An apparatus for feeding or conveying grain includes (i) a conveyor for moving grain and having an input end and an output end, and (ii) a viscous clutch either directly or indirectly connected to the input end of the conveyor for transmitting torque from an input component to the conveyor in a variable manner. A method of feeding or conveying grain using the conveyor includes operating the viscous clutch to transmit torque from the input component to the conveyor.

A controller includes: a control unit configured to calculate a control command value of an opening degree of a solenoid valve to control an opening degree of the solenoid valve; and an acquisition unit configured to acquire an estimated amount and a target amount of a working fluid in a labyrinth chamber, and a rotation speed of a drive shaft. The control unit calculates a final control command value based on a feedback control command value and a feedforward control command value, and controls the solenoid valve, the feedback control command value being calculated based on deviation between the estimated amount and the target amount, the feedforward control command value being used to maintain a rotation speed of a fan constant based on the estimated amount and the rotation speed of the drive shaft.

A clutch device for a clutch system has an input member that rotates at a first speed. A friction drive system is disposed between the input member and an output member. The clutch device is selectively movable by a fluid actuator assembly, between an engaged position in which the friction drive system drives the output member to rotate at the first speed, and a disengaged position in which a viscous drive system rotates the output member at a second speed slower than the first speed. A variable viscous fluid supply assembly includes a viscous fluid storage chamber, a valve, and a valve actuator that selectively drives the valve to move between an open position and a closed position to control an amount of viscous fluid available to the viscous drive system, thereby varying the second speed.

A fluid friction clutch with a housing, a clutch plate and a reservoir that are disposed in the housing, a supply pump element rotatably coupled to the clutch plate, a supply conduit and a valve. The clutch plate and the housing form a working chamber. The supply conduit couples the reservoir to an inlet side of the working chamber. The supply pump element has a pump inlet and a pump outlet that are spaced circumferentially apart from one another about a rotational axis of the clutch plate. The pump outlet is coupled in fluid communication with the supply conduit. The valve has a valve element that is movable between a first or extended position and a second or retracted position. Placement of the valve element in the first position at least partly blocks fluid flow to the pump outlet.

A fluid friction clutch with a housing, a clutch plate and a reservoir that are disposed in the housing, a supply pump element rotatably coupled to the clutch plate, a supply conduit and a valve. The clutch plate and the housing form a working chamber. The supply conduit couples the reservoir to an inlet side of the working chamber. The supply pump element has a pump inlet and a pump outlet that are spaced circumferentially apart from one another about a rotational axis of the clutch plate. The pump outlet is coupled in fluid communication with the supply conduit. The valve has a valve element that is movable between a first or extended position and a second or retracted position. Placement of the valve element in the first position at least partly blocks fluid flow to the pump outlet.

A clutch assembly includes a clutch mechanism and an energy harvesting device. The clutch mechanism includes an input member, an output member, and an actuating mechanism to govern selective torque transmission from the input member to the output member. The actuating mechanism is powered by electrical current. The energy harvesting device is electrically connected to the actuating mechanism, and the energy harvesting device is configured to scavenge available energy to generate the electrical current that powers the actuating mechanism.

A temperature-sensitive fluid fan clutch device includes an oil reservoir chamber in a case supported by a rotating shaft that has a drive disk fixed thereto. Plural dams are provided outward of the drive disk, and oil circulating flow passages contiguously to the dams extend between a torque transmission chamber and the oil reservoir chamber. A valve opens and closes an oil circulation flow hole of the oil reservoir chamber due to a change in temperature of a temperature-sensitive body. An oil effective contact area in a torque transmission gap between a drive side and a driven side is varied to control rotation torque transmission from the drive side to the driven side. An oil collection valve member independently opens and closes at least one of the oil circulating flow passages. The temperature-sensitive fluid fan clutch device inhibits a cold “drag” phenomenon and reduces fan power loss and fuel consumption.

A temperature-sensitive fluid fan clutch device includes an oil reservoir chamber in a case supported by a rotating shaft that has a drive disk fixed thereto. Plural dams are provided outward of the drive disk, and oil circulating flow passages contiguously to the dams extend between a torque transmission chamber and the oil reservoir chamber. A valve opens and closes an oil circulation flow hole of the oil reservoir chamber due to a change in temperature of a temperature-sensitive body. An oil effective contact area in a torque transmission gap between a drive side and a driven side is varied to control rotation torque transmission from the drive side to the driven side. An oil collection valve member independently opens and closes at least one of the oil circulating flow passages. The temperature-sensitive fluid fan clutch device inhibits a cold “drag” phenomenon and reduces fan power loss and fuel consumption.

A viscous clutch includes a housing, an input device rotationally fixed to the housing, a rotor, a working chamber, a reservoir, a valve, and a quick disconnect bushing. The housing has a base, a cover, and a housing hub connected in in a rotationally fixed configuration. The input device is a pulley, a sprocket, and/or a gear. The rotor has a rotor disk and a rotor hub connected in a rotationally fixed configuration, and a central opening extends entirely through the rotor hub. The reservoir is carried by the housing and overlaps the input device in an axial direction. The quick disconnect bushing is removably secured to the rotor hub at the central opening and permits a rotationally fixed engagement between the rotor and an item driven by the clutch, such as an output shaft.

Disclosed is a viscous coupling that has a housing that carries ribs that are arranged concentrically about a central axis. A rotor is provided that can rotate relative to the housing about the central axis in a predetermined direction. The rotor also carries ribs, and the ribs of the housing and the rotor are arranged in a working chamber surrounded by the housing. Also provided is a fluid reservoir. A fluid discharge line leads from the working chamber to the fluid reservoir. A wiper is moveably arranged between the housing and the rotor and scrapes fluid from the rotor and feeds it to the fluid discharge line. A stop is provided for the wiper and is arranged next to the rotor.