COOLING SYSTEM - V8
Viscous fan operation
A = Cold, B = Hot
1
2
3
4
5
6
Drive plate
Fan body
Clearance
Valve plate
Valve
7 Fluid seals
8 Ball race
9 Fluid chamber
10 Reservoir
11 Return port
Bi-metallic coil
When the engine is off and the fan is not rotating, the silicone fluid stabilises within the fluid chamber and the reservoir.
The fluid levels equalise due to the return port in the valve plate being open between the fluid chamber and the
reservoir. In this condition, when the engine is started, silicone fluid is present in the fluid chamber and causes drag
to occur between the drive plate and the body. This causes the fan to operate initially when the engine is started.
As the fan speed increases, centrifugal force and a scoop formed on the fluid chamber side of the valve plate, pushes
the silicone fluid through the return port in the valve plate into the reservoir. As the fluid chamber empties, the drag
between the drive plate and body is reduced, causing the drive plate to slip. This reduces the rotational speed of the
fan and allows it to 'freewheel'.
When the coolant temperature is low, the heat emitted from the radiator does not affect the bi-metallic coil. The valve
remains closed, preventing fluid escaping from the reservoir into the fluid chamber. In this condition the fan will
'freewheel' at a slow speed.
As the coolant temperature increases, the heat emitted from the radiator causes the bi-metallic coil to tighten. This
movement of the coil moves the valve to which it is attached. The rotation of the valve exposes ports in the valve plate
which allow silicone fluid to spill into the fluid chamber. As the fluid flows into the clearance between the annular
grooves in the drive plate and body, drag is created between the two components. The drag is due to the viscosity
and shear qualities of the silicone fluid and cause the drive plate to rotate the body and fan blades.
As the coolant temperature decreases, the bi-metallic coil expands, rotating the valve and closing off the ports in the
valve plate. When the valve is closed, centrifugal force pushes silicone fluid through the return port, emptying the fluid
chamber. As the fluid chamber empties, the drag between the drive plate and the body is reduced and the body slips
on the drive plate, slowing the rotational speed of the fan.
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION 26-2-11
| Categories | Land Rover Defender, Land Rover Discovery II, Range Rover |
|---|---|
| Tags | Land Rover |
| Model Year | 1999 |
| Download File |
|
| Document Type | Workshop Manual |
| Language | English |
| Product Name | Discovery Series II |
| Product Brand | Land Rover |
| Document File Type | |
| Publisher | landrover.com |
| Wikipedia's Page | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Rover |
| Copyright | Attribution Non-commercial |
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