Drive unit for a fan and arrangement with a drive unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive unit for a fan of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, having a friction clutch which can be shifted in order to drive the fan via the internal combustion engine. An electric motor is also provided for driving the fan, and a torque-transmission path is formed between the friction clutch and the fan by means of a rotatably mounted part of the electric motor. The invention also relates to an arrangement for driving a fan via an internal combustion engine with a drive unit that includes an electric motor and a friction clutch.

1 . A drive unit for a fan of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, comprising a friction clutch that is shifted in order to drive the fan via the internal combustion engine, and an electric motor for driving the fan wherein a torque-transmission path is formed between the friction clutch and the fan by a rotatably mounted part of the electric motor. 
   
   
       2 . A drive unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the friction clutch permits direct drive of the fan by the internal combustion engine. 
   
   
       3 . A drive unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the friction clutch is an electromagnetically actuable friction face clutch. 
   
   
       4 . A drive unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a rotationally flexible clutch for driving the fan by the internal combustion engine. 
   
   
       5 . A drive unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the friction clutch and the electric motor do not substantially extend in the radial direction beyond a diameter of an impeller wheel hub of the fan. 
   
   
       6 . A drive unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor comprises a housing to which the fan is attached. 
   
   
       7 . A drive unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the friction clutch and the electric motor are combined to form one structural unit. 
   
   
       8 . An arrangement for cooling an internal combustion engine, comprising a radiator for cooling the internal combustion engine, a fan which interacts with the radiator, and a drive unit according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       9 . An arrangement according to  claim 8 , wherein the drive unit comprises a friction clutch and an electric motor, that are combined to form one structural unit that is connected to the radiator. 
   
   
       10 . An arrangement according to  claim 8 , wherein the drive unit comprises a friction clutch and an electric motor, which are embodied separately. 
   
   
       11 . An arrangement according to  claim 8 , wherein the friction clutch is arranged on the internal combustion engine. 
   
   
       12 . An arrangement according to  claim 8 , wherein the electric motor is attached to the radiator.