Electronically controlled engine cooling apparatus

An apparatus for actively controlling the temperature of an engine to a variable optimum temperature to optimize performance of the engine, the apparatus comprising:

• a controller coupled to an engine temperature sensor, the controller generating an output signal related to the variable optimum temperature and to a signal proportional to the actual engine temperature received from the engine temperature sensor;
• and
• an electronically actuated thermostat including a valve located within a coolant flow passageway of the engine, a motor, the motor, and a heater located inside the housing, the motor including a housing filled with a temperature responsive expansion agent, and a movable piston having an end located in the housing, the piston being movable from a retracted position to an extended position to adjust the valve as the heater heats the expansion agent in response to the output signal from the controller the motor also including a first conductive member located on a first side of the heater and a second conductive member located on a second side of the heater, the first conductive member being electrically coupled to the controller and the second conductive member being heater, the first conductive member being electrically coupled to the controller and the second conductive member being heater, the first conductive member being electrically coupled to the controller and the second conductive member being grounded through the housing of the motor to heat the heater in response to the output signal from the controller.

An apparatus for controlling the temperature of an engine based on a temperature control signal generated by an electronic control module of the engine, the electronic control module being coupled to a plurality of sensors configured to detect a plurality of engine component parameters and being configured to generate the temperature control signal related to an optimum engine temperature calculated using at least one output signal from at least one of the plurality of sensors, the apparatus comprising:

• a controller coupled to the electronic control module and to an engine temperature sensor, the controller generating an output signal based on the temperature control signal received from the electronic control module and on a signal proportional to the actual engine temperature received from the engine temperature sensor;
• and
• an electronically actuated thermostat including a valve located within a coolant flow passageway of the engine and a motor, the motor including a housing filled with a temperature responsive expansion agent, an inner conductive sleeve located in the housing, an outer cylindrical sleeve located in the housing spaced apart from the inner conductive sleeve, a heater having a generally cylindrical body located between the inner and outer conductive sleeves, and a movable piston having an end located in the housing, the piston being movable from a retracted position to an extended position to open and close the valve, and wherein the controller is electrically coupled to one of the inner and outer conductive sleeves to cause the heater to heat the expansion agent selectively in response to the output signal from the controller to maintain engine temperature at substantially the predetermined temperature.