US5845612A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Total cooling assembley for I. C. engine-powered vehicles
Assignee: Siemens Canada Ltd
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Filing: 1997-04-16
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Granted: 1998-12-08
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Expires: 2017-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A heat exchanger module, a cooling fan module, a pump/fan module, and an electronics system control module are joined together in assembly to form a total cooling assembly for an automotive vehicle that is powered by an internal combustion engine. The cooling fan module is disposed directly behind the rear face of the radiator, and contains an electric motor-driven fan that draws ambient air across the radiator. At time of installation in a vehicle, the assembly is "dropped into" the vehicle engine compartment and secured in place. An electric motor-driven coolant pump module that pumps engine coolant through the engine and radiator, and an electronics system control module that controls the operation of the fan and pump motors also mount on the cooling fan module. When the vehicle has an air conditioning system, and/or turbo-charged engine, one and/or two additional heat exchangers form part of the heat exchanger module. The cooling fan module may comprise an axial flow fan or a ducted radial flow fan.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew Lakerdas
- 👤 Peter A. Kershaw
- 👤 Alexander Joseph
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:17
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D1/00; F28D1/02; F28D1/04; F28D1/0408; F28D1/0426; F28D1/0435; F01; F01P; F01P3/00; F01P3/18; B; B60; B60K; B60K11/00; B60K11/02; B60K11/04; F01P11/00; F01P5/00; F01P5/02; F01P5/06; F01P5/10; F01P11/10; F01P2005/025; F01P5/04; F01P2005/046; F01P2005/105; F01P5/12; F01P2005/125; F01P2025/00; F01P2025/08; F01P2025/52; F01P2050/00; F01P2050/30; F01P2060/00; F01P2060/02; F01P2060/10; F01P2070/00; F01P2070/50; F01P7/00; F01P7/02; F01P7/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/228; Y10S165/302; Y10S165/303; Y10S165/304; Y10S165/306; Y10S165/316
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A total cooling assembly for an engine, comprising: a heat exchanger module; a cooling fan module joined to said heat exchanger module, said cooling fan module having a first electric motor that operates a fan; a fluid pump in fluid communication with said heat exchanger module; a second electric motor that operates said pump; and a controller that selectively operates said first and second electric motors; wherein said cooling fan module comprises a panel structure having a walled through-passage in which said fan is disposed such that operation of said fan by said first electric motor causes an effluent to be drawn through said through-passage, and wherein said controller is also disposed on said panel structure, and electric wiring extends from said controller to each of said first and second electric motors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A total cooling assembly for an engine, comprising: a heat exchanger module; a cooling fan module joined to said heat exchanger module, said cooling fan module having a first electric motor that operates a fan; a fluid pump in fluid communication with said heat exchanger module; a second electric motor that operates said pump; and a controller that selectively operates said first and second electric motors; wherein said cooling fan module comprises a panel structure having a walled through-passage in which said fan is disposed such that operation of said fan by said first electric motor causes an effluent to be drawn through said through-passage, and wherein said controller is also disposed on said panel structure, and electric wiring extends from said controller to each of said first and second electric motors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The total cooling assembly recited in claim 1, wherein said controller selectively operates said first and second electric motors based on cooling requirements of said engine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The total cooling assembly recited in claim 1, wherein said walled through-passage comprises a circular walled opening concentric with an axis of rotation of said fan, and said panel structure comprises a panel portion forming a motor mount mounting said first electric motor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The total cooling assembly recited in claim 3, wherein said panel portion comprises a configuration of struts, and wherein said configuration of struts, said motor mount, and said panel portion are an integral one-piece construction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The total cooling assembly recited in claim 1, wherein said panel structure comprises a panel portion proximate said heat exchanger module, said panel portion comprises said walled through-passage, and wherein said pump, second electric motor, and said controller are mounted on said panel portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The total cooling assembly recited in claim 1, wherein said pump comprises an inlet and an outlet, and said fluid passage couples an outlet of said heat exchanger module to said pump inlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The total cooling assembly recited in claim 1, wherein said engine comprises an internal combustion engine in an engine compartment of an automotive vehicle, and wherein said engine compartment defines an air flow path through said total cooling assembly so that fluid flowing through said heat exchanger module transfers heat to air in said flow path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The total cooling assembly recited in claim 1, wherein said internal combustion engine comprises a coolant passage system, a fluid passage providing fluid communication between said coolant passage system and said heat exchanger module, and an additional fluid passage providing fluid communication between said pump and said coolant passage system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
The total cooling assembly recited in claim 8, wherein said heat exchanger module comprises a radiator in fluid-communication with said engine and said pump by said fluid passages; and wherein said heat exchanger module further comprises an air conditioning condenser disposed in assembly relation with said radiator, and said radiator and condenser are disposed in tandem such that said fan draws ambient air across both said radiator and said condenser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cooling assembly of claim 1, wherein said control module selectively controls operation of said first and second electric motors for regulating power consumption thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The cooling assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor that generates a signal indicative of an automotive vehicle operating condition for the control module to utilize in operating one of at least one of the first and second electric motors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
The cooling assembly recited in claim 11, wherein said signal is indicative of at least one of engine coolant temperature and pressure, vehicle air conditioning system refrigerant temperature and pressure, data from an engine management computer, and data from a data bus of a vehicle electronics system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The cooling assembly recited in 11, wherein control module attempts to operate said first and second electric motors in a manner which achieves targeted total convective heat transfer with minimized power consumption.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The cooling assembly recited in 11, wherein control module attempts to operate said first and second electric motors in a manner which achieves targeted total convective heat transfer with minimized power consumption.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of assembling an internal combustion engine and a cooling system, comprising: A) providing a total cooling assembly that defines an air flow path by assembling together on a panel structure: 1) a heat exchanger module, 2) a cooling fan module comprising a fan and electric motor combination, 3) a pump and electric motor combination; 4) a controller for selectively controlling operation of said electric motors based on engine cooling requirements; and B) associating said total cooling module with an internal combustion engine by: 1) assembling a fluid conduit to place said heat exchanger module and a coolant passage system of said engine in fluid communication, and 2) assembling another fluid conduit to place said pump and the coolant passage system of said engine in fluid communication.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of assembling an internal combustion engine and a cooling system, comprising: A) providing a total cooling assembly that defines an air flow path by assembling together on a panel structure: 1) a heat exchanger module, 2) a cooling fan module comprising a fan and electric motor combination, 3) a pump and electric motor combination; 4) a controller for selectively controlling operation of said electric motors based on engine cooling requirements; and B) associating said total cooling module with an internal combustion engine by: 1) assembling a fluid conduit to place said heat exchanger module and a coolant passage system of said engine in fluid communication, and 2) assembling another fluid conduit to place said pump and the coolant passage system of said engine in fluid communication.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of minimizing power consumption of an automotive vehicle cooling assembly, comprising: (1) providing an assembly on a panel structure including: a heat exchanger module for transferring heat from engine coolant fluid therein to air entering an airflow path therethrough; a cooling fan module disposed proximal said heat exchanger module, including a fan powered by a first electric motor, for drawing air across said heat exchanger; a coolant fluid pump module, coupled in fluid communication with said heat exchanger module, including a pump powered by a second electric motor, for pumping engine coolant fluid through said heat exchanger module, and a control module that operates said first and second electric motors based on cooling requirements of said engine; and (2) operating said assembly by selectively controlling operation of said first and second electric motors with said control module in a manner which minimizes power consumption thereof while regulating total convective heat transfer among said engine coolant fluid, said heat exchanger, and said air.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of minimizing power consumption of an automotive vehicle cooling assembly, comprising: (1) providing an assembly on a panel structure including: a heat exchanger module for transferring heat from engine coolant fluid therein to air entering an airflow path therethrough; a cooling fan module disposed proximal said heat exchanger module, including a fan powered by a first electric motor, for drawing air across said heat exchanger; a coolant fluid pump module, coupled in fluid communication with said heat exchanger module, including a pump powered by a second electric motor, for pumping engine coolant fluid through said heat exchanger module, and a control module that operates said first and second electric motors based on cooling requirements of said engine; and (2) operating said assembly by selectively controlling operation of said first and second electric motors with said control module in a manner which minimizes power consumption thereof while regulating total convective heat transfer among said engine coolant fluid, said heat exchanger, and said air.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of providing at least one sensor that generates a signal indicative of an automotive vehicle operating condition; and wherein the step of operating further comprises utilizing said signal by said control module for operation of at least one of the first and second motors.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said signal indicates at least one of engine coolant temperature and pressure, vehicle air conditioning system refrigerant temperature and pressure, data from an engine management computer, and data from a data bus of a vehicle electronics system.
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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) | 2001-12-07 | 2002-06-08 | 2002-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-07 | 2006-06-08 | 2006-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-07 | 2010-06-08 | 2010-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |