| 20080216775 | Automotive Coolant Pump Apparatus - An automotive coolant pump has movable vanes, which are adjustable as to their orientation in accordance with the temperature of the coolant, whereby the rate of coolant flow through the pump impeller accords with coolant temperature. A thermal-actuator is operated by a thermal-sensor, and serves to rotate a vanes-drive-ring to cause the vanes to change orientation in unison. The cooling system includes a bypass-port, which is open during warmup and closed once coolant has acquired working temperatures; the same thermal-actuator serves also to operate the bypass-port-blocker. Additionally, the same thermal-actuator may serve also to operate a radiator-port-blocker, which serves to block flow through the radiator during engine warmup. The vanes may be arranged to close completely together, and to be sealed at closure. Sealing is effected e.g by elastomeric sealing elements arranged on the appropriate surfaces of the vanes. The vanes lie sandwiched between top and bottom plates, which press the vanes with a small resilient force. The plates and vanes, together with a retainer, form a pre-assembly module. The vanes also are profiled to maximise efficiency over the range of orientations and conditions. | 09-11-2008 |
