Patent ID: 6182617
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: F01P

Abstract:
Means for selectably regulating the cooling water temperature of a water-cooled internal combustion engine system at a first higher operating temperature or a second lower operating temperature; said internal combustion engine system consisting of at least an engine, an external radiator with interconnecting supply and return hose passageways from and to the radiator, respectively, a water circulating pump means and first and second thermostatic valves having internal thermostatic valve mechanisms operative at set point temperatures, installed in series so as to regulate the flow of cooling water in the supply hose passageway leading to the external radiator, said first thermostatic valve operating to restrict the flow of cooling water to the external radiator until the cooling water temperature increases to the thermostatic element's set point temperature, thus causing the internal valve mechanism to begin to open and to begin to regulate the water flow rate and thereby to control the water temperature at it's said set point temperature; said means comprising, in combination, said second thermostatic valve having a higher set point temperature than said first thermostatic valve and having further water by-pass passageway means installed to allow 10% of the unrestricted cooling water flow rate to by-pass the second thermostatic valve in its closed condition after the said first thermostatic valve has opened; said second thermostatic flow control valve being equipped with external operative means for selectably choosing a first operative position or a second non-operative position; said first operative position disposing water flow passageways adjacent to the valve to substantially restrict the flow of water through the external radiator until the water temperature increases to the second thermostatic valve's said higher set point temperature, thus causing the thermostatic valve mechanism to begin to open and to begin to regulate the water flow rate and thereby to control the water's temperature at said higher set point temperature; said second non-operative position disposing water flow passageways adjacent to the valve so as not to restrict or influence the cooling water flow rate; the effect of selecting said first operative position thereby achieving a first higher operating temperature for the internal combustion engine system, versus selecting the said second non-operative position thereby achieving a lower operating temperature for the internal combustion engine system, respectively.