Radiator arrangement

In a motor vehicle equipped with a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine, the combination which comprises:

• (a) a one-piece radiator having first and second opposite edges and provided with means which allow coolant to flow through the radiator, from one edge to another, in each of two regions of the radiator;
• (b) means forming a first coolant chamber extending along said first edge of said radiator;
• (c) a first partition in said first coolant chamber and extending transversely to said first edge, said partition defining the demarcation between said first and second radiator regions and dividing said coolant chamber into first and second sub-chambers which communicate with said first and second regions of said radiator, respectively;
• (d) means forming a second coolant chamber extending along said second edge of said radiator;
• (e) a second partition in said second cooling chamber and extending transversely to said second edge and aligned with said first partition of said first coolant chamber, said second partition dividing said second coolant chamber into first and second sub-chambers which communicate with said first and second regions of said radiator, respectively;
• (f) an inlet conduit in communication with said first sub-chamber of said second coolant chamber;
• (g) a first outlet conduit in communication with said second sub-chamber of said second coolant chamber;
• (h) a second outlet conduit in communication with said first sub-chamber of said first coolant chamber;
• and
• (i) thermostatic valve means in said first coolant chamber for allowing the flow of coolant from said first sub-chamber thereof to said second sub-chamber thereof only when the temperature of said coolant is above a predetermined temperature, in consequence of which when the temperature of said coolant is above said predetermined temperature, coolant may flow from said inlet conduit through said first sub-chamber of said second coolant chamber, said first region of said radiator, said first sub-chamber of said first coolant chamber, said second sub-chamber of said first coolant chamber, said second region of said radiator and said second sub-chamber of said second coolant chamber and out of said first outlet, whereas when the temperature of said coolant is below said predetermined temperature, coolant may flow from said inlet conduit only through said first chamber of said second coolant chamber, said first region of said radiator and said first sub-chamber of said first coolant chamber and out of said second outlet conduit, said second region of said radiator thus being bypassed by way of said second outlet conduit.