Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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l~ESCRIPTION
VISCOUS HEATER
Technical Field
The present in-~ention relates to a ViSCOllS heater in which a viscous fluid
is caused ~o generate l1eat by shearing. The resulting heat is utilized as a thermal
source for ~1eating by carrying out heat exchange with a circulating fluid which
CirClllateS~Q a radiatol- chamber.
Background Art
Conventiollally, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication ~KOKAI) No.
2-2~16,823, a viscous hc.lter is disclosed which is utilized as a heating apparatus for
a ve11icle. ~n this viscous heater, a front housing and a rear housing are disposcd
so as to face with cach other, and are fastened by throngh bolts, thereby forming a
heat~genet ating cl.ambcr and a water jacket therein. Tlle water jacket is disposed
around an outer r~giol1 of the heat-generating chamber. In the water jacket,
circulating water is circlllated so that it is taken in through a water inlet port, and
that it is dclivered out !o an external heating circuit through a water outlet port.
In the frollL housing, a l1riving shaft is held rotatably via a bearing apparatus. To
the driving shaft, a rot;or is f~xed so that it can rotate in the heat-generating
chamber. A wall surface of the heat-generating chambcr and an outer surface of
the rotor csmstitutc labyrinth grooves which approach to each other. In a space
between t1-e wall surf;lce of the heat-generating chambcr and the outer surface of
the rotor, a viscous fln~d, such as a silicone oil, is interposed.
In Llle viscaus ~ ater built into a vehicle heating appa1-atus, the rotor
rotatcs in ~11e heat-gel~ ~rating chamber when the driving shart is driven by an
engine. A~ ~ordingly, t~ e viscous fluid is caused to generate heat by shearing in
the space b:~tween the vall surface of the heat-generating chamber and the outer
sur~ce of the rotor. T-~e thus generated heat is heat-eYchanged to the circulating
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water in tl~e water jacl;et. The heated circulating watcr is used at the heating
circuit to h eat a vehicle.
Ho~vever, in thc above-described conventional viscous heater, there is a
fear of leal;ing the viscous fluid to the outside, because the heat-generating
chamber i ~ communic.:ted with the outside by way of Lhe bearing apparatus. In
view of thi, it is possi ~le to think of disposing a shaft-sealing apparatus.
However, ~hen a sha~-sealing apparatus is simply provided~ there remains a fcar
that a rubber-like mate~ial in the shaft-sealing apparatus is degraded by the
thermal in~luence, whic h results from the viscous lluicl held in the heat-generating
chamber. Moreover, a~er durability, there also arises a fear of leaking the
viscous fiuid.
It is therefore .1!1 assignment to the present invention to provide a viscous
heater whicll can inhil)il a viscous fluid from leaking even aftcr durability.
Measures for Solving the Assignment
A v scous heatet set forth in Claim 1 comprises:
a hollsing iu wl ich a heat-generating chamber, and a radiator chamber ate
form~ed, the radiator cEmmber neighboring the heat-generating chamber and
circulating a circu~ating lluid therein;
a dr ving shaft hs~ld rotatably to the housing by way of a bearing apparahls;
a rotor disposec} in the heat-generating chamber rotatably by the driving
shaft; and
a vi cous fhlid il- terposed in a space between a wall surface of the heat-
generating chambcr an~ an outer surface of the rotor, ~nd caused to generate heat
by the rota~ ing rotor;
whcrein thc ho~sing is provided with a shaft-sealing apparatus sealing the
driving sh.t ~ bet vcen 1 ~e heat-generating chamber and the bearing apparatus, and
with cooling means for ooling the shaft-sealing apparalus.
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In ~tle viscous heater set forth in Claim 1, therc is no fear of leaking thc
viscous ilu d to thc outside, because the shaft-sealing apparatus is disposed to seal
the driving shaft betwcen the heat-generating chamber and the bearing apparaius.
Moreover, ~he fear of lleteriorating a rubber~ e matcrial in the shaft-sealing
apparatus l;y the Lhersnal influence, which results from the viscous fluid held in
the heatingr chamber, is diminished, because the rubber-like material in ~he shaft-
seal;ng apparatus is cooled actively by the cooling meaJIs.
A viscous heater set forth in Claim 2 is charac~erized in that the cooling
means of tl~e ViSCOllS heater set forth in Claim 1 is constituted by forming the
radiator cha1nber adjacc~nt to the shaft-sealing apparatus.
In tlte ViSCOltS ~ ater set forth in Claim 2, a rubl)er-~ke material in the
shaft-sealin~ apparatus is cooled indirectly by the circulating fluid circulating in
the radiator chamber, because the radiator chamber is lormed adjacent to the
shaft-sealinl~ apparatus~ Accordingly, the fear of deteriorating a rubber-like
material by the thermal innuence, which results from the viscous fluid held in ~he
heating chaslber, i5 dim;nished. Moreover, a temperature increment is thereby
realized in t le circulating fluid. Here, the term, I'adjacent to", means that the
radiator chamber and tl~c shaf~-sealing apparatus are disposed close to each other
by way of a ~vall of the housing only.
A viscous heater set forth in Claim 3 comprises:
a hol sing in which a heat-generating chamber, a!ld a radiator chamber are
formed, the radiator chainber neighboring the heat-generating chamber and
circulating ~ circulating l~uid therein;
a dri~ ing shaft held rotatably to the housing by v~ ay of a bearing apparatus;
a rotor disposed m the heat-generating chamber rotatably by the driving
sha~c; and
a viscous fluid intcrposed in a space l)etween a wall surface of the heat-
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generatin~ chambcr al1d an outer surface of the rotor, and caused to generate heat
by the rotating rotor;
wherein the hollsing is pt~vided with a shaft-sealing appar~tus sealing the
driving shaft between ~ he heat-generating chamber and the bearing apparatus, and
with radial ing means Çur radiating the heat caused in the viscous fluid, the
radiating means disposed between the heat-generating chamber and the bearing
apparatus.
In the ViSCOllS lleater set forth in Claim 3, there is no fear of leaking the
viscous fln~d to the outside, because the shaft-sealing apparatus for sealing the
driving shai~t is disposed between the h. eat-generating chamber and the bearin~
apparatus. Moreover, lhe durability ofthe shaft-sealin~,r apparatus is enhanced,
because the radia~ing ll~eans deprives the heat of the viscous fiuid until the
viscous fiuid arrivcs at l:he shaft-sealing apparatus.
A viscous heatcr set forth in Claim 4 is characterized in that the radiatillg
means set rorth in Cla~n 3 is constituted by disposing the shaft-sealing apparatus
so as to be separated a~ay from the heat-generating cl1amber.
In the viscous l!eater set forth in Claim 4, the fcar of deteriorating a
rubber-like material ir. the shaft-sealing apparatus by the thermal influence, which
results from the visco~ s fluid held in the heating chamber, is diminished, because
the shaft-sealing apparatus is separated away from the heat-generating chamber.
Here, the ~erm, "being separated away from", means a state in which the ViSCOllS
fluid radiates off the hc. t caused therein while it comes out from the heat-
generating chamber an~ arrives at the shaft-sealing apparatus.
A viscous heatc.- set forth in Claim 5 is characterized in that the housing of
the viscous heater set orth in Claim 2 or 4 includes a plate, and a housing body
constitutin~ the rest of ;~he housing, the plate forming a wall surface of the heat-
generating chambeL wi~ h an axial end surface and a wall surface of the radiator
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chamber ~ ith anoiher axial end surace, and having a l)oss into wllieh the dtiving
shaft is fitled, the boss having a leading end with the shaft-sealing apparatus
provided, ' hereby pos,lioning the radiator chamber in rear of the shaft-sealing
apr)aratus.
The viscous heater set forth in Claim 5 embodies the cooling means or
radïating r~eans o'~the viscous heater set forth in Clailn 2 or 4. Hence, the
dul~ability ~)f the shafL-sealing apparatus is further enhanced, because the shaft-
sealing app;lratus is cooled by the circulating fluid circulating in the radiator
ehamber d~sposed in r~ar of the shaft-sealing apparatus, and beeause the radiating
means de~ ives tlle h~at of the viscous fluid until the ~ iscous fluid arrives at the
shaRt-sealit.g appas~tns.
A viscous }~eat~ r set forth in Claim 6 is characterized in th~t a labyrinth is
formed in :~ n inner pe~ ipheral surface of the boss of the viscous heater set forth in
Claim 5.
Wh~ n a labytin~ is formed in an inner peripheral surface of the boss, the
heai ean be radiated ofi from the boss to the labyrinth to cool the shaft-sealing
apparatus ( he fin erfect), and simultaneously the ViSCO~lS fluid ean be kept from
leaking by ~ he labytinlll (the sealing effeet).
Brief Deseription of Drawin~s
Fig. 1 is a verti~al cross-sectional view of a viscous heater of a First
Preferred F mbodimen~.
Fig. 2 is a horiz ~ntal cross-sectional view of the ViSCOllS heater of the First
~'relerred l`mbodiment.
Fig. 3 is concenled with the viscous heater of t;he First Preferred
Embodimeut, and is a .chematic diagram for illustrating a flow of circulating water
therein.
Fig. ~ is a v rti~;~l cross-sectional view of a ~iscous heater of a Second
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Pre ferred r~mbodi me, l t.
Fig. 5 is a verlical cross-sectional view of a major portion of a viscous
heater of ;- Third 7~1-Cfe rred Embodiment.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
Thc First Lhrough Third Preferred Embodiments embodying the present
invention et fortl~ in ~ 'ne appended claims will be hereinafter described with
reference io the drawings.
(First Pre~ rred Emb(i~liment)
The viscollsllc~a~ter of tlle First Preferred Embodiment embodies Claims 1
and 2.
As illustratcd i l Fig. 1, in the viscous heater, a front llousing body 21, a
front plate 22, a rcar p~.lte 23 and a rear housing body 4 are overlapped and
fastened b~ a plurality of through bolts 27 with a gasket 25 interposed between
the front In~using body '>1 and the front plate 22, and u~ith a gasket 26 interposed
between tlle rear ~)la~e 23 and the rear housing body 2 i. The front and rear plates
22 and 23 at-e forn~cd of an aluminum-based alloy. Here, the front housing body
21 and the 'ront pTate 22 constitute a front housing 28, and the rear plate 23 and
~he rear ho lsing body :'4 constitute a rear housing body 29. Further, a concavit;y
is dcnted iJl a rear-en~l surface of the front housing body 21, and forms a heat-
generating ~hamber 3~ together with a flat front-end stlrface of the rear plate 23.
Furthermo~ e, an i3~ner surface of the front housing body 21 and a front-end
suri~ce of the front pla~ e 22 form a front water jacket ~W. The front water jacl~et
~W vvorks s the ft ont l-adiator chamber neighboring in front of the heat-
gencrating chambe r 3(3 Moreover, a rear-end surface of the rear plate 23 and an
inncr surf~ ~c of thc rcar housing body 24 form a rear ~rater jacket RW. The rear
watcr jacke~ RW work~ as the rear radiator chamber ncighboring in rear of the
heat-genel. ting ch.lml3 ~r 30.
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As illustra~ed in Fig. 2, in a central region on a rear surface of tl~e rear
housing bolly 24, a wa~er inlet port 31 and a water outle~ port 3:' are formed next
to ~ach other. Thc wr.i~er inlet port 31 works as Lhe first port f~r takin~ in
circulating water ope7i.~ing as the circulating i~uid from an exte -nal he~ting circuit
(not showl~). Thc water outlet port 32 works as ~:he second pOI-t for de~ivering the
circulating water ~JUt l(3 the heating circuit. The water inlet port 31 ari~l the water
outlet port 32 are COIil ~nunicated with the rear v~ater jacket RW.
On a rear-elld surface of the rear plate 23, a cylindrical convexiLy 23a is
protruded ;n a central area. Moreover, partition walls 23b and .'3c, which extend
i~om the c~invexit,r 23.~ in opposite radial directions, are protru(~ed bet~een the
wa~er inlet port 31 an-l the water oullet port 32. As illustrated in Fig. i, the
leading end of the con ~ exity 23a, and the partition walls 23b an~i ~3c co:~tacts with
Lhe inner s lrface of th.e rear housing body 24.
As iilustrated i~ Fig. 2, in the gasket 26, t~le rear plate 23, the f~ ont plate
22 and the gasket 25, ~ ater passages 33 through 38 are drilled t'.lroug}l, and arc
disposed bt tween tlle ~hrough bolts 27 at equal intervals. The ~vater p..ssages 33
through 38 are for~ned as a round hole having the same cross-sectional area.
l~u~her, tl~e water passages 33 through 35 are communicated rrom the rear water
jacket RW, in whicll tl~e water inlet port 31 is for~ned, to the front water jacket
3~W. Furtllr rmore, the water passages 36 througll 38 are communicated from ihe
front water jacket ~W t o the rear water jacket R~, in which the water outlet port
32 is formed.
As i;lustrat~d i~ Fig. 1, a shaft-sealing apparatus 10 is dis!~osed in the l~-ont
plate 22, an~l a bea ing apparatlls 11 is disposed in the front hous ng bol~.y 21.
I~urt:her, an inner boss `'la is protruded in the front housing bo(l~ 21, and is
extended to the sio~le O`r the heat-generating chaml)er 30 in an axi ll direel ion. A
plul~lity of ~penings 2 f ) are drilled through the inner boss 21a, and worl; as thc
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cooling m~;ms. Accor~ingly, tlle front water jacl;et FW is formed adjacent to the
shaflt-sealir~g apparatus 10 by leaving a margin of thickness (a wall) of ~1lC front
plate 22 o~ly. Fu3 ther~ore, by way of the shaft-sealing apparat ~s 10 alld the
bearing apparatus 11, a driving shaft 12 is held rotatably. At the trailin~r end of the
driving sh. ~12, a platc-shaped rotor 13 is press-litted so that i~ can rotate in the
heat-generating chamber 30. 1~ silicone oil, working as ~he viscous aui(l, is
intc~posed in the space between the wall surface of the heat-getlerating~ chamber
30 and the outer surface of the rotor 13. Thus, in t;he viscous he;lLer, t~ere is no
~ear of leahing the silicone oil to the outside, becallse the shaft-s~aling ~Ipparatus
10 is disposed between the heat-generating chamher 30 and the bearing apparatus
11 in the front plate 22. At the leading end of the driving shaft 1', a pu}ley (not
shown) is fi ~ed by a l~olt ~not shown). The pulley is rotated by a vehicle engine
via a belt.
In tl}e viscous heater built-into a vehicle hcating apparatus, the r otor 13 is
rotated in tT e heat-generating chamber 30 when Llle drivi~g sha~ 12 is driven by
the engine l~y way ofthc pulley. hccordingly, the silicone oil is sheared in the
space betwcen the wall surface of the heat-generating chamber 30 and t~le outer
sur~lce of tl~e rotor 13, thereby generating heat. 7`he resulting heat is I eat-
exchanged lo the circula~ing water nowing in the rront water jaci~ et FW and thc
rear water jscket RW, and t~e thus heated circulaLing water is used for l~eating a
vehicle in tl~P heating circuit.
At this moment, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the circulating water is t;tken in
into a right-side chamber RWR, viewed from the rear of the rear ~vater j;lcket RW,
through the ~rater inlet l~ort 31. Then, the circulal;ing wa~er follows the route in
the water p.i ~sages 33 through 35, and arrives at a right-side chal~aber F~VR~
viewed from t;he rear of t~e front water jacket FW. Furthcr, the circulat ~ng water
arrives at a 1~ ft-side chan~ber FWL, viewed from tlle rear of the ~-ont waler jacket
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FW. Note that the lert-side chamber FWL is formed integrally with tlle right-side
Chamber F~'YR- Furtllermore, the circulating waler follows the r oute in the water
passages 3G through 3~, and arrives at a rig3~t-side chamber R~ L, vie~ ed from
the rear of ~he rear water jacket RW. Eventually, the circulating water is
delivered cut to the he.lting circuit through the ~-~ater inlet port 32. Tl)us, in the
viscous heater, there is no fear of short-circuiting or residing tl~c circulating w:lter
in the rear water jacke~ RW, bs~cause the circula~ing water is circulated along t~le
specific ron'-es in the r~ar water jacket RW. In addition, heat e~:change can be
also carrie(~ out by thc water passages 33 througll 3~ efficiently.
As a result, the viscous heater is capable o~carrying out hull hea~; exchange.
Fur~her, in the viscous heater, the rubber-like member ofthe s,laft-sealing
apparatus 10 is cooled indirectly by the circulatin~ water which circulatcs in the
front water jacket rw, 13ecause the front water jacket FW is formed up o the
vicinity of t~le shaft-sealing apparatus 10. Accordingly, the fear i>f dete. iorating
the rubber-~ike member by the thermal effect, wllich results from the s ilicone oil
hekl in the heat-generaling chamber 30, is diminished. ~Urther1110re,l;lis
advantageons effect realizes the temperature increment in the circulat~ng water.
Moreover, the aforementioned cooling, etc., of the shaft-sealing apparaLus 10 can
be carried o ut efficiently, because the front plate "2 is formed of an alu ~linum-
based alloy of good thermal conductivity.
As a result, the viscous heater is capable of securely inhi'~iting tl~e silicone
oil from leaking even after durability.
Not-~ that, instea~ of thc pulley, an clectromagnetic clutch can l);~ employed
to intermitlently drive the driving shaft 12.
(Second Pr- ferred Embodiment)
The viscous heater of the Second Preferred Embodiment embo(~es Claims
1 through ~.
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As i~lustra~ed i~l Fig. 4, in the viscous heater, a front hou; ing body 1 is
employed vhich i . frec from the protruding innel boss clisposecl in th ~t of the
l;irst Prefcrred E~nbo~ iment. Further, as a front plate 2, a mer~ber l~aving a boss
2a is employed. Into the boss 2a, a driving shaft 12 is fitted. These n~mbers
co~.1stitute a front housing 3. Furthermore, a shaft-sealing apparatus ~ is disposed
at the leading end of the boss 2a of the front plate 2 so that a fro ïl: wa~ jacket
rw is posi~ ioned in re~}r of the shaft-sealing apparatus 4. Moreover, a I)earing
apparatus ~ is disposed in front of the shaft-sealing apparatus 4 i ~ the f. ont
housing bo:ly 1. Conscquently, the boss 2a separates thc shaft-~ ealing apparatus 4
away from a heat-grenerating chamber 30 so as to constitute the ~diati g means.
Unless oth~rwise specified, the other arrangemellts of the Secoi~d Prc'erred
Embodimeut are identical with those of the First Prefened Embodime!lt.
In the viscous llcater, tt1e shat-sealing apparatus ~l is coo~cd by ~ lle
circulating water which circulates in the front water jacket FW, because the front
water jacke~ FW is positioned in rear of the shaft-sealing apparallls 4. Moreover7
in this arra!~gemeElt, thc silicone oil is deprived of heat by the fiont wa~er jacket
FW while i. arrives at the shaft-sealing apparatus 4. Hence, conlpared with the
armngement where the shaft-sealing apparatus 4 is disposed adjacent to the heat-
generating chamber 30, the durability of the shaft-sealing appar ILus 4 can be
readily imp~oved. Unless othe~vise specified, the Second Prefel-red Embodiment
operates ar.d effects advantages in the same manner as the First Prefer ed
Embodiment.
As a result, the Lhus constructed viscous heater can inhi~ it the silicone oil
from leaki~ r more secn~ely than the First Preferred Emhodimel~t does even after
durability.
(Third Pref rred Embodiment)
The viscous heater of the Third Preferred Embodiment cinbodies Claims 1
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through 6.
As ~llustrated in Fig. 5, in the viscous healer, a labyrintl7 2b is rnrmed in an
inner suri~lce of a boss ~a of a front plate 2. Unless othe~ise sl)ecifie(~, the other
art~ngeme lts of the Tllird Preferred Embodime~at are identical with tl~ose of the
First and Sccond Pref~rred Embodiments.
In the viscous lleater, the heat of the silicone oil r esultin~ from the heat
generation ;s radiated off from the labyrinth 2b to the boss 2a, and furtbcr to the
~ont water jacket FW. ~ccordingly, while the si~icone oil arrives at th shaft-
sealing app~.ratus 1, the Third I'referred Embodisnent can reali~e the Lemperattlre
dec~ement n the silicone oil more efriciently tha!~ the ~econd ~'referre~
Embodimel~t does. At the same tirne, in the Thild Preferred En~bodim~nt, the
silicone oil can be sealed by the labyrinth 2b. The sealing of the silicone oil
reduces the load exertedL to the shaft-sealing app~ratus 4. Unles . other~.~ise
speci:fied, tl e Third Pre~erred Embodiment opera~es and effects advantcges in the
same manner as t~e First and Second Preferred I~ mbodiments.
