Cooling water circulating apparatus

• US 6,247,429 B1
• Filed: 12/20/1999
• Issued: 06/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Hara, Naohiro, Ozawa, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris, Katrina B.
• Application Number:
  US09/466,775
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 123/41.1, 123/41.44, 123/198.C
• US Class Current: 123/41.44
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2005/105 Using two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2005/125 Driving auxiliary pumps electrically
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/08 Cabin heater
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 5/10 Pumping liquid coolant; Arrangements of coolant pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/162 by cutting in and out of pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/164 by varying pump speed

Abstract

The present invention provides a cooling water circulating apparatus capable of securing a required flow rate of cooling water without increasing the heads of water pumps. The apparatus includes a first water pump which has a first supply port for supplying the cooling water into the first water pump, the cooling water for flowing through the interior of an engine, and a first discharge port for discharging the supplied cooling water from the first water pump to the engine again, and which is directly connected to and rotated with a cam shaft of the engine. A control mechanism is adapted to cut off a flow of the cooling water, which is directed from a radiator to the first supply port, when the temperature of the cooling water is not higher than a predetermined level, and operatively connect the radiator and first supply port with each other when the temperature of the cooling water is higher than the predetermined level. A second water pump includes a second supply port for supplying the cooling water from the second water pump to flow through the interior of the engine, and a second discharge port for discharging the supplied cooling water from the second water pump to the supply port of the first water pump. The second water pump is not rotated when the temperature of the cooling water is not higher than a predetermined level, and is electrically rotated when the temperature of the cooling water is higher than the predetermined level.

Claims

1. A cooling water circulating apparatus adapted to circulate cooling water through an engine or a radiator, comprising:

a first water pump which has a first supply port for supplying thereinto cooling water which is to flow through the interior of an engine, and a first discharge port for discharging therefrom the supplied cooling water to the engine, again, and which is directly connected to and rotated with a cam shaft of the engine;

a control mechanism adapted to cut off a flow of the cooling water, which is directed from a radiator to the first supply port, when the temperature of the cooling water is not higher than a predetermined level, and communicate the radiator and first supply port with each other when the temperature of the cooling water is higher than the predetermined level; and

a second water pump which has a second supply port for supplying thereinto cooling water which is to flow through the interior of the engine, and a second discharge port for discharging therefrom the supplied cooling water to the supply port of the first water pump, and which is electrically rotated in accordance with the temperature of the cooling water.

2. A cooling water circulating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second water pump is not rotated when the temperature of the cooling water is not higher than the predetermined level, and electrically rotated when the temperature of the cooling water is higher than the predetermined level.

3. A cooling water circulating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a heater is provided between the engine and the second supply port of the second water pump.

4. A cooling water circulating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein blades of a rotor of the second water pump are formed so as to extend radially with respect to the center of rotation of the rotor, the direction of rotation of the rotor being able to be switched from a forward direction to a backward direction, and vice versa.

5. A cooling water circulating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second discharge port of the second water pump is formed in the portion thereof which deviates from the center of rotation of the rotor thereof.

6. A cooling water circulating apparatus adapted to circulate cooling water through an engine or a radiator, comprising:

a first water pump which has a first supply port for supplying thereinto cooling water which is to flow through the interior of an engine, and a first discharge port for discharging therefrom the supplied cooling water to the engine, again, and which is connected to and rotated with a cam shaft of the engine;

a control mechanism adapted to cut off a flow of the cooling water, which is directed from a radiator to the first supply port, when the temperature of the cooling water is not higher than a predetermined level, and communicate the radiator and first supply port with each other when the temperature of the cooling water is higher than the predetermined level; and

a second water pump which has a second supply port for supplying thereinto cooling water which is to flow through the interior of the engine, and a second discharge port for discharging therefrom the supplied cooling water to the supply port of the first water pump, and which is electrically rotated in accordance with the temperature of the cooling water, wherein the first water pump is located adjacent to the cam shaft of the engine but apart from other auxiliary apparatuses driven by the engine via a belt or a chain so as to obtain space and design flexibility for the cooling water circulating apparatus.