Apparatus for controlling cooling airflow to an intenral combustion engine, and engines and methods utilizing the same

An engine apparatus comprising:

• an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine being an air-cooled engine;
• a cooling airflow control subsystem comprising:
• an airflow regulator;
• an actuator supported by the engine and operably coupled to the airflow regulator by a mechanical linkage so that the airflow regulator can be altered between:
• (1) a first-state in which a first amount of cooling airflow is allowed to reach the internal combustion engine;
• and (2) a second-state in which a second amount of cooling airflow is allowed to reach the internal combustion engine, the first amount being greater than the second amount and the airflow regulator configured to be biased into the first state;
• a resilient element biasing the airflow regulator toward the first state;
• a locking assembly that locks the first and second components in a selected one of the first and second states;
• and
• the mechanical linkage comprising an operating rod having a first end coupled to the second component and a second end coupled to a pivotably movable rocker arm operated by the actuator such that actuating the actuator rotates the rocker arm and causes the second component to rotate relative to the first component to alter the airflow regulator between the first and second states;
• wherein the resilient element comprises a spring acting on the pivotably movable rocker arm to bias the airflow regulator toward the first state;
• an alternator configured to generate an electric current, the alternator being electrically coupled to the actuator through a thermal switch operable to sense a temperature of an engine block or a head of the engine;
• the thermal switch being changeable between:
• (i) an open position in which the electric current from the alternator is allowed to flow to and actuates the actuator which changes the airflow regulator to the second state;
• and (ii) a closed position in which the electric current from the alternative is prevented from flowing to the actuator such that the spring maintains the first state.

An engine apparatus comprising:

• an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine being an air-cooled engine;
• a cooling airflow control subsystem comprising, in operable cooperation:
• a thermal switch configured to detect a temperature condition of the engine indicative of oil dilution;
• an airflow regulator supported by the engine and operably coupled to the sensing element, the airflow alterable between:
• (1) a first-state in which a first amount of cooling airflow is allowed to reach the engine;
• and (2) a second-state in which a second amount of cooling airflow is allowed to reach the engine, the first amount being greater than the second amount;
• a resilient element biasing the airflow regulator toward the first state;
• the airflow regulator comprising:
• a stationary first component comprising radially-elongated passageways extending through the first component;
• a rotatable second component comprising radially-elongated passageways extending through the second component, the second component mounted adjacent the first component about a common rotational axis;
• an actuator supported by the engine and operably coupled to the airflow regulator by a mechanical linkage to cause relative rotation between the first and second components when actuated so that the airflow regulator can be altered between the first and second states;
• and
• the mechanical linkage comprising an operating rod having a first end coupled to the second component and a second end coupled to a pivotably movable rocker arm operated by the actuator such that actuating the actuator rotates the rocker arm and causes the second component to rotate relative to the first component to alter the airflow regulator between the first and second states;
• wherein the resilient element comprises a spring acting on the pivotably movable rocker arm to bias the airflow regulator toward the first state;
• an alternator configured to generate an electric current, the alternator being electrically coupled to the actuator through the thermal switch operable to sense a temperature of an engine block or a head of the engine;
• the thermal switch being changeable between:
• (i) an open position in which the electric current from the alternator is allowed to flow to and actuates the actuator which changes the airflow regulator to the second state;
• and (ii) a closed position in which the electric current from the alternative is prevented from flowing to the actuator such that the spring maintains the first state.