Motor vehicle radiator having a fluid flow control device

• US 5,305,826 A
• Filed: 02/24/1992
• Issued: 04/26/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Couetoux, Herve
• Primary Examiner(s): Ford, John K.
• Application Number:
  US07/840,322
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 165/51, 165/39, 165/40, 165/35, 165/96, 165/103, 236/34.5, 123/41.08, 123/41.09
• US Class Current: 165/103
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2007/168 By varying the cooling capacity of a liquid-to-air heat-exchanger
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/52 Heat exchanger temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/16 by thermostatic control
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2250/06 Derivation channels, e.g. bypass
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 27/02 for controlling the distribution of heat-exchange media between different channels static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026; arrangements of guide plates or guide vanes F28F9/22, F28F25/12

Abstract

A cooling radiator for the engine of a motor vehicle includes two movable masking members associated with the same fluid manifold of the radiator and actuated by a common actuator in response to the engine temperature. A first of these masking members closes the inlet of the manifold to prevent any flow in the radiator when the engine is cold. The second masking member controls an aperture in an intermediate bulkhead in the fluid manifold so that a variable fraction of the fluid flow in the radiator is diverted (when the manifold inlet is open) through the aperture, so that it does not pass through the tubes of the radiator. This radiator performs the function of a thermostat and also regulates the cooling function at the correct efficiency according to the power being produced by the engine.

Claims

1. A radiator for a motor vehicle comprising:

a fluid manifold;

a divider separating said manifold into first and second chambers, said radiator further including an inlet port selectively fluidly communicable with said first chamber and an outlet port fluidly in communication with said second chamber;

a first set of tube members having open ends communicating with said first chamber;

a second set of tube members having open ends communicating with said second chamber;

a first valve member cooperable with said divider for permitting direct fluid communication between said first and second chambers;

a second valve member for permitting fluid communication between said inlet and said first chamber; and

an actuator member coupled to said first and second valve members for simultaneous operation of such valves such that said actuator is operable to (a) close said second valve to prevent fluid flow through said inlet into the radiator;

(b) close said first valve member and open said second valve member to permit fluid flow through said inlet, said first chamber, said first set of tubes, said second set of tubes, said second chamber, and said outlet; and

(c) open both said first and second valves a predetermined amount to permit a first regulatable fluid flow through said inlet, said first chamber, directly through said second chamber and through said outlet, and a second regulatable fluid flow through said inlet, said first chamber, said first and second sets of tube members, said second chamber, and said outlet.

2. A radiator according to claim 1, wherein the two valve members are rigidly coupled together for simultaneous operation by the actuator and wherein said actuator is movable between two ends of travel.

3. A radiator according to claim 2, wherein the two valve members are arranged to be in their closing positions respectively at the two ends of the travel of the actuator, with both valve members being in their open positions when the actuator is in an intermediate state between the two ends of its travel.

4. A radiator for a motor vehicle comprising:

a first fluid manifold;

a first divider separating said first manifold into first and second chambers, said radiator further including an inlet port selectively fluidly communicable with said first chamber of said first manifold;

a second fluid manifold;

a second divider separating said second manifold into first and second chambers, said second chamber of said second manifold having a fluid outlet;

a first set of tube members having open ends communicating with said first chambers of said first and second manifolds;

a second set of tube members, each tube member having one open end communicating with the second chamber of the first manifold and another open end communicating with the first chamber of the second manifold;

a third set of tube members having open ends communicating with said second chambers of said first and second manifolds;

a first valve member cooperable with said first divider for permitting direct fluid communication between said first and second chambers of said first manifold;

a second valve member for permitting fluid communication between said inlet and said first chamber; and

an actuator member coupled to said first and second valve members for simultaneous operation of said valve members such that said actuator is operable to (a) close said second valve to prevent fluid flow through said inlet into the radiator;

(b) close said first valve member and open said second valve member to permit fluid flow through said inlet, said first chamber of said first manifold, said first set of tube members, said first chamber of said second manifold, said second set of tube members, said second chamber of said first manifold, said third set of tube members, said second chamber of said second manifold, and said outlet; and

(c) open both said first and second valve members a predetermined amount to permit a first regulatable fluid flow through said inlet, said first chamber of said first manifold, directly through said second chamber of said first manifold, through said third set of tube members, said second chamber of said second manifold, and through said outlet, and a second regulatable fluid flow through said inlet, said first chamber of said first manifold, said first set of tube members, said first chamber of said second manifold, said second set of tube members, said second chamber of said first manifold, said third set of tube members, said second chamber of said second manifold and out said outlet.