Cooling system for automotive engine or the like

In an internal combustion engine having a structure subject to high heat flux.

• a cooling system comprising:
• a coolant jacket disposed about said structure and into which coolant is introduced in liquid form and discharged in gaseous form;
• a radiator in fluid communication with said coolant jacket and in which coolant vapor is condensed to form a condensate, said radiator including a small collection vessel disposed at the bottom of said radiator in which said condensate is collected;
• a first temperature sensor disposed in said coolant jacket;
• a pump which pumps the condensate from said radiator to said coolant jacket through a coolant return conduit, said pump being responsive to said first temperature sensor in a manner that said pump is energized when the temperatuare of the coolant in said coolant jacket is above a first predetermined level;
• a second temperature sensor disposed in said radiator;
• a device associated with said radiator for varying the rate of heat exchange between the radiator and a cooling medium surrounding said radiator, said device being responsive to said second temperature sensor in a manner to assume a condition in which the rate of heat exchange is increased upon the temperature in said radiator exceeding a predetermined level;
• a reservoir in which coolant is stored, said reservoir fluidly communicating with said return conduit;
• and
• a relief valve which controls fluid communication between the interior of said reservoir and the ambient atmosphere, said relief valve being arranged to remain closed until the pressure differential between the interior and the exterior of said reservoir reaches one of a predetermined positive value and a predetermined negative value.