JPH1067222A - Viscous heater - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the circulation of a viscous fluid between different laby rinth grooves so as to suppress the deterioration of the viscous fluid by forming the labyrinth grooves which are close to an inside and a rotor of a heat genera tion chamber and forming a communicating passage in the radial direction in either of the labyrinth grooves on a rotor side and a heat generation chamber side. SOLUTION: In this viscous heater, a rotor 24 is rotated integrally with a drive shaft 22 when an engine is driven, and silicone oil is sheared in clearances between labyrinth grooves 26 and 29 and between labyrinth grooves 26 and 30 of the rotor 24 and a heat generation chamber 10, respectively, to generate heat. This heat is heat-exchanged into circulating water in front and rear water jackets FW, RW through front and rear partition plates 2, 3. In this case, knotched sections 25a, 27a as communicating passages in the radial direction of the labyrinth grooves 26, 29 are formed in a fin 25 of the rotor 24 and a fin 27 of the front partition plate 2, and similar knotched sections 25a, 28a are formed in a fin 25 which protrudes on a rear side of the rotor 24 and a fin 28 of the rear partition plate 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heat generating chamber and a heat radiating chamber defined in a housing, and heat generated by shearing a viscous fluid contained in the heat generating chamber with a rotor to a circulating fluid in the heat radiating chamber. The present invention relates to a viscous heater that performs heat exchange.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A viscous heater that utilizes the driving force of a vehicle engine has attracted attention as an auxiliary heat source for a vehicle, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-246823 discloses a viscous heater used for a vehicle heating device. Have been. In this viscous heater, the front and rear housings are fastened with through bolts in a state where the front and rear housings are opposed to each other.
A water jacket is formed outside the heat generating chamber. In the water jacket, circulating water is taken in from an inlet port and sent out from an outlet port to an external heating circuit. A drive shaft is rotatably supported on the front housing via a bearing device, and a rotor that is rotatable in the heating chamber is fixed to the drive shaft. The inner wall surface of the heat generating chamber and the outer surface of the rotor constitute a labyrinth groove which is close to each other, and a viscous fluid such as silicone oil is interposed in a gap between the wall surface of the heat generating chamber and the outer surface of the rotor.

In this viscous heater, when the drive shaft is driven by the engine, the rotor rotates in the heat generating chamber, so that the viscous fluid is sheared by the gap between the inner wall surface of the heat generating chamber and the outer surface of the rotor to generate heat. Then, the heat generated in the heat generating chamber is exchanged with the circulating water in the water jacket, and the heated circulating water is supplied to the heating of the vehicle interior by the heating circuit.

[0004]

When a viscous fluid contained in a heating chamber is subjected to a shearing action by rotation of a rotor,
Mainly, the entanglement of the molecular chains of the viscous fluid is merely eliminated, and the molecular chains of the viscous fluid are rarely cut. However, in general, the gap between the inner wall surface of the heat generating chamber and the outer surface of the rotor is very small, about several hundred μm, and the labyrinth grooves formed on the outer surface of the rotor and the inner wall surface of the heat generating chamber are formed in an annular shape, and are concentric. The viscous fluid cannot move directly between the adjacent labyrinth grooves formed in the shape of a circle, and it is difficult for the viscous fluid to circulate in the radial direction in the heating chamber. As a result, the viscous fluid contained in the labyrinth groove continuously generates heat due to shearing action without circulating, and is continuously exposed to high temperature for a long time, and the molecular chains are cut and the deterioration of the viscous fluid progresses Is faster. When the viscous fluid deteriorates, its viscosity decreases, and there is a problem that the calorific value due to shearing decreases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to secure a gap between an outer surface of a rotor and an inner wall surface of a heat generating chamber to a size where shear heat can be effectively generated. Another object of the present invention is to provide a viscous heater in which a viscous fluid can be easily circulated between different labyrinth grooves, thereby suppressing deterioration of the viscous fluid.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a heat generating chamber and a heat radiating chamber are defined in a housing, and a viscous fluid contained in the heat generating chamber is separated by a rotor. In a viscous heater for exchanging heat generated by shearing with a circulating fluid in the heat radiating chamber, labyrinth grooves are formed close to each other in the heat generating chamber and the rotor, and the rotor side and the heat generating chamber side are formed. A communication path in the radial direction was formed in at least one of the labyrinth grooves.

In this viscous heater, since the labyrinth grooves are formed close to each other in the interior of the heat generating chamber and the rotor, the area of the facing surface between the rotor outer surface and the heat generating chamber surface per volume of the heat generating chamber increases. In addition, the shear heat generation efficiency of the viscous fluid is increased. The “heat generation efficiency” in the present specification means a ratio of a heat generation amount that can be obtained with a fixed rotor diameter. The viscous fluid that is subjected to a shearing action in the gap between the labyrinth grooves with the rotation of the rotor can move in the radial direction through a communication path formed in the labyrinth groove by the action of centrifugal force or the like. As a result, circulation of the viscous fluid in the heating chamber occurs, and the early progress of deterioration due to continuous shearing of the same viscous fluid for a long time is avoided. Further, the action of restricting the molecules of the viscous fluid by the edges of the communication passage formed in the labyrinth groove is increased, and the shearing action is enhanced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the communication path is formed on both the rotor side and the heat generating chamber side. In this viscous heater, since the communication passage is formed on both the rotor side and the heat generating chamber side, the viscous fluid in the labyrinth groove easily moves in the radial direction. Further, when the edges of the communication passages formed on the rotor side and the heat generating chamber side relatively move in a state of being close to each other, the action of restraining the molecules of the viscous fluid is increased, and the shearing action is further enhanced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the communication path is a hole formed in a fin constituting a labyrinth groove. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the communication path is a notch formed in a fin constituting a labyrinth groove.

In this viscous heater, the communication path can be easily formed even when the fins are close to each other. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the position of the communication path in the circumferential direction is different between adjacent fins.

In this viscous heater, since the communication passage is not arranged in a straight line in the radial direction, the pulsation of torque due to the rapid circulation of the viscous fluid at a predetermined period is prevented.

[0012] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the communication path has the same position in the circumferential direction between adjacent fins. In this viscous heater, even if the communication path is a hole, the processing becomes easy.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a through hole is formed in the rotor so that front and rear labyrinth grooves communicate with each other. ing.

In this viscous heater, the labyrinth grooves located on the front and rear sides of the rotor are in communication with each other through the through holes, so that the viscous fluid flows not only in the radial direction of the heat generating chamber but also in the longitudinal direction (axial direction). )
When the rotor rotates, the viscous fluid circulates more easily.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, a front housing main body (first housing main body) 1, a front partition plate 2, a rear partition plate 3, and a rear housing main body (second housing main body) 4 are formed of a front housing main body. A plurality of bolts 7 (only one bolt in FIG. 1) are stacked between the main body 1 and the front partition plate 2 and between the rear partition plate 3 and the rear housing main body 4 with gaskets 5 and 6 interposed therebetween. (Shown). Both compartment plates 2, 3
Is formed of a material having excellent thermal conductivity (for example, aluminum or an aluminum-based alloy). A front housing 8 is formed by the front housing body 1 and the front partition plate 2, and a rear housing 9 is formed by the rear partition plate 3 and the rear housing body 4.

The heat generating chamber 10 is formed by a concave portion provided on the rear end side of the front partition plate 2 and the front end surface of the rear partition plate 3. A front water jacket FW adjacent to the front side of the heating chamber 10 is defined between the inner wall of the front housing body 1 and the front end surface of the front partition plate 2, while the rear end surface of the rear partition plate 3 is provided. A rear water jacket RW adjacent to the rear side of the heating chamber 10 is defined between the rear housing body 4 and the inner wall of the rear housing body 4.
The front water jacket FW and the rear water jacket RW constitute a heat radiating chamber adjacent to the heat generating chamber 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a water inlet port 11 and a water outlet port 12 are provided side by side in the central area on the rear surface side of the rear housing body 4. In the center of the rear end side of the rear partition plate 3, a short columnar convex portion 3a is provided.
Between the water inlet port 11 and the water outlet port 12, partition walls 3b and 3c projecting in the up-down radial direction from the projection 3a are provided in a protruding manner. Each tip of the convex portion 3a and the partition walls 3b and 3c is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the rear housing body 4 is in contact with the inner wall surface. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the rear water jacket RW includes the convex portion 3a and the partition walls 3b, 3c.
Thus, a rear right jacket chamber RWR communicating with the water inlet port 11 and a rear left jacket chamber RWL communicating with the water outlet port 12 are provided. Similarly, the front water jacket FW has a front right jacket chamber FWR and a front left jacket chamber FWL communicating with each other.

As shown in FIG. 2, the viscous heater has six flowing water passages 13 to 18 arranged at predetermined intervals between three bolts 7. Each of the water passages 13 to 18 passes through the rear gasket 6, the rear partition plate 3, the front partition plate 2, and the front gasket 5. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the rear right jacket chamber RWR communicates with the front right jacket chamber FWR via flowing water channels 13, 14, 15, and the front left jacket chamber FWL communicates with the flowing water channels 16, 17, 18. Through the rear left jacket room RWL
Is in communication with Therefore, the water inlet port 11, the rear right jacket room RWR, the flow channels 13 to 15, the front right jacket room FWR, the front left jacket room FWL, the flow channel 1
6 to 18, the rear left jacket chamber RWL and the water outlet port 12 together with a heating circuit (not shown) of the vehicle constitute a circulation path through which circulating water as a circulating fluid flows.

The front housing body 1 includes a bearing device 21.
The drive shaft 22 is rotatably supported via the shaft. The front partition plate 2 is provided with an oil seal 23 as a shaft sealing device adjacent to the heat generating chamber 10, whereby the rear end (first end) of the drive shaft 22 is provided in the heat generating chamber 10. And the heat generating chamber 10 is an airtight internal space.
A disk-shaped rotor 24 housed in the heat generating chamber 10 is press-fitted and fixed to a first end of the drive shaft 22 so as to be integrally rotatable. The heating chamber 10 is filled with a required amount of silicone oil as a viscous fluid. As the drive shaft 22 and the rotor 24 rotate integrally, the gap between the inner wall surface of the heating chamber 10 and the outer surface of the rotor 24 is uniformly filled with silicone oil based on surface tension.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, fins 25 are provided concentrically on both front and rear surfaces of the rotor 24, and a plurality of labyrinth grooves 26 are formed. Both compartment plates 2, 3
The fins 27,
28 are protruded concentrically, and labyrinth grooves 29 and 30 are formed respectively. The rotor 24 has a labyrinth groove 26 formed in the labyrinth grooves 2 of the partition plates 2 and 3.
9 and 30 are housed in the heat generating chamber 10 in a state of being close to each other.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.
It is the figure which omitted the flowing water channels 13-18 and the bolt 7. As shown in FIG. 4, the fins 25 of the rotor 24 and the fins 27 of the front partition plate 2 are notched as diametrically communicating passages in the labyrinth grooves 26, 29 at symmetrical positions with respect to the drive shaft 22, respectively. 25a and 27a are formed. Each of the notches 25a and 27a is formed so that adjacent fins have the same position in the circumferential direction. That is, each notch 25a formed in the rotor 24 and each notch 27a formed in the front partition plate 2
Are formed so as to be located on a straight line in the radial direction. The notches 25a and 28a having the same positional relationship as the front side are also formed on the fins 24 protruding from the rear side of the rotor 24 and the fins 28 of the rear partition plate 3.
Are formed.

A pulley 32 is fixed to a front end (second end) of the drive shaft 22 by a bolt 31. The pulley 32 is drivingly connected to a vehicle engine as an external drive source via a power transmission belt (not shown) wound around the outer periphery.

In the viscous heater configured as described above, when the engine is driven, the drive shaft 22 is rotated via the belt and the pulley 32, and the rotor 24 is driven by the drive shaft 22.
Is rotated together with. Along with this, the silicone oil is sheared in gaps between the labyrinth grooves 26, 29 and 26, 30 provided in the rotor 24 and the heat generating chamber 10 adjacent to each other, and generates heat. This heat is applied to the front and rear compartment plates 2, 3
The heat is exchanged with the circulating water in the front and rear water jackets FW and RW through the heating circuit, and the heated circulating water is supplied to the vehicle interior through a heating circuit.

As in the prior art, the rotor 24 and the heating chamber 1
When the labyrinth grooves 26, 29, and 30 are completely annular, the viscous fluid cannot move in the radial direction of the adjacent labyrinth grooves, and the viscous fluid hardly circulates in the heat generating chamber 10. However, in this embodiment, the fins 25, 27, 2
The viscous fluid in the labyrinth grooves 26, 29, 30 can move in the radial direction through the notches 25a, 27a, 28a formed in the groove 8. As a result, the viscous fluid in the inner labyrinth groove is sequentially moved from the inner labyrinth groove to the outer labyrinth groove by the action of the centrifugal force (dominant at high speed) accompanying the rotation of the rotor 24 and the force based on the Weissenberg effect (dominant at low speed). ,
Alternatively, the viscous fluid moves from the outside to the inside labyrinth groove sequentially, and the circulation of the viscous fluid in the heat generating chamber 10 easily occurs.

This embodiment has the following effects. (B) A communication passage formed in the labyrinth groove (notch 2
5a) allows the viscous fluid to move radially. The force for shearing the viscous fluid is larger near the outer periphery of the rotor 24 having a high peripheral speed than the inner periphery. Therefore, if the same viscous fluid stays near the outer periphery of the rotor 24, the deterioration easily proceeds. However, in the viscous heater of the present embodiment, since the viscous fluid can be circulated in the heat generating chamber 10 in the radial direction, the viscous fluid near the center of the heat generating chamber 10 sequentially moves to the labyrinth groove (reverse during low rotation). In the vicinity of the outer periphery of the rotor 24, the same viscous fluid is prevented from being continuously subjected to a shearing action for a long time, thereby preventing the viscous fluid from deteriorating at an early stage.

(B) The end of the communication path (notch 25a or the like) formed in the labyrinth groove is
In order to enhance the shearing action of the viscous fluid during the rotation of, the amount of generated heat is improved.

(C) Since the communication passages (notches 25a and the like) are formed on both the rotor 24 side and the heat generating chamber 10 side, the viscous fluid in the labyrinth grooves 26, 29, 30 can easily move in the radial direction. The viscous fluid can move from the innermost labyrinth groove to the outermost labyrinth groove, and the circulation of the viscous fluid in the heat generating chamber 10 becomes easier. Further, when the edges of the communication passages (notches 25a, 27a, 28a) formed on the rotor 24 side and the heat generating chamber 10 side move relatively close to each other, the shearing action of the viscous fluid is further enhanced, and the heat is generated. The quantity is more improved.

(D) Since the communication passage is constituted by the notch 25a formed in the fin 25 or the like constituting the labyrinth groove, the communication passage is provided at the intermediate portion as compared with the case where a hole is formed as the communication passage. Processing of the finished fin becomes easy. Further, the length of the edge is longer than that of the hole, and the shearing action of the viscous fluid is improved.

(E) Since the positions of the communication paths in the adjacent fins are the same in the circumferential direction, the processing is facilitated. In addition, since there is a state in which the communication paths on the rotor side and the housing side are arranged in a straight line in the radial direction due to the rotation of the rotor 24, the viscous fluid easily moves in the radial direction, and circulation of the viscous fluid easily occurs.

(F) Since the labyrinth grooves 26, 29, and 30 are formed close to each other inside the heat generating chamber 10 and the rotor 24, the rotor 24 per volume of the heat generating chamber 10 is formed.
The area (the area contributing to shearing) of the outer surface of the heat generating chamber 10 and the inner surface of the heat generating chamber 10 increases, and the shear heat generating efficiency of the viscous fluid increases.

(G) Since the heat generating chamber 10 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the front water jacket FW and the rear water jacket RW, most of the heat generated in the heat generating chamber 10 passes through both the partition plates 2 and 3. To the circulating water (circulating fluid) of both water jackets FW and RW, and is used effectively for heating the circulating fluid.

(H) Since both the partition plates 2 and 3 are formed of a material having good thermal conductivity (aluminum or aluminum alloy), the heat generated in the heat generating chamber 10 efficiently circulates through the water jackets FW and RW. Is transmitted to

(I) Since the circulating water circulates in the front and rear water jackets FW and RW in a predetermined path, there is no short circuit or stagnation of the circulating water flow path in the water jacket. Therefore, the heat exchange from the viscous fluid in the heat generating chamber 10 to the circulating water in the heat radiating chambers FW and RW can be efficiently performed with the front and rear partition plates 2 and 3 interposed therebetween.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is significantly different from the above-described embodiment in that a through-hole 33 that connects the front side and the rear side of the labyrinth groove 26 is formed in the rotor 24. Further, the configuration of the communication path formed in the fin 25 and the like is different. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description will be omitted.

The rotor 24 is formed with a suitable number of through holes 33 at appropriate intervals in the circumferential direction so that both ends are opened at the bottom of the corresponding front and rear labyrinth grooves 26.

The fins 25 of the rotor 24 and the fins 27 and 28 of the partition plates 2 and 3 are provided with holes 25b as communication passages so as to be located on a straight line in the radial direction.
27b and 28b are formed. Although the distance between the rotors and the fins 25, 27, 28 formed in the partition plates 2, 3 is small, the holes 25b, 27b, 28b are formed so as to be located on a straight line in the radial direction, respectively. It can be easily processed with a drill or the like.

In this embodiment, each hole 25b,
27b, 28b are notches 25a, 2 of the above-described embodiment.
Functions corresponding to 7a and 28a are performed. Notch 25a,
Since the cross-sectional area of each communication passage is smaller than that of 27a and 28a, the circulation of the viscous fluid is unlikely to occur in the case of the same number, but it is improved by increasing the number.

Further, since the labyrinth grooves 26 located on the front side and the rear side with the rotor 24 interposed therebetween are in communication with each other through the through holes 33, the viscous fluid is not only transmitted in the radial direction of the heat generating chamber 10 but also in the front-rear direction (axial direction). Direction). Therefore, the viscous fluid circulates more easily during the rotation of the rotor 24, and the deterioration of the viscous fluid is suppressed more than in the above-described embodiment.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4 of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the communication passage formed in the rotor 24 and the partition plates 2 and 3 is:
The difference between adjacent fins in the circumferential direction and the large number of communication passages is different from that of the first embodiment, and the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Each of the fins 25 formed on the rotor 24 has four notches 25a formed at four positions where the angle with the center is substantially 90 °. Adjacent fins 25 differ in the circumferential formation position of the notch 25a, and the remaining fins 25 have the same cutout 25a in the circumferential formation position.

On the other hand, each of the fins 27 and 28 formed on the partition plates 2 and 3 has an angle of about 120 with the center.
The notches 27a and 28a are formed at three locations where the angle is °. Adjacent fins 27 and 28 have different circumferentially formed positions of notches 27a and 28a, and one set of fins 27 and 28 have notches 27a and 28.
The formation position of a in the circumferential direction is set to be the same.

In a configuration in which the communication passages (notches 25a, 27a, 28a) are arranged in a straight line in the radial direction as in the first embodiment, the circulation of the viscous fluid is rapidly increased at a predetermined cycle. Although there is a possibility that torque pulsation may occur due to the occurrence of this, there is no such a risk in this embodiment. Further, since the number of the notches 25a, 27a, and 28a is large, the viscous fluid circulates more easily than in the first embodiment, and the number of edges is also increased, so that the shearing action is further increased and the amount of heat generated is improved.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but may be embodied as follows, for example. (1) The positions of the communication passages (notches 25a, holes 25b, etc.) formed in the fins 25, 27, 28 are randomly formed in the circumferential direction, or the communication passages are provided so that both the notches and holes are mixed. You may.

(2) Communication path (notch 25a, hole 25
b) may be provided on only one of the rotor 24 and both of the partition plates 2 and 3 instead of being provided on both of them. In addition, one or more communication paths may be formed in all the fins on one of the rotor 24 side and the two partition plates 2 and 3 side, and the communication path may be formed only on appropriate fins on the other side.

(3) As shown in FIG. 7, the labyrinth groove 26 may be provided only on one surface of the rotor 24 (in FIG. 7, it is provided only on the rear surface of the rotor 24). In this case, the processing of the rotor 24 and the housing (specifically, the two partition plates 2 and 3) is simplified.

(4) When the hole 25b is formed in the fin 25, instead of forming the hole 25b so as to extend in the radial direction (radial direction), when the rotor 24 rotates, the rotor 25 rotates from the inside to the outside (or , And vice versa). For example, the hole 25 b is formed such that the outer open end is located rearward in the rotation direction of the rotor 24 than the inner open end. In this case, the movement of the viscous fluid between the adjacent labyrinth grooves 26 is more likely to occur.

(5) When the through hole 33 is formed in the rotor 24, instead of forming the through hole 33 so as to extend parallel to the drive shaft 22 (front-back direction), when the rotor 24 rotates, The viscous fluid is formed so as to extend in a direction in which the viscous fluid easily flows from the front side to the rear side or from the rear side to the front side. For example, the through hole 33 is formed so as to extend obliquely with respect to the thickness direction in a state including a tangent of a circle centered on the drive shaft 22 and in a plane parallel to the drive shaft 22. In this case, the movement of the viscous fluid in the longitudinal direction of the rotor 24 is more likely to occur. In addition, the through-hole 33 is not limited to connecting the labyrinth grooves 26 facing each other in front and rear, but may connect the labyrinth grooves 26 in different positions in front and rear.

(6) Instead of the structure in which the rotor 24 is press-fitted and fixed to the rear end of the drive shaft 22 so as to be integrally rotatable, the rotor 2
4 and the drive shaft 22 cannot rotate relative to each other via a spline,
In addition, they are fitted so as to be displaceable in the axial direction.

(7) An electromagnetic clutch mechanism is employed between the pulley 32 and the drive shaft 22 so that the driving force of the engine can be selectively transmitted to the drive shaft 22 as required. (8) Run both water jackets FW and RW through running water channels 13-1.
8, the water inlet port 11 and the water outlet port 12 are not connected.
May be shared by both water jackets FW and RW. Water inlet port 11 for both water jackets FW and RW
And circulating water is introduced at the same time, and the circulating water passing through the water jackets FW and RW is sent out from the water outlet port 12 to the external heating circuit.

(9) The heat radiating chamber (water jacket) may be provided only on one side of the heat generating chamber 10. (10) The material of the partition plates 2 and 3 may be other than aluminum and aluminum-based alloy.

The “viscous fluid” referred to in this specification is
It refers to any medium that generates heat based on fluid friction under the shearing action of the rotor, and is not limited to high-viscosity liquids or semi-liquids, and is not limited to silicone oil.

The inventions other than those described in the claims which can be grasped from the embodiment and the modified examples will be described below together with their effects. (1) In the invention according to claim 3, the hole formed in the fin on the rotor side is formed in a direction in which the viscous fluid easily flows from the inside of the fin to the outside (or vice versa) when the rotor rotates. It is formed to extend. In this case, the movement of the viscous fluid between the labyrinth grooves is more likely to occur.

(2) In the invention according to claim 7,
When the rotor rotates, the through hole is formed so as to extend in a direction in which the viscous fluid easily flows from the front side to the rear side or from the rear side to the front side. In this case, the movement of the viscous fluid in the front-rear direction of the rotor is more likely to occur, and the circulation of the viscous fluid occurs more smoothly.

[0055]

As described in detail above, according to the first to seventh aspects of the present invention, the viscous fluid in the labyrinth groove formed in the rotor and the heat generating chamber is easily circulated through the communication passage. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the same viscous fluid from being subjected to a shearing action continuously for a long time, prevent the viscous fluid from deteriorating at an early stage, and allow the viscous heater to exhibit the intended heat generation performance continuously. .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the communication passage is formed on both the rotor side and the heat generating chamber side, the viscous fluid in the labyrinth groove is more easily moved in the radial direction, and the inside of the heat generating chamber is Circulation of the viscous fluid becomes easier, and the effect is further enhanced. Further, when the edges of the communication passages formed on the rotor side and the heat generating chamber side relatively move in a state of being close to each other, the shearing action of the viscous fluid is further increased, and the amount of generated heat is further improved.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the communication path is formed by the notch formed in the fin constituting the labyrinth groove, the intermediate passage is formed in comparison with the case where a hole is formed as the communication path. Processing of the fins arranged in the portion becomes easy. Further, the length of the edge is longer than that of the hole, and the shearing action of the viscous fluid is improved.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the communication paths are not arranged in a straight line in the radial direction,
There is no danger of torque pulsation resulting from the sudden increase in circulation of the viscous fluid in a predetermined cycle.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the position of the communication passage is the same in the circumferential direction of the adjacent fin,
Its processing becomes easy. In addition, since there is a state where the communication passages on the rotor side and the housing side are arranged in a straight line in the radial direction due to the rotation of the rotor, the viscous fluid easily moves in the radial direction, and circulation of the viscous fluid easily occurs.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, since the labyrinth grooves located on the front side and the rear side with the rotor interposed therebetween are in communication with each other through the through-holes, the viscous fluid flows only in the radial direction of the heat generating chamber. It can also move in the front-rear direction (axial direction). Therefore, the viscous fluid circulates more easily during rotation of the rotor, and the deterioration of the viscous fluid is further suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 2 showing a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a path of circulating water in a viscous heater.

FIG. 4 is a partially omitted sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a rotor and a partition plate according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4 of a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a rotor and a partition plate according to a modified example.

[Explanation of symbols]

8 front housing, 9 rear housing, 10 heating chamber, 22 drive shaft, 24 rotor, 25, 27, 28
Fins, 25a, 27a, 28a ... notches as communication paths, 25b, 27b, 28b ... holes as communication paths, 2
6, 29, 30 ... labyrinth groove, 33 ... through hole, FW ...
A front water jacket that constitutes the heat radiating chamber, RW ... also a rear water jacket.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tsutomu Sato 2-1-1, Toyota-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi Prefecture Inside Toyota Industries Corporation

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A viscous heater in which a heat generating chamber and a heat radiating chamber are defined in a housing, and heat generated by shearing a viscous fluid contained in the heat generating chamber with a rotor is exchanged with a circulating fluid in the heat radiating chamber. A viscous heater in which a labyrinth groove is formed close to each other inside the heat generating chamber and the rotor, and a radial communication path is formed in at least one of the labyrinth grooves on the rotor side and the heat generating chamber side. 2. The viscous heater according to claim 1, wherein the communication path is formed on both the rotor side and the heat generating chamber side. 3. The viscous heater according to claim 1, wherein the communication passage is a hole formed in a fin constituting a labyrinth groove. 4. The communication path according to claim 1, wherein the communication path is a notch formed in a fin constituting a labyrinth groove.
2. The viscous heater according to 1. 5. The viscous heater according to claim 1, wherein the communication path is different in a circumferential direction between adjacent fins. 6. The viscous heater according to claim 1, wherein said communication passage has the same position in the circumferential direction between adjacent fins. 7. The viscous heater according to claim 1, wherein a through hole is formed in the rotor to allow the front and rear labyrinth grooves to communicate with each other.