Neil E Robb

US Patent:

6358010, Mar 19, 2002

Filed:

Jan 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/756344

Inventors:

Gerard M. Light - Sao Jose dos Campos, BR
James R. DeBrabander - Birch Run MI
Neil E. Robb - Jackson MI
Donald E. Buckley - East Lansing MI

Assignee:

BorgWarner Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

F04D 2958

US Classification:

416169A, 416170 R, 416244 R, 416214 R, 192 58682, 19211324

Abstract:

A fan drive assembly including a cooling fan ( ) and a fluid coupling device ( ). The cooling fan includes a fan hub ( ), a spider ( ), and a plurality of fan blades ( ). The coupling device has an output coupling assembly ( ) including a body ( ) and a cover ( ). The body ( ) includes preferably only three mounting portions ( ), each being disposed immediately adjacent an outer periphery of the body. Each of the mounting portions ( ) defines the necessary machining chucking surfaces ( ), and a spider mounting surface ( ) including a pilot surface ( ) engaging the pilot diameter ( ) of the spider ( ). The body ( ) includes cooling fins ( ) covering substantially all of the rearward surface ( ) of the body not covered by the mounting portions. The fan hub ( ) also includes a rearwardly extending air dam portion ( ), limiting localized radial air flow. The fan drive is able to improve the radial air flow through the body cooling fins and achieve subatantially greater heat dissipation from the fan drive assembly, thus permitting greater fan speed for a given input speed.

US Patent:

6481390, Nov 19, 2002

Filed:

Jun 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/884909

Inventors:

Neil E Robb - Jackson MI

Assignee:

Borg Warner, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

F01P 510

US Classification:

123 4144

Abstract:

An electronically-controlled viscous coupling is coupled to a water pump to control the coolant flow rate of engine coolant to an engine to maximize fuel economy and minimize emissions while preventing pump cavitation and possible water pump damage. The viscous coupling controls the rotational speed of a water pump shaft that is used for moving engine coolant through a cooling system as a function of engine speed and engine temperature. The viscous coupling has a stationary electrical coil that, when excited by electrical current, closes valve members which prevent the viscous fluid from entering the working chamber, thereby preventing the creation of torque to drive the water pump shaft.

US Patent:

6530748, Mar 11, 2003

Filed:

Oct 11, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/975400

Inventors:

Gerard M. Light - Sao Jose dos Campos, BR
James R. DeBrabander - Birch Run MI
Neil E. Robb - Jackson MI
Donald E. Buckley - East Lansing MI

Assignee:

BorgWarner, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

F04D 2958

US Classification:

416169A, 416170 R, 416244 R, 416214 R, 192 58682, 19211324

Abstract:

A fan drive assembly including a cooling fan ( ) and a fluid coupling device ( ). The cooling fan includes a fan hub ( ), a spider ( ), and a plurality of fan blades ( ). The coupling device has an output coupling assembly ( ) including a body ( ) and a cover ( ). The body ( ) includes preferably only three mounting portions ( ), each being disposed immediately adjacent an outer periphery of the body. Each of the mounting portions ( ) defines the necessary machining chucking surfaces ( ), and a spider mounting surface ( ) including a pilot surface ( ) engaging the pilot diameter ( ) of the spider ( ). The body ( ) includes cooling fins ( ) covering substantially all of the rearward surface ( ) of the body not covered by the mounting portions. The fan hub ( ) also includes a rearwardly extending air dam portion ( ), limiting localized radial air flow. The fan drive is able to improve the radial air flow through the body cooling fins and achieve substantially greater heat dissipation from the fan drive assembly, thus permitting greater fan speed for a given input speed.

US Patent:

6644933, Nov 11, 2003

Filed:

Jan 2, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/038690

Inventors:

Gerard M. Light - Marshall MI
James E. Ignatovich - Ceresco MI
Neil E. Robb - Jackson MI

Assignee:

BorgWarner, Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

F04B 4900

US Classification:

417223, 417 53, 123 4144

Abstract:

An electronically-controlled viscous coupling is coupled to a water pump to control the coolant flow rate of engine coolant to an engine at a given engine speed to maximize fuel economy and minimize emissions. The viscous coupling has a stationary electrical coil that, when excited by electrical current, induces the driven disk to flex away from an input disk within the viscous, thereby increasing the size of the shear area, thereby decreasing the amount of torque produced to drive the water pump shaft and impellers that control the coolant flow rate. A carrier coupled to the back of the driven disk maximizes the amount of flex allowed to the driven disk, thereby assuring a maximum decrease in rotational speed of the impellers at a given engine speed and ensuring that the driven disk does not contact the stationary coil.

US Patent:

6752251, Jun 22, 2004

Filed:

Nov 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/287325

Inventors:

James P. May - Jackson MI
Neil E. Robb - Jackson MI
Darin L. Gwin - Marshall MI

Assignee:

BorgWarner, Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

F16D 3502

US Classification:

192 5861, 192 588

Abstract:

An electronically-controlled viscous fan drive having a one-piece accumulator and reservoir located on the top side of the clutch. The accumulator also has a low pressure and high pressure fill hole for allowing movement of viscous fluid from the reservoir to a anti-bleedback chamber and into the operating and working chamber of the coupling during normal operation. A radially balance valve disk having a step up feature coupled to a spring and an actuator electronically controls movement of viscous fluid from the reservoir to the anti-bleedback chamber through the fill holes by energizing or deenergizing the spring based on engine operating conditions. The valve disk may be a one-piece or two-piece design. The accumulator is designed to prevent morning sickness associated with the flow of viscous fluid from the reservoir to the operating chamber during engine off situations.

US Patent:

6790006, Sep 14, 2004

Filed:

Jun 25, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/179654

Inventors:

Neil E. Robb - Jackson MI

Assignee:

BorgWarner, Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

F04D 2920

US Classification:

416135, 416169 A, 416500

Abstract:

A flexible metal disk used to mount the fan to the fan drive. The metal disk is a resilient mounting, and as such reduces vibration levels between the fan and fan drive, thereby preventing damage to various components within the cooling system. The flexible metal disk also functions to self align the fan and the fan drive. The flexible metal disk is also durable, and therefore offers improved creep and deterioration resistance as compared with typical elastomeric mountings. In another preferred embodiment, multiple flexible metal disks may be coupled together and used to mount the fan to the fan drive to provide additional damping as compared with single disk systems.

US Patent:

6827547, Dec 7, 2004

Filed:

Jan 29, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/353476

Inventors:

Neil E. Robb - Jackson MI

Assignee:

BorgWarner Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

F04D 2954

US Classification:

415 1, 4152112, 4152131, 415221, 416189

Abstract:

A stator and diffuser assembly is introduced between an engine cooling fan and engine. The stator acts increase the static efficiency per unit airflow of the axial fan by reducing the rotational component of air traveling through the fan and by directing the airflow in an axial direction towards the engine. The diffuser acts to increase the static efficiency per unit airflow of the axial fan used by decelerating the airflow, thereby providing more airflow to the engine at a given fan rotational speed. The stator and diffuser assembly thus decreases the amount of horsepower necessary to drive the fan at a given rotational speed and reduces noise.

US Patent:

6868809, Mar 22, 2005

Filed:

May 27, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/855132

Inventors:

Neil E. Robb - Jackson MI, US

Assignee:

BorgWarner Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

F01P005/04

US Classification:

123 4147, 165 51

Abstract:

The control of the coolant flow is accomplished through valving or by adjusting the pumping speed of a water pump and a water motor, or a combination of all three elements. During normal operation, where engine cooling is not required, the speed control coupling maintains a slow and constant water pump speed at all engine-operating speeds. The valve is maintained to stop coolant flow from entering the radiator while allowing coolant to flow through a heater. If engine cooling is required, the valve is actuated such that coolant is circulated to the engine and through the radiator. If air conditioning is required, the speed control coupling simply increases the water pump speed and the fan speed while the valve is set to bypass coolant flow to the engine. If air conditioning and engine cooling are required, the valve is actuated to allow coolant flow to the engine.