Patent Publication Number: US-2007114300-A1

Title: Automotive electric fan system with a liquid misting unit

Description:
BACK GROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to an automotive engine liquid cooling system and the use of a electric cooling fan incorporating a liquid misting unit for additional cooling to a vehicles heat exchanger or what is more commonly referred to as a radiator. All radiators rely on a source of air flowing passing by a series of cooling passages and cooling fins to transfer heat out of the system which is generated by the vehicle&#39;s engine. To increase the vehicle&#39;s cooling system efficiency the use of a fan either mechanical or electric is used to generate more air flow through the radiator. When a vehicle is under a load, such as traversing steep grades or pulling a heavy trailer the engine produces more heat which in turn can create unstable liquid cooling temperatures. If the temperature rises to its boiling point a loss of cooling liquid can occur, some types of cooling liquids are hazardous to the environment and the loss of the cooling liquid will cause serious damage to the vehicle&#39;s engine. When introducing a liquid mist prior to the air flow entering into the radiator a denser cooler air mass is created and is either pushed or pulled into the radiator by the fan, increasing the cooling efficiency of both the fan and the radiator.  
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
      An automotive cooling system is comprised of a cooling liquid circulated through a heat exchanger, (radiator) by a liquid pump linked together by a series of hoses which supply a passage to the vehicle&#39;s engine. As the cooling liquid circulates through the internal passages of the engine, heat is transferred from the engine to the cooling liquid which is then pumped back to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger relies on air flow traveling threw the heat exchanger&#39;s cooling tubes and air fins to cool the liquid before re-entering back to the engine. This air flow is created either by a cooling fan when the vehicle is stationary with its engine running or when the vehicle is moving and air flow is guided and flows threw the heat exchanger. When a water mist is introduced into the air flow prior to entering the heat exchanger a decrease in temperature can be achieved causing an additional cooling effect for the vehicles engine.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to automotive cooling fan and the induction of a liquid mist introduced to the air flow by a misting jet or a series of misting jets located on the electric fan housing and allowing the liquid to mix with the incoming air flow prior to the air flow entering into the vehicles heat exchanger. Most vehicles rely on air flow through the heat exchanger cooling tubes and fins to cool the cooling liquid that keeps the vehicle&#39;s engine from overheating. Adequacy air flow is supplied either by a cooling fan or movement of the vehicle which directs air through the heat exchanger. Most vehicles require either a mechanical driven or an electric powered fan to generate proper air flow when the vehicle is running but stationary. When a vehicle is under load such as pulling a long steep hill or pulling a trailer additional heat is created by the engine which in turns causes the cooling liquid to heat up. Under these types of circumstances extended load time can cause a vehicle to overheat and have a roadside breakdown, loss of the cooling liquid which some types can be a hazardous to the environment and under extreme circumstances severe engine damage can result. Misting the incoming air with a liquid decreases the incoming air temperature to the heat exchanger making it more efficient at cooling when the vehicle is under load and allows the vehicle to operate under load longer without overheating.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a view of a heat exchanger (automotive radiator) and an attaching electric fan and fan housing.  
       FIG. 2  is a view of an incorporated misting unit manufactured into the fan housing of a single fan system. Illustrated is the liquid holding tank with a filler neck and cap, electric liquid pump, anti siphon valve, misting jet liquid manifold and the misting jets.  
       FIG. 3  is a view of a universal misting unit which can be attached to a single fan system. Illustrated is the liquid holding tank with filler neck and cap, electric liquid pump, anti siphon valve, misting jet liquid manifold and the misting jets.  
       FIG. 4  is a view of a universal misting unit which can be attached to a dual fan system. Illustrated is the liquid holding tank with a filler neck and cap, electric liquid pump, anti siphon valve, liquid passage tubes, misting jet liquid manifolds, and the misting jets.  
       FIG. 5  is a view of an incorporated misting unit manufactured into the fan housing of a dual fan system. Illustrated is the liquid holding tank with a filler neck and cap, electric liquid pump, anti siphon valve, liquid passage tubes, misting jet liquid manifolds, and the misting jets.  
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the electric fan housing with an intergraded liquid holding tank with filler neck and cap, electric liquid pump, anti siphon valve, liquid passage tubes, misting jet liquid manifold and fan.  
      FIG. 7  shows a side view of the electric fan housing with an intergraded liquid holding tank with filler neck and cap, electric liquid pump, anti siphon valve, liquid passage tubes and a series of misting jets built into the fan hub.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      In accordance with the present invention, an automotive electric fan is used to supply air flow to the vehicles heat exchanger, (radiator), when incorporating a liquid misting unit to the cooling fan housing enables an additional cooling effect which allows the vehicle&#39;s engine to operate at cooler temperatures when under extreme loads or when additional cooling may be required.  
      An automotive electric fan system integrates a protective cover or frame work around the fan to protect the fan blades and is used for mounting purposes. This structure is more commonly referred to as the fan housing. The present invention illustrated in  FIG. 1  shows the electric fan  6  mounted onto the fan housing  4  which provides protection for the fan blades  10 . The fan housing incorporates mounting brackets  8  which enables the fan housing to be mounted close to or against the heat exchanger  2  or to the vehicle.  FIG. 2  shows the electric fan  6  mounted onto the fan housing  4  which provides protection for the fan blades  10 . The fan housing incorporates mounting brackets  8  which enables the fan housing to be mounted to the heat exchanger or the vehicle. This illustration shows an intergraded liquid misting unit manufactured into or onto the fan housing  4 . The liquid holding tank  12  used to house the misting liquid and integrates a filler neck and cap  16  which is used for filling and sealing the liquid in the holding tank. The holding tank  12  incorporates an electric liquid pump  14  for the delivery of liquid through the inline anti siphon valve  20  which only allows the liquid to flow when under pumping pressure from the liquid pump. The flow continues to the misting jet manifold  18  which directs the liquid to the misting jet or jets  22 .  FIG. 3  shows the present invention as a universal unit which can be installed on the most common manufactured automotive single electric fan systems. This universal unit incorporates a liquid holding tank  12  for housing the liquid, a filler neck and cap  16  to fill and seal the liquid inside the holding tank, a integrated electric liquid pump  14 , which delivers the liquid to the inline anti siphon valve  20  and allows the liquid to flow only under pressure from the liquid pump to the misting jet manifold  18  which delivers the misting liquid to the misting jet  22 .  FIG. 4  shows the present invention as a universal unit which can be installed on the most common manufactured automotive dual electric fans systems. This universal unit incorporates a liquid holding tank  12  for housing the liquid, a filler neck and cap  16  to fill and seal the liquid inside the holding tank, a integrated electric liquid pump  14 , which delivers the liquid to the inline anti siphon valve  20  which allows the liquid to flow only under pressure from the liquid pump to the misting jet manifold  18  which delivers the misting liquid to the misting jets  22 .  FIG. 5  shows the electric fan  6  mounted into the fan housing  4  which provides protection for the fan blades  10 . The fan housing incorporates mounting brackets  8  which enables the fan housing to be mounted to the heat exchanger or to the vehicle. This illustration shows an intergraded liquid misting unit manufactured into or onto the fan housing  4 . The liquid holding tank  12  used to house the misting liquid and integrates a filler neck and cap  16  which is used for filling and sealing the liquid in the holding tank. The holding tank  12  incorporates an electric liquid pump  14  for the delivery of liquid through the inline anti siphon valve  20  which only allows the liquid to flow when under pumping pressure from the liquid pump. The flow continues to the misting jet manifold  18  which directs the liquid to the misting jets  22 .  FIG. 6  is a side view of the present invention and illustrates incorporating a misting unit during manufacturing to the fan housing or frame work  4  which provides protection for the fan blades  10 . The liquid holding tank  12 , holds the misting liquid. The intergraded filler neck and cap  16  is used for filling and sealing the liquid in the holding tank. The holding tank incorporates an electric liquid pump  14  to provide the misting liquid to the inline anti siphon valve  20  which delivers the liquid only when under pressure from the liquid pump, the liquid continues to flow through a series of passage tubes  24  to the misting jet manifolds  18  which distributes the misting liquid to the misting jets  22 .  
       FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of the present invention which incorporates a liquid holding tank  12 , an intergraded filler neck and cap  16  for installing and sealing the liquid inside the holding tank, electric liquid pump  14  which pumps the liquid through the system to the anti siphon valve  20  which only allows the liquid to flow under pressure from the electric liquid pump  14 , liquid passage tube  24  which delivers a stream of misting liquid to the misting jet or jets  22  located in the hub of the fan  26 . The electric fan motor  30  turns the fan blades  10  and under fan blade rotation the cooling liquid is forced to the outside portion of the fan hub  26  and into the misting jets  22 .  
      While various modifications, changes and alternatives are suggestible to one skilled in the art based on the descriptions set forth above, the invention is to be given the broadest interpretation based on the scope of the appended claims.