Vehicle heating system

Claim 1

IN A VEHICLE HEATER SYSTEM WHEREIN A LIQUID-COOLED ENGINE HAVING A BLOCK WITH COOLANT PASSAGES THEREIN AND A MAIN COOLANT PUMP HAVING A CASING WITH A COOLANT PASSAGE THEREIN IN COMMUNICATION WITH A COOLANT PASSAGE IN SAID BLOCK COOPERATE WITH A HEATER TO PROVIDE HEAT FOR THE INTERIOR OF SAID VEHICLE WHEN SAID ENGINE IS OPERATING TO DRIVE SAID MAIN PUMP, SAID VEHICLE HEATER INCLUDING AIRBLOWER MEANS, LIQUID-AIR HEATER TRANSFER SURFACES, AND A PAIR OF FLUID FLOW LINES FOR CIRCULATING HOT COOLANT THROUGH SAID HEATER FROM SAID LIQUID-COOLED ENGINE AND RETURNING SAID COOLANT THERETO, THE COMBINATION WITH SAID SYSTEM OF AN AUXILIARY SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING HEATER OPERATION WHEN SAID ENGINE IS DORMANT, BUT WHILE HOT COOLANT REMAINS THEREIN, SAID AUXILIARY SYSTEM COMPRISING: (A) FLUID CONDUIT MEANS HAVING A PAIR OF OPENINGS AND A SHAFT-RECEIVING MEANS IN A WALL THEREOF; (B) A RIGID FLUID CONVEYING FITTING CONNECTING ONE OF SAID OPENINGS IN SAID CONDUIT MEANS TO A COOLANT PASSAGE IN SAID ENGINE; (C) SAID OTHER OPENING IN SAID CONDUIT MEANS BEING CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID PAIR OF FLUID FLOW LINES; (D) IMPELLER MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID CONDUIT MEANS FOR DRIVING FLUID THERETHROUGH ON THE ROTATION THEREOF; (E) A DRIVE SHAFT CONNECTED TO SAID IMPELLER MEANS AND PASSING THROUGH SAID SHAFT-RECEIVING MEANS IN SAID FLUID CONDUIT; (F) A MOTOR CONNECTED TO SAID DRIVE SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREOF; AND (G) SEALING AND BEARING MEANS TO PROVIDE LATERAL SUPPORT FOR SAID DRIVE SHAFT WHILE PERMITTING ITS ROTATION AND MAINTAINING A FLUID SEAL TO PREVENT SUBSTANTIAL FLUID LOSS THROUGH SAID SHAFT-RECEIVING MEANS.