Internal-combustion engines – Cooling – Automatic coolant flow control
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-22
2003-09-23
Yuen, Henry C. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Cooling
Automatic coolant flow control
Reexamination Certificate
active
06622666
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an engine cooling system for an all-terrain vehicle provided with a water-cooled engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIG. 8
, a conventional engine cooling system for an all-terrain vehicle provided with a water-cooled engine includes a radiator
101
, a cooling fan
102
disposed behind the radiator
101
, and a water reserve tank, not shown. The radiator
101
is covered with the front fender of the vehicle. A water filler port
106
is formed in the upper wall of the radiator
101
and is closed by a radiator cap
109
detachably attached to the radiator
101
. A water inlet
110
is formed in one upper corner of the rear surface of the radiator
101
at a level at a predetermined distance below the upper end of the radiator
101
. A water outlet
111
is formed in one lower corner of the rear surface of the radiator
101
. The water inlet
110
is connected to an outlet
113
of the water jacket of the engine by a return pipe
112
. The water outlet
111
is connected to a water pump
103
by a water supply pipe
116
. A thermostat, not shown, is placed in a cooling water outlet formed in the cylinder head of the engine. Prior art relating with the present invention is disclosed in JP-U No. Hei 5-10743.
When the radiator
101
provided with the water filler port
106
formed in the upper wall thereof as shown in
FIG. 8
is mounted on an all-terrain vehicle as shown in
FIG. 1
, the water filler port
106
is located near a position indicated by the arrow A in
FIG. 1
, i.e., a position near the lower surface of the front fender
12
. Therefore, when supplying water into the radiator
101
, the operator needs to reach out a hand through a gap between the lower surface of the front fender
12
and the upper end of a side panel
120
to remove the radiator cap
109
, which requires difficult work for supplying water into the radiator
101
.
The radiator
101
of the engine cooling system shown in
FIG. 8
is provided with the water filler port
106
in its upper wall to place the water filler port
106
at a desired level. However, only a limited space is available in the body of the vehicle for placing the radiator
101
and there are restrictions on the level of the radiator
101
. Consequently, the water filler port
106
cannot be located at a high level enough to secure a sufficient pressure head difference between the outlet
113
of the water jacket of the engine and the water filler port
106
. Thus, air remaining in the radiator
101
, the water jacket and the piping cannot be easily removed when supplying water into the radiator
101
, water must be supplied at a low rate and the work for supplying water into the radiator
101
takes much time.
Since the water inlet
110
of the radiator
101
is formed at a level at a predetermined distance below the upper end of the radiator
101
, air is not easy to escape from the radiator
101
when water is supplied into the radiator
101
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an engine cooling system for an all-terrain vehicle, including a radiator provided with a radiator cap which can be easily put on and removed from the radiator and capable of being supplied with water by simple, efficient work, and capable of making difficult the accumulation of air in cooling water circulating passages.
According to the present invention, an engine cooling system for an all-terrain vehicle provided with a front fender, a steering handlebar and an engine provided with a water jacket and mounted on a body frame at a position between front and rear wheels comprises a radiator provided with a water inlet and disposed in a front part of the body frame, a water filling cup provided with a water filling opening covered with a cap, said water filling cup being formed as a different body from the radiator and a thermostat case holding a thermostat therein; wherein the water filling cup and the thermostat case are placed in a part of a connecting pipe connecting the water inlet of the radiator and an outlet of the water jacket, at the highest level in a cooling water circulating passage and located in a space under the front fender and near the steering handlebar.
In the engine cooling system thus configured, the position of the water filling cup is not subject to restrictions placed by the disposition of the radiator and the water filling cup can be disposed in a proper space in the body frame, such as a space near the steering handlebar for the efficient use of the space in the body frame. A large pressure head difference can be secured between the water filling opening of the water filling cup and the outlet of the water jacket of the engine, air remaining in the cooling water passage can be smoothly removed, water supplying work can be efficiently achieved, and air will not accumulate in the water jacket of the engine.
Preferably, a protruded portion may be formed on the front fender so as to surround a steering shaft connected to the steering handlebar, the water filling cup and the thermostat case may be placed inside the protruded portion, and the protruded portion may be provided with an access opening for the water filling cap.
Thus the water filling opening and the thermostat can be easily disposed at a high level, and the cap of the water filling cup can be easily removed by reaching out a hand through the access opening to the cap, and water can be easily supplied through the water filling opening of the water filling cup into the radiator.
Preferably, the water inlet of the radiator may be formed in the upper wall of the radiator.
Thus the connecting pipe connecting the water inlet of the radiator and the outlet of the water jacket of the engine can be easily arranged and air can be easily removed from the cooling water passage.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5410991 (1995-05-01), Beaudry et al.
patent: 6454040 (2002-09-01), Fukuda
patent: 3-117614 (1991-05-01), None
patent: 5-10743 (1993-02-01), None
Ali Hyder
Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Yuen Henry C.
LandOfFree
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