Means for controlling the temperature of an internal combustion engine

Claim 1

A WATER PUMP AND FAN ASSEMBLY FOR AN ENGINE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A WATER PUMP BODY, AN IMPELLER SPINDLE WHICH EXTENDS THROUGH AND IS ROTATABLE WITHIN SAID BODY, SAID SPINDLE HAVING THEREIN AN AXIAL BORE, A WATER PUMP IMPELLER SECURED TO SAID SPINDLE, MEANS ON SAID SPINDLE ADAPTED TO BE DRIVEN FROM AN ENGINE, A FREELY ROTATABLE FAN FOR DISTRIBUTING COOLING AIR AROUND THE ENGINE, SAID FAN BEING NORMALLY QUIESCENT AND HAVING A HUB IN WHICH IS FORMED A NON-CIRCULAR HOLE, A PUSH ROD WHICH IS ROTATABLE TOGETHER WITH, BUT IS SLIDABLE AXIALLY WITHIN THE BORE IN THE IMPELLER SPINDLE AND HAS A LEADING END PORTION OF A NON-CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION FOR ENGAGEMENT WITHIN THE COMPLEMENTARY HOLE IN THE FAN HUB, THE LENDING END OF THIS PORTION OF NON-CIRCULAR CROSS-SECTION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY ROUNDED, SAID APERTURED FAN HUB AND LEADING END PORTION OF THE PUSH ROD CONSTITUTING A DOG CLUTCH THROUGH WHICH THE FAN CAN BE DRIVEN, A TEMPERATURE-RESPONSIVE DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE SO ARRANGED THAT WATER FROM THE COOLING SYSTEM OF THE ENGINE FLOWS AROUND IT, AND MEANS CONNECTING THIS DEVICE WITH THE PUSH ROD WHEREBY THE FAN CAN BE CONNECTED FOR ROTATION TOGETHER WITH THE IMPELLER SPINDLE UPON AXIAL DISPLACEMENT OF THE PUSH ROD IN ONE DIRECTION UNDER THE AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF SAID TEMPERATURE-RESPONSIVE DEVICE TO ENGAGE IT IN THE FAN HUB, AND THE FAN CAN BE DISENGAGED FROM THE IMPELLER SPINDLE UPON AXIAL MOVEMENT OF THE PUSH ROD IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION UNDER THE AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF SAID TEMPERATURE-RESPONSIVE MEANS TO DISENGAGE IT FROM THE FAN HUB.