Engine compartment structure
OwnerJohn Nixoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of regulating the engine compartment temperature by opening shutters and operating blower(s) and radiator cooling fan to provide air flow through the compartment to maintain a minimum temperature. The enclosed engine compartment provides for rapid heat up of engine and the crankcase, supplies heated inducted air into the engine and aerodynamically shapes the forward of the engine enclosure. A sloped shroud at the front of the engine compartment also enhances the cooling efficiency of the radiator.
Claims16
For use in conjunction with a vehicle having an engine compartment having a forward and rearward end and in which an engine is contained, a device for maintaining the temperature of the engine compartment between predetermined upper and lower limits comprising:
- means for substantially enclosing said engine in said engine compartment,
- means for recirculating air within the engine compartment whenever the temperature of the engine compartment is less than said lower limit,
- said enclosing means comprising a shutter assembly positioned forwardly of the engine, said shutter assembly being movable between a closed position in which air flow through said shutter assembly is substantially blocked, and an open position in which exterior air flows into and through the engine compartment,
- means for variably moving said shutter assembly from its closed position and towards its open position as said engine compartment temperature increases above said upper limit and
- wherein said shutter assembly lies in a forwardly angled plane with respect to the vehicle so that, when in its closed position, said shutter assembly deflects incoming air underneath the vehicle.
For use in conjunction with a vehicle having an engine compartment having a forward and rearward end and in which an engine is contained, a device for maintaining the temperature of the engine compartment between predetermined upper and lower limits comprising:
- means for substantially enclosing said engine in said engine compartment,
- means for recirculating air within the engine compartment whenever the temperature of the engine compartment is less than said lower limit,
- said enclosing means comprising a first shutter assembly and a second shutter assembly, means for opening said second shutter when said engine compartment temperature increases above said lower limit to thereby vent the engine compartment, said first shutter assembly positioned forwardly of the engine, said first shutter assembly being movable between a closed position in which air flow through said first shutter assembly is substantially blocked, and an open position in which exterior air flows through said first shutter assembly and into and through the engine compartment,
- means for variably moving said first shutter assembly from its closed position and towards its open position as said engine compartment temperature increases above said upper limit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.