Fluid Fan Coupling Oil Scraping for Faster Low-Speed Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fluid fan coupling devices experience slow reaction times and reduced fan rotation due to decreased centrifugal force and oil supply during low fan rotation, leading to overheating issues, especially in snowplow vehicles where wind pressure differences hinder fan rotation.

Innovation Solution

A highly reactive fluid fan coupling device utilizing non-Newtonian fluid characteristics, featuring an oil scraping mechanism on the drive disk with a ring or ring-like protrusion that increases the oil supply to the torque transmission chamber, enhancing the reaction rate of fan rotation through controlled oil distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the oil supply adjusting hole is opened and closed by the valve member located on the driven side, then the fan coupling device can control torque transmission, but the centrifugal force decreases during low fan rotation causing slow reaction time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetorque transmission controlVSAvoidreaction time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional design by moving the oil supply adjusting hole from the driven side to the drive side of the partition plate. This allows the drive disk to directly control oil supply through its rotation, eliminating the delay caused by centrifugal force changes in the conventional design where the valve member is on the driven side.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the oil supply control function from the valve member on the driven side and relocates it to the drive disk on the drive side. This separation allows the drive disk to independently control oil supply without being affected by the rotational speed feedback delay from the driven side.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If the fan rotation is controlled by oil supply from the oil reservoir chamber, then the fan can be rotated, but the oil supply amount decreases during low fan rotation due to decreased centrifugal force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefan rotation controlVSAvoidoil supply amount

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the control mechanism by placing the oil supply adjusting hole on the drive side rather than the driven side. This allows the drive disk to actively pump oil through its rotation, ensuring sufficient oil supply even at low rotational speeds where centrifugal force would normally be insufficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the valve member controls the oil supply adjusting hole based on temperature detection, then the fan coupling device can respond to temperature changes, but the reaction is delayed due to slow oil supply during low rotation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature responseVSAvoidreaction time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional control architecture by moving the oil supply control to the drive side, where the drive disk directly controls oil flow. This eliminates the delayed response caused by the valve member's position on the driven side, enabling faster temperature-responsive fan activation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by having the drive disk continuously prepare and supply oil through the adjusting hole, so that when temperature control is needed, the oil supply mechanism is already primed and responsive, eliminating delays associated with low-speed operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The oil scraping mechanism significantly speeds up fan rotation reactions by increasing oil supply during low fan speeds, effectively addressing the slow reaction times and overheating issues, and can be easily integrated into existing fan coupling devices without increased costs.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing the non-Newtonian fluid characteristics of oil to scrape out the oil in the oil reservoir chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNon-Newtonian fluid characteristics: Non-Newtonian Fluids

Implementation Method 2

the centrifugal force decreases during low fan rotation (OFF rotation), and the oil supply amount decreases accordingly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP2565484B1High reaction type fluid fan coupling device

Publication Date: 2021.03.10 USUI CO LTD

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AI summary

Provided is a highly reactive fluid fan coupling device utilizing the non-Newtonian fluid characteristics of oil, thereby obtaining an excellent reaction rate of fan rotation using a control signal. In the fan coupling device, where the interior of a sealed housing supported on a rotary shaft with a drive disk secured thereto is partitioned in an oil reservoir chamber and a torque transmission chamber placing the drive disk thereinto by a partition plate; drive torque is transmitted to a driven side by oil supplied to the torque transmission chamber; and opening and closing of a flow path of oil is controlled by a valve member actuated by an electromagnet, wherein a mechanism to scrape out the oil in the oil reservoir chamber utilizing the non-Newtonian fluid characteristics of oil is provided on the drive disk so as to be opposed to an oil supply adjusting hole of the partition plate.