Radiator arrangement

• US 4,156,408 A
• Filed: 03/31/1977
• Issued: 05/29/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Protze, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Myhre, Charles J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yates, Jeffrey L.
• Application Number:
  US05/783,451
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 123/41.51, 123/41.09, 123/41.08, 165/35, 165/40, 165/103, 165/175
• US Class Current: 123/41.51
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/10 Guiding or ducting cooling-air, to, or from, liquid-to-air heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2003/185 arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2007/168 By varying the cooling capacity of a liquid-to-air heat-exchanger
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/08 Cabin heater
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 3/20 Cooling circuits not specific to a single part of engine or machine F01P3/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/12 by thermostatic control
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/16 by thermostatic control

Abstract

A motor vehicle equipped with a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine. A radiator is provided, the same having first and second regions which themselves have aligned edges that form an edge of the radiator. Conduits are provided for allowing the flow of coolant through the two regions of the radiator in opposite directions. A coolant chamber extends along the edge of the radiator, this coolant chamber being divided into first and second sub-chambers by a partition which extends transversely to the edge and which defines the demarcation between the first and second regions of the radiator. The first and second sub-chambers of the coolant chamber communicate with the first and second regions of the radiator, respectively. A thermostatic valve arrangement is provided which allows the flow of coolant from the first sub-chamber to the second sub-chamber, and hence through both the first and second radiator regions, only when the temperature of the coolant is above a predetermined temperature.

Claims

1. In a motor vehicle equipped with a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine, the combination which comprises:

(a) a one-piece radiator having first and second opposite edges and provided with means which allow coolant to flow through the radiator, from one edge to another, in each of two regions of the radiator;

(b) means forming a first coolant chamber extending along said first edge of said radiator;

(c) a first partition in said first coolant chamber and extending transversely to said first edge, said partition defining the demarcation between said first and second radiator regions and dividing said coolant chamber into first and second sub-chambers which communicate with said first and second regions of said radiator, respectively;

(d) means forming a second coolant chamber extending along said second edge of said radiator;

(e) a second partition in said second cooling chamber and extending transversely to said second edge and aligned with said first partition of said first coolant chamber, said second partition dividing said second coolant chamber into first and second sub-chambers which communicate with said first and second regions of said radiator, respectively;

(f) an inlet conduit in communication with said first sub-chamber of said second coolant chamber;

(g) a first outlet conduit in communication with said second sub-chamber of said second coolant chamber;

(h) a second outlet conduit in communication with said first sub-chamber of said first coolant chamber; and

(i) thermostatic valve means in said first coolant chamber for allowing the flow of coolant from said first sub-chamber thereof to said second sub-chamber thereof only when the temperature of said coolant is above a predetermined temperature, in consequence of which when the temperature of said coolant is above said predetermined temperature, coolant may flow from said inlet conduit through said first sub-chamber of said second coolant chamber, said first region of said radiator, said first sub-chamber of said first coolant chamber, said second sub-chamber of said first coolant chamber, said second region of said radiator and said second sub-chamber of said second coolant chamber and out of said first outlet, whereas when the temperature of said coolant is below said predetermined temperature, coolant may flow from said inlet conduit only through said first chamber of said second coolant chamber, said first region of said radiator and said first sub-chamber of said first coolant chamber and out of said second outlet conduit, said second region of said radiator thus being bypassed by way of said second outlet conduit.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said thermostatic valve means are arranged in said first partition and are movable between a closed position when the temperature of the coolant is below said predetermined temperature and an open position when the temperature of the coolant is above said predetermined temperature.

3. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said coolant chamber is provided with a closable opening for allowing access to said thermostatic valve means.

4. In a motor vehicle equipped with a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine and a heater for heating the interior of the vehicle, the combination defined in claim 1 wherein said first radiator region is part of a heat exchanger for said heater.