depending on the operating state of the fluid coupling. It will be done. As a result, a good rise characteristic of the fan rotation speed is ensured, and sufficient fan driving force is exerted at high output.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. 1 to 3 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 FIG. 1.2, 1 is a fan casing, and the fan casing 1 is arranged on the rear side of the vehicle body of the radiator 2, with a radiator cooling fan (not shown) attached to the outer periphery of the fan casing 1. Fan casing 1
The fan casing 1 has a partition plate 3, and a front chamber 4 and a rear chamber 5 are defined within the fan casing 1, which are partitioned by the partition plate 3. A liquid 6 having a predetermined viscosity is stored in the front chamber 4 of the fan casing 1, and the liquid 6 is, for example, silicone oil with a small viscosity temperature coefficient.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a temperature sensing body made of bimetal or the like, and the temperature sensing body 7 is formed in a spiral shape. The temperature sensing element 7 has one end 7a attached to the front part 1a of the fan casing 1 and the other end 7b connected to the central shaft 8. It deforms in response to the temperature of the air passing through it, and performs a temperature-sensitive operation to rotate the central shaft 8. The central shaft 8 passes through the front part 1a of the fan casing 1 and is connected to a link 9 within the front chamber 4.
The link 9 is rotatably connected to the four outlet pipes 11 at one swinging end 9a that swings as the central shaft 8 rotates.

The outlet pipe 11 has a smooth liquid outlet passage 11 with a substantially circular cross section.
The outlet pipe 11 has a radial outer end opening 11b that opens into the rear chamber 5 and a radial inner end opening 11c that opens into the front chamber 4. The radiating outer end opening 11b of the lead-out pipe 11 is rotatably connected to the radiating outer end of the partition plate 3, and when the link 9 swings due to the temperature sensing operation of the temperature sensing element 7, the lead-out pipe 11 radiates. The inner end opening 11c is configured to rotate in response to the temperature sensing operation of the temperature sensing element 7 so that the inner end opening 11c approaches and separates from the inner peripheral wall 1b of the fan casing 1. At this time, the liquid 6 in the fan casing 1 is urged toward the inner circumferential wall lb side of the fan casing 1 by centrifugal force based on the rotation of the fan casing 1, which will be described later, and stays in an annular shape. Radial inner end opening 1
1c is displaced into the liquid 6, and an amount of liquid 6 corresponding to the amount of displacement can be led out from the front chamber 4 to the rear chamber 5 through the outlet pipe 11. That is, the central shaft 8, the link 9, and the outlet pipe 11 constitute a liquid outlet mechanism 12 that can guide the liquid 6 from the front chamber 4 to the rear chamber 5 in accordance with the temperature sensing operation of the temperature sensor 27. The outlet pipe 11 functions as a valve body that rotates according to the temperature sensing operation of the temperature sensing element, and at the time of the rotation, the radial inner end opening 11c
By displacing the valve, the opening degree of the valve is changed to function as a discharge valve that controls the amount of liquid to be discharged.

As shown in FIG. 3, the radial inner end opening 11 of the outlet pipe 11
A biasing member 13 is attached to the c side, and the biasing member 13 is, for example, a weight with a predetermined weight that has a higher specific gravity than the outlet pipe 11. The biasing member 13 is applied to the fan casing 1 when the valve is closed when the radially inner end opening 11c of the outlet pipe 11 is displaced inwardly.
It is located on one side of the 0 plane (intermediate position) including the rotational axis of the radial inner end opening 11c and the rotating wheel line of the outlet pipe 11, and is located on the other side of the 0 plane when the valve is opened with the radial inner end opening 11c displaced to the outermost side. The center of gravity of the biasing member 13 passes through the zero plane by rotating the outlet tube 11. Further, based on the rotation of the fan casing 1, a centrifugal force is applied to the biasing member 13 in the radial direction of the fan casing 1 passing through the rotation center of the fan casing 1 and the center of gravity of the biasing member 13,
The biasing member 13 has biasing forces in different directions on one side and the other side of the 0 surface (for example, biasing force F8 and biasing force F shown in FIG. 3).
A) is added to the outlet pipe 11. The biasing force of the biasing member 13 is directed toward the central axis of rotation of the biasing member 13 when the center of gravity of the biasing member 13 is located on the C plane due to the rotation of the lead-out tube 11; It faces in the direction of rotating the pipe 11 toward the valve opening side or the valve closing side. That is, the biasing member 13 urges the outlet pipe 11 as a valve body toward the valve closing side on one side (valve closing side) from the intermediate position where the outlet pipe 11 as the outlet valve is opened at a predetermined time, and on the other side. (valve open side) biases the outlet pipe 11 toward the valve open side.

Further, a rotary shaft 14 is rotatably attached to the rear part 1c of the fen casing 1, and the rotary shaft 14 is rotatably driven by an engine (not shown) via a power transmission means 15 such as a pulley. . 16 is a fluid coupling;
The fluid coupling 16 has a front power transmission section 17 and a rear power transmission section 18. Power transmission section 17.1
Reference numeral 8 is composed of a driving-side uneven part having a plurality of coaxial annular protrusions and a driven-side uneven part formed to engage with the driving-side uneven part with a small gap, and the driving-side uneven part is a rotating part fixed to the rotating shaft 3. The driven side uneven portion is formed on the fan casing 1 . Power transmission section 17
．． 18 is configured to transmit torque from the driving side uneven portion to the driven side uneven portion by fluid friction based on the viscosity of the liquid 6 in the rear chamber 5 when the rotating shaft 14 rotates. That is, the fluid coupling 16 is connected to a rotating plate 19 fixed to the rotating shaft 14.
The fan casing 1 is driven by transmitting torque from the rotating shaft 14 to the fan casing 1 via the rotating plate 19 and the liquid 6 led out into the rear chamber 5.

On the other hand, a dam 21 is engaged with the outer peripheral portion 19a of the rotating plate 19, and the dam 21 is attached to the fan casing 1. The dam 21 moves the rotating plate 19 according to the sliding speed between the fan casing 1 and the rotating plate 19 when the fluid coupling 16 operates.
The liquid 6 that is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral part 19a of the rotating plate 19 and attached to the rotary plate 19
The liquid is introduced into the front chamber 4 through a liquid passage 22 formed in the fan casing 1. That is, the dam 21 and the liquid passage 22 constitute a liquid introduction mechanism 23 that cooperates with the rotating plate 19 of the fluid coupling 16 to introduce the liquid 6 in the rear chamber 5 into the front chamber 4. Due to the pumping action, the liquid 6 is circulated through the front chamber 4, the liquid discharge mechanism 12, the rear chamber 5, and the liquid introduction mechanism 23.

Note that 25 is a bearing such as a radial ball bearing, and the bearing 25 not only supports the rotating shaft 14 but also restricts the fan casing 1 and the rotating shaft 14 from moving in the axial direction when the fan is driven. There is. Also, 26.
27 is a seal ring, and the seal rings 26 and 27 are respectively attached to the fan casing 1 to maintain the front chamber 4 or the rear chamber 5 liquid-tight.

Next, the effect will be explained.

When the rotating shaft 14 is driven by the engine via the power transmission means 15, torque is transmitted from the rotating shaft 14 to the fan casing 1 by the fluid coupling 16 via the liquid 6 remaining in the rear chamber 25, and the fan The casing ■ and the fan rotate at a relatively low rotation speed. At this time, the liquid 6 in the fan casing 1 is urged toward the inner circumferential wall lb of the fan casing 1 by centrifugal force based on the rotation of the fan casing 1, and the liquid 6 in the front chamber 4 has the circumferential wall 1'b as its bottom surface. Remains in a ring. At the same time, the liquid 6 adhering to the outer circumference 19a of the rotary plate 19 is wiped off by the dam 21 of the liquid introduction mechanism 23, and then passes through the liquid passage 22 to the front chamber 4.
will be introduced in Therefore, the amount of liquid 6 in the rear chamber 5 is gradually reduced, the effective power transmission area of the fluid coupling 16 is gradually reduced, the sliding speed of the fluid coupling 16 is increased, and the fan rotation speed is decreased. During this time, the radially inner end opening 11C of the outlet pipe 11 is located slightly above the level of the liquid 6 staying on the ring within the fan casing 1, that is, on the radially inner side of the fan casing 1. .

On the other hand, when the temperature of the passing air from the radiator 2 received by the front part 1a of the fan casing 1 increases, the temperature sensing element 7 deforms in response to the air temperature and performs a temperature sensing operation, causing the liquid derivation mechanism 12 to The tube 11 is rotated by the temperature sensing operation of the temperature sensing element 7. At this time, due to centrifugal force based on the rotation of the fan casing l, the biasing member 13 is pressed against the outlet pipe 11 on one side of the zero surface.
is biased toward the valve closing side, so that the amount of rotation of the outlet pipe 11 with respect to the temperature sensing operation of the temperature sensor 7 is supplementarily reduced, and the radial inner end opening 11c of the outlet pipe 11 is pressed against the inner circumferential wall 1 of the fan casing 1.
A very small amount of liquid 6, which is submerged in the liquid 6 with a slight displacement approaching the point b, and which remains inside the radial inner end opening 11C, is led out from the front chamber 4 to the rear chamber 5 through the liquid outlet passage 11a. Therefore, when the temperature of the air passing through the radiator increases, the amount of liquid 6 in the rear chamber 5 is controlled to a very small amount, the effective power transmission area of the fluid coupling 16 gradually increases, and the fan rotation speed rises smoothly.

The fan rotation speed is adjusted according to the temperature of the air passing through the radiator 2, improving the fuel efficiency of the engine that is the driving source.
This helps shorten warm-up time and reduce fan noise.

Next, when the temperature of the Ja air from the radiator 2 further increases, the outlet pipe 11 rotates due to the temperature sensing operation of the temperature body 7, the outlet pipe 11 reaches a predetermined valve opening degree, and the biasing member 1
After the center of gravity of 3 moves onto the C plane, the biasing member 13 moves to the other side of the 0 plane. At this time, the biasing member 13 biases the outlet pipe 11 toward the valve opening side due to the centrifugal force based on the rotation of the fan casing 1, so the amount of rotation of the outlet pipe 110 in response to the temperature sensing operation of the temperature sensor 7 is supplementarily increased. This prompts the outlet pipe 11, which is the outlet valve, to open sufficiently. Therefore, the effective power transmission area of the fluid coupling 16 increases rapidly, a large output is obtained, and sufficient fan driving force is exerted.

As described above, in this embodiment, the outlet pipe 11 is urged in an appropriate direction by the centrifugal force of the urging member 13, which is a weight of a predetermined weight, and the outlet valve is optimized according to the operating state of the fluid coupling 16. Opening is encouraged. Therefore, good startup characteristics are ensured when the fan rotational speed is increased, and sufficient fan driving force is exerted at high output.

In this example, a weight of a predetermined weight was used as the biasing member, but the present invention is not limited to this. A similar effect can be obtained by using an elastic member (for example, a reversing spring) having the other end.

(Effects) According to the present invention, the biasing means attached to the valve body of the outlet valve urges the valve body toward the valve closing side on one side from the rotational intermediate position where the outlet valve reaches a predetermined valve opening degree, Since the valve body is biased on the other side when the valve is opened, it is possible to apply biasing forces in different directions to the valve body when the fan starts to rotate on one side and when the other side is at high output, and the fluid coupling It is possible to encourage the optimal valve opening degree of the outlet valve depending on the operating state. As a result, it is possible to ensure a good rise characteristic of the fan rotation speed, and furthermore, it is possible to exert sufficient fan driving force at high output.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the temperature-sensitive fluid fan coupling device according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a side sectional view thereof, and FIG. The arrow view and FIG. 3 are partially enlarged views of FIG. 2 showing the action of the biasing member. 1...Fan casing, 1a...Front, IC...Rear, 3...Partition plate, 4...Front chamber, 5 ......Rear chamber, 6...Liquid, 7...Temperature sensing element, 11...Outlet pipe (valve body and outlet valve), 12.
...Liquid derivation mechanism, 13...Biasing member, 14...Rotating shaft, 16...Fluid coupling, 19...Rotating plate, 23...Liquid introduction mechanism, C...0 surface (intermediate position). Figure 2

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. mechanism, wherein the liquid discharge mechanism has a valve body that rotates in accordance with the temperature sensing operation of the temperature sensing element, and controls the amount of liquid to be discharged by changing the valve opening degree by rotating the valve body. a lead-out valve that is attached to the valve body and biases the valve body toward the valve closing side on one side from an intermediate position where the lead-out valve has a predetermined opening degree;
1. A temperature-sensitive fluid fan coupling device comprising: a biasing member on the other side that biases the valve body toward the valve opening side.