US4881494A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Engine cooling apparatus for automotive vehicle
Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1988-03-14
•
Granted: 1989-11-21
•
Expires: 2008-03-14
Abstract
Abstract To increase engine power, decrease fuel consumption rate and fan noise, and improve riding comfortability, the engine cooling apparatus provided with a motor-driven cooling fan for an automotive vehicle comprises an engine temperature sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and a controller for actuating the cooling fan when engine temperature exceeds predetermined values varied according to detected vehicle speed. Further, when an air conditioner is turned on, the cooling fan is actuated irrespective of other conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuhiro Ishigami
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:37
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K11/00; B60K11/06; F; F01; F01P; F01P7/00; F01P7/02; F01P7/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
An engine cooling apparatus provided with a cooling fan for an automotive vehicle, comprising: (a) means for detecting engine temperature; (b) means for detecting vehicle speed; and (c) means, coupled to said engine temperature detecting means, for actuating the cooling fan when the engine temperature detecting means detects an engine temperature higher than one of plural predetermined temperature values corresponding to vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
An engine cooling apparatus provided with a cooling fan for an automotive vehicle, comprising: (a) means for detecting engine temperature; (b) means for detecting vehicle speed; and (c) means, coupled to said engine temperature detecting means, for actuating the cooling fan when the engine temperature detecting means detects an engine temperature higher than one of plural predetermined temperature values corresponding to vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The engine cooling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plural predetermined temperature values determined according to vehicle speed are a first predetermined temperature value for low vehicle speed, a second predetermined temperature value for middle vehicle speed and a third predetermined temperature value for high vehicle speed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The engine cooling apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first predetermined temperature value for low vehicle speed is higher than the second predetermined temperature value for middle speed but lower than the third predetermined temperature value for high vehicle speed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The engine cooling apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises means, coupled to said controlling means, for detecting that an air conditioner mounted on the vehicle is turned on, said controlling means actuating the cooling fan, when said air conditioner detecting means detects that the air conditioner is turned on, irrespective of detected engine temperature and detected vehicle speed.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
243 words
A method of controlling a cooling fan provided for an engine for an automotive vehicle, which comprises the following steps of: (a) comparing vehicle speed with a first predetermined speed value; (b) if vehicle speed is the first predetermined speed value or lower, comparing engine temperature with a first predetermined temperature value; (c) if engine temperature is the first predetermined temperature value or higher, actuating the cooling fan; (d) if engine temperature is lower than the first predetermined temperature value, deactuating the cooling fan; (e) if vehicle speed is higher than the first predetermined speed in step (a) above, comparing vehicle speed with a second predetermined speed value higher than the first predetermined speed value; (f) if vehicle speed is the second predetermined speed value or lower, comparing engine temperature with a second predetermined temperature value lower than the first predetermined temperature value; (g) if the engine temperature is the second predetermined temperature value or higher, actuating the cooling fan; (h) if engine temperature is lower than the second predetermined temperature value, deactuating the cooling fan; (i) if vehicle speed is higher than the second predetermined speed in step (e) above, comparing engine temperature with a third predetermined temperature value higher than the first and second predetermined temperature value; (j) if the engine temperature is the third predetermined temperature value or higher, actuating the cooling fan; and (k) if the engine temperature is lower than the third predetermined temperature, deactuating the cooling fan.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
243 words
A method of controlling a cooling fan provided for an engine for an automotive vehicle, which comprises the following steps of: (a) comparing vehicle speed with a first predetermined speed value; (b) if vehicle speed is the first predetermined speed value or lower, comparing engine temperature with a first predetermined temperature value; (c) if engine temperature is the first predetermined temperature value or higher, actuating the cooling fan; (d) if engine temperature is lower than the first predetermined temperature value, deactuating the cooling fan; (e) if vehicle speed is higher than the first predetermined speed in step (a) above, comparing vehicle speed with a second predetermined speed value higher than the first predetermined speed value; (f) if vehicle speed is the second predetermined speed value or lower, comparing engine temperature with a second predetermined temperature value lower than the first predetermined temperature value; (g) if the engine temperature is the second predetermined temperature value or higher, actuating the cooling fan; (h) if engine temperature is lower than the second predetermined temperature value, deactuating the cooling fan; (i) if vehicle speed is higher than the second predetermined speed in step (e) above, comparing engine temperature with a third predetermined temperature value higher than the first and second predetermined temperature value; (j) if the engine temperature is the third predetermined temperature value or higher, actuating the cooling fan; and (k) if the engine temperature is lower than the third predetermined temperature, deactuating the cooling fan.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 5, which further comprises the following steps of: (a) checking whether an air conditioner installed on the vehicle is turned on or off; and (b) if on, actuating the cooling fan irrespective of detected vehicle speed and engine temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
133 words
An engine cooling apparatus provided with a cooling fan for an automotive vehicle, comprising: (a) means for detecting engine temperature; (b) means for detecting vehicle speed; and (c) means, coupled to said engine temperature detecting means and said vehicle speed detecting means, for controlling cooling fan operation on the basis of detected engine temperature and detected vehicle speed, said controlling means actuates the cooling fan when said engine temperature detecting means detects an engine temperature higher than one of plural predetermined temperature values corresponding to vehicle speed detected by said vehicle speed detecting means and the plural predetermined temperature values corresponding to vehicle speed include a first predetermined temperature value for low vehicle speed, a second predetermined temperaure value for medium vehicle speed and a third predetermined temperature value for high vehicle speed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
133 words
An engine cooling apparatus provided with a cooling fan for an automotive vehicle, comprising: (a) means for detecting engine temperature; (b) means for detecting vehicle speed; and (c) means, coupled to said engine temperature detecting means and said vehicle speed detecting means, for controlling cooling fan operation on the basis of detected engine temperature and detected vehicle speed, said controlling means actuates the cooling fan when said engine temperature detecting means detects an engine temperature higher than one of plural predetermined temperature values corresponding to vehicle speed detected by said vehicle speed detecting means and the plural predetermined temperature values corresponding to vehicle speed include a first predetermined temperature value for low vehicle speed, a second predetermined temperaure value for medium vehicle speed and a third predetermined temperature value for high vehicle speed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The engine cooling apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first predetermined temperature value for low vehicle speed is higher than the second predetermined temperature value for medium speed but lower than the third predetermined temperature value for high vehicle speed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
88 words
An engine cooling apparatus provided with a cooling fan for an automotive vehicle, comprising: (a) means for detecting engine temperature; means for detecting vehicle speed; and (c) means, coupled to said engine temperature detecting means and said vehicle speed detecting means, for actuating the cooling fan when said engine temperature detecting means detects an engine temperature higher than one of a first predetermined temperature value for low vehicle speed, a second predetermined temperature value for medium vehicle speed and a third predetermined temperature value for high vehicle speed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
An engine cooling apparatus provided with a cooling fan for an automotive vehicle, comprising: (a) means for detecting engine temperature; means for detecting vehicle speed; and (c) means, coupled to said engine temperature detecting means and said vehicle speed detecting means, for actuating the cooling fan when said engine temperature detecting means detects an engine temperature higher than one of a first predetermined temperature value for low vehicle speed, a second predetermined temperature value for medium vehicle speed and a third predetermined temperature value for high vehicle speed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The engine cooling apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first predetermined temperature value for low vehicle speed is higher than the second predetermined temperature value for medium speed but lower than the third predetermined temperature value for high vehicle speed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4124001A
Cited
US4133185A
Cited
US4257554A
Cited
US4378760A
Cited
JPS57140511A
Cited
JPS5896119A
Cited
US4469053A
Cited
JPS58124017A
Cited
US4425766A
Cited
US4560892A
Cited
US4567858A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-11-20 | 1993-05-22 | 1993-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-11-20 | 1997-05-22 | 1997-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-11-20 | 2001-05-22 | 2001-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |