Total cooling assembly for I.C. engine-powered vehicles

A cooling fan module for use in a front engine compartment of an automotive vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine in association with a heat exchanger module having front and rear faces via which air can pass in heat exchange relation across such heat exchanger module to absorb heat from fluid flowing through such heat exchanger module, said cooling fan module comprising:

• panel structure for disposition in confrontation to a rear face of such heat exchanger module;
• a fan/motor combination mounted on said panel structure for drawing air across such heat exchanger module to create the effluent that passes through said panel structure, said fan/motor combination comprising a fan and a first electric motor for operating said fan;
• a pump/motor combination mounted on said panel structure and comprising a pump having a port for fluid communication with such heat exchanger module and a second electric motor for operating said pump;
• and
• a controller disposed on said panel structure for controlling operation of said first and second electric motors.

A method of assembling an internal combustion engine and a cooling system for such an engine in an engine compartment of an automotive vehicle comprising:

• first, making a total cooling assembly that defines an air flow path through the assembly by assembling together, 1) a heat exchanger module for transferring heat from fluid to air entering said flow path and that comprises front and rear faces via which air can pass in heat exchange relation across said heat exchanger module to absorb heat from fluid flowing through said heat exchanger module thereby creating an effluent, 2) a cooling fan module disposed proximal of said heat exchanger module and comprising a fan/electric motor combination for drawing air across said heat exchanger module from said front face to said rear face of said heat exchanger module to create the effluent, 3) a pump/electric motor combination, 4) a fluid conduit for placing said heat exchanger module and said pump in fluid communication, and 5) a controller for controlling operation of said electric motors;
• then,
• assembling said total cooling module into an engine compartment of such a vehicle, and operatively associating said total cooling module with said internal combustion engine by, 1) assembling a second fluid conduit to place said heat exchanger module and a coolant passage system of said engine in fluid communication, and 2) assembling a third fluid conduit to place said pump and the coolant passage system of said engine in fluid communication.