viscous clutch and method for use with a viscous clutch

摘要

It is a viscous clutch (20; 120; 220) including an intake member (24; 126; 224), an emission member (26; 124; 226), a working chamber (38; 138; 238 ), a reservoir (36; 136; 236; 504; 604; 704; 804; 904; 1004; 1104) for holding a supply of shear fluid, an outlet (36-2; 182; 236-2; 512; 612, 712, 812, 912, 1012, 1112), a return bore (26-2; 124b; 226-2), an accumulator (72; 502; 602; 702; 802; 902; 1002, 1102), and wherein a first wall (70-1, 170, 270, 506, 606, 706, 806, 906, 1006, 1106) has an arcuate segment (70-1a; 506b; 606b; 706b; 806b; 906b; 1006b; 1106b ). the reservoir is connected to the working chamber by a fluid circuit, along which the outlet passes shear fluid from the reservoir to the working chamber and the return bore returns the sheared pumped out of the working chamber to the accumulator. The accumulator is arranged in series with the reservoir in the fluid circuit. The first wall is positioned within the reservoir to separate a first portion from a second portion.