A power shunt for shunting rotary power from a load device includes a shear thickening fluid (STF) and a chamber that contains the STF. The power shunt further includes a drive shaft housed radially within a drive side section of the chamber and protruding outward from an end of the chamber for coupling to a lock configured to prevent rotation of the drive shaft. The power shunt further includes a load shaft housed radially within a load side section of the chamber and protruding outward from another end of the chamber for coupling to the load device. The power shunt further includes a drive turbine housed radially within the drive side section and coupled to the drive shaft. The power shunt further includes a load turbine housed radially within the load side section at a fixed operational distance from the drive turbine and coupled to the load shaft.

A power coupler for transferring rotary power from a rotary power device to a load device includes a shear thickening fluid (STF) and a chamber that contains the STF. The power coupler further includes a drive shaft housed radially within a drive side section of the chamber and protruding outward from an end of the chamber for coupling to the rotary power device. The power coupler further includes a load shaft housed radially within a load side section of the chamber and protruding outward from another end of the chamber for coupling to the load device. The power coupler further includes a drive turbine housed radially within the drive side section and coupled to the drive shaft. The power coupler further includes a load turbine housed radially within the load side section at a fixed operational distance from the drive turbine and coupled to the load shaft.

A method for controlling a hydrodynamic retarder in a motor vehicle that can be mechanically disengaged via a disconnect clutch, whereby at least one of the rotational speed of a revolving bladed rotor and the speed of a motor vehicle is monitored and a disconnect clutch is engaged below at least one of a pre-specified rotational speed of the revolving bladed rotor and a pre-specified speed of the motor vehicle, regardless of a request made by a driver assist system or by operation of an input device by the operator of the motor vehicle to turn on the hydrodynamic retarder.

A power coupler for transferring rotary power from a rotary power device to a load device includes a shear thickening fluid (STF) and a chamber that contains the STF. The power coupler further includes a drive shaft housed radially within a drive side section of the chamber and protruding outward from an end of the chamber for coupling to the rotary power device. The power coupler further includes a load shaft housed radially within a load side section of the chamber and protruding outward from another end of the chamber for coupling to the load device. The power coupler further includes a drive turbine housed radially within the drive side section and coupled to the drive shaft. The power coupler further includes a load turbine housed radially within the load side section at a fixed operational distance from the drive turbine and coupled to the load shaft.

A power shunt for shunting rotary power from a load device includes a shear thickening fluid (STF) and a chamber that contains the STF. The power shunt further includes a drive shaft housed radially within a drive side section of the chamber and protruding outward from an end of the chamber for coupling to a lock configured to prevent rotation of the drive shaft. The power shunt further includes a load shaft housed radially within a load side section of the chamber and protruding outward from another end of the chamber for coupling to the load device. The power shunt further includes a drive turbine housed radially within the drive side section and coupled to the drive shaft. The power shunt further includes a load turbine housed radially within the load side section at a fixed operational distance from the drive turbine and coupled to the load shaft.

A power shunt for shunting rotary power from a load device includes a shear thickening fluid (STF) and a chamber containing the STF. The power shunt further includes a drive shaft housed radially within a drive side section of the chamber protruding outward from an end of the chamber for coupling to a lock preventing rotation of the drive shaft. The power shunt further includes a load shaft housed radially within a load side section of the chamber protruding outward through a shaft collar from another end of the chamber for coupling to the load device. The power shunt further includes a drive turbine housed radially within the drive side section coupled to the drive shaft. The power shunt further includes a load turbine housed radially within the load side section at an adjustable operational distance from the drive turbine and coupled to the load shaft.