US4924826A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Temperature responsive engine compartment
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-04-27
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Granted: 1990-05-15
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Expires: 2009-04-27
Abstract
Abstract An improved motor vehicle engine compartment [10] for protecting the engine from cold by retaining engine heat includes conventional side walls [11,12], hood [13] and cowling [14]. A front wall [16] adjacent the radiator [R] includes a series of movable louvers [22] for covering and uncovering a series of opeings [21]. A lower wall [17] includes a series of movable louvers [24] for covering and uncovering a series of openings [23]. Together these walls and the side walls, hood and cowling form a substantially hermetically sealed enclosure when the louvers are in the covering positions. Actuators [28,29], acting through connecting rods [26,27], move the louvers [22,24] to the covering and uncovering positions. A control circuit [40], responsive to low ambient temperature, high engine temperature and operation of the engine, controls the operation of the actuators [28,29].
Inventors
- 👤 Paul S. Vinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:13
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B77/00; F02B77/11; F01; F01P; F01P7/00; F01P7/02; F01P7/10; F01P7/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
In a motor vehicle engine compartment having a plurality of walls forming a compartment housing an engine, the improvement comprising means for retaining engine heat between periods of operation of the engine, said means for retaining engine heat comprising: a first wall having at least one opening therein and a second wall having at least one opening therein, first movable closure means for covering and uncovering said one opening in said first wall; second movable closure means for covering and uncovering said one opening in said second wall; said first and second walls and the remainder of the plurality of walls forming a substantially sealed enclosure when said closure means covers said opening; means responsive to low temperature ambient conditions for moving said first and second closure means into positions covering said openings and responsive to engine operation for moving said first and second closure means into positions uncovering said openings; and insulating material lining each of said first and second walls; whereby in low temperature ambient conditions the enclosure is substantially sealed to retain engine heat therewithin from a prior period of engine operation to allow the engine to be more easily restarted and to facilitate engine warm up.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
In a motor vehicle engine compartment having a plurality of walls forming a compartment housing an engine, the improvement comprising means for retaining engine heat between periods of operation of the engine, said means for retaining engine heat comprising: a first wall having at least one opening therein and a second wall having at least one opening therein, first movable closure means for covering and uncovering said one opening in said first wall; second movable closure means for covering and uncovering said one opening in said second wall; said first and second walls and the remainder of the plurality of walls forming a substantially sealed enclosure when said closure means covers said opening; means responsive to low temperature ambient conditions for moving said first and second closure means into positions covering said openings and responsive to engine operation for moving said first and second closure means into positions uncovering said openings; and insulating material lining each of said first and second walls; whereby in low temperature ambient conditions the enclosure is substantially sealed to retain engine heat therewithin from a prior period of engine operation to allow the engine to be more easily restarted and to facilitate engine warm up.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said first closure means and said second closure means each comprise a set of louvers and wherein the engine is associated with a radiator and said first wall is positioned forwardly of the radiator so that the radiator is housed within said substantially sealed enclosure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The improvement of claim 2 further comprising insulating material lining said louvers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said means responsive to low temperature conditions is further responsive to high engine temperature conditions for moving said first and second closure means to said positions uncovering said openings in response to the detection of a high engine temperature condition.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of improving the starting characteristics of a vehicle engine housed within an engine compartment in cold conditions comprising the steps of maintaining the engine compartment in a substantially sealed condition when the engine is not operating to retain engine heat generated during a previous period of engine operation and maintaining the engine compartment in an unsealed condition when the engine is operating.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of improving the starting characteristics of a vehicle engine housed within an engine compartment in cold conditions comprising the steps of maintaining the engine compartment in a substantially sealed condition when the engine is not operating to retain engine heat generated during a previous period of engine operation and maintaining the engine compartment in an unsealed condition when the engine is operating.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-05-14 | 1993-11-13 | 1994-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-05-14 | 1997-11-13 | 1998-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-05-14 | 2001-11-13 | 2002-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |