US2890687A

US2890687A - Thermo hydraulic valve

Info

Publication number: US2890687A
Application number: US764031A
Authority: US
Inventors: Eugene E Richmond
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-09-29
Filing date: 1958-09-29
Publication date: 1959-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 1976-06-16

Description

June 16, 195 9 E. E. RICHMOND 2,890,687

THERMO HYDRAULIC VALVE Filed Sept. 29, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1' 4 4d a/ a: WWI F/G 9 m 72 w IF 2 v z I? L w ,3

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4 THERMO HYDRAULIC VALVE Filed Sept. 29, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 'oIIIII 'IIIIIIII I N VEN TOR.

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THERMO HYDRAULIC VALVE Filed Sept. 29. 1958 7 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 INVENTOR. /v ERlc/molvo ATTEI RN EYE June 16, 1959 E. E. RICHMOND 2,890,687

THERMO HYDRAULIC VALVE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 29. 1958 fuss/v5 E RICHMOND ATTORNEYS THERMG HYDRAULIC VALVE Eugene 1E. Richmond, Tavares, Fla.

Application September 29, 1958,.Serial No. 764,031

6 Claims. (Cl. 123-41.12)

This invention relates to fans and other devices particularly of motor vehicle engines, and in particular a thermally actuated valve connected to the 'oil pressure system of an engine and a fan mounting having a fluid pressure cylinder and a clutch therein whereinthe fan is actuated only when the temperatures of water of an engine reaches a predetermined degree, and wherein the operation of the fan is restricted as the speed of the vehicle reaches a predetermined amount, such as 35 miles per hour, at which speed the inrush of air through the hood of the vehicle exceeds air discharged by the fan of the engine thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to control theoperation of different automotive fan mechanisms 'to maintain the proper circulation of air through the radiator of a vehicle in proportion to load conditions, water temperature and speed, to reduce excessive fan noise and also to reduce the power required to operate fans of internal combustion engines particularly with a vehicle traveling at high speed when, due to the inrush of air through the radiator the fan is not required.

In the conventional motor vehicle the fan operates continuously as the engine is operated whereas it is appreciated that in starting the water of the cooling system is below normal and does not require cooling and when a vehicle is traveling at high speed, suchas above 35 miles per hour the inrush of air throughthe radiator and below the hood exceeds the air discharged by the fan so that under such conditions the operation of the fan is not required. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates means for holding the fan of a motor vehicle engine stationary until water of the engine reaches a predetermined degree to facilitate starting and also *means for restricting operation of the fan with the vehicle aveling at such speed that the inrush of .air is greater than that discharged by the fan.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for controlling the operation of thediiferent automotive fan mechanisms wherein the fan operates only when it is desired to cool theengine or the water of the cooling system thereof.

Another object of the invention is to maintain the aren't proper circulation of air through the radiator ofan internal combustion engine in proportion to load conditions, water temperature, and speedof the vehicle.

Another important object of the invention'is to reduce excessive fan noise and economize on the power required to operate the fan with the vehicle traveling at high speed and when the fan operation is not required.

A further object of the invention is to shorten the warm-up time of an internal combustion engine byeliminating cold air circulation through the radiator resulting from operation of the fan with the engine cold.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a thermal valve that lends itself toother applications in internal combustion engines in motor vehicles and where hydraulic forces are used in-relation .to temperature conditions and where electric circuits can be opened and closed in relation to temperature and hydraulic pressure.

And astill further object of the invention'is to provide a thermal valve for controlling the operation of a motor vehicle fan in which the apparatus is of simple and ecov nom'ical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a thermally actuated valve connected to the oil pressure line of an engine with an outlet connection extended to the crankcase of the engine and-with a pressure line extended to ahydraulic cylinder,

a 'fan mounting in which the hydraulic cylinder-is positioned, a clutch in the mounting, means for connecting pressure line of the valve to the hydraulic cylinder of the fan assembly, and suitablecarns and solenoids also for actuating the fan assembly, or mounting.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with-the drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a longitudinal section through the thermal .hydraulic valve showing the connection from the engine oil pressure line, the outlet connection to the crankcase and the pressure connection to a hydraulic cylinder for actuating a fan clutch, partsof the engine housing being broken away.

Figure 2 is a view illustrating an assembly of valves for independently operating the device.

Figure 3 is -a section showinga modification wherein the valve is secured by bolts to the engine housing, such .as -in a flange connection, instead of being threaded in an opening of the housing.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the fan vmounting showing the hydraulic cylinder and clutch therein and with parts broken away.

Figure 5 is a modification showing a cross section through one of the blades of the fan, and in which a reversely disposed flange is provided on oneedge-of'the fan blade.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section through the fan mounting showing a modification wherein the clutch is wherein the cams are positioned between thrust and radial bearings, parts of the device being broken away. Figure 10 is a longitudinal section through the fan mounting assembly illustrating a further modification wherein the parts are actuated by solenoids.

Figure 11 is a longitudinal section through the fan mounting showing a further modification wherein thehydraulic cylinder is spacecd outwardly from the force transmitting element, parts being broken away.

Figure 12 is also a longitudinal section through the fan mounting showing the fan assembly mounted on the pump shaft by spaced roller bearings, controlling both pump and fan when desired.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts'the improved thermal hydraulic valve which is used with all units and which is illustrated, particularly in Figure 1, includes a valve body 1% having .a cylinder 11 therein, an upper piston 12 positioned in the cylinder andhaving a cup washer l3 thereon, a lower piston 14 also positioned in the cylinder and having a cup washer 15 thereon, a thermal unit 16 having a stem- 17 extended upwardly therefrom, avalve 18 positionedsin the upper part-of the 64 extended from a disc 65.

4, including a shaft 25 extended from a conventional water pump 26, a hub 27 mounted on the shaft 25, on

'the'outer end of which a flange 28 is positioned, a pressure cylinder 29, a clutch 30 actuated by an annular channel-shaped piston 31 in a housing 32, a fan 33 secured by bolts 34 to a collar 35 of the fan assembly and rotatably mounted by a bearing 36 on a sleeve 37 extended from the hub27, a pulley 38 carried by a frustro-conical shaped hub 39 which is secured to the flange 28 by bolts 40, under the heads of which are lock washers 41.

With a threaded nipple 42 on the lower end of the valve body threaded into an opening 43 in a housing 44 of a water jacket 45 whereby the thermal unit 16 is positioned to be influenced by the temperature of the water jacket the valve operates in a conventional manner with the water cold whereby oil under pressure from the engine passes through the connecting tube through an opening 46 in a bushing 47 threaded in the opening 19 at the upper end of the valve body, the oil passing downwardly as indicated by the arrows into an annular recess 48 and passing from the recess through a passage 49 into a passage 50 in the valve 18 and continuing from the passage into the upper end of the cylinder 11 from which the oil passes through orifices 51 in a sleeve 52 from which the oil passes through a bore 53 in the sleeve into a cross passage 54 in a collar 55 on the intermediate portion of the sleeve 52, the oil passing into a cylinder 11 and from the cylinder through a passage 56 to a connection 22 to carry the oil back to the crankcase of the engine. The tube forming the connection 22 is mounted in the valve body 10 by a plug 57 which is threaded in the opening 21.

With the water relatively cool and with the parts of the valve in the position shown in Figure l the oil pressure is recirculated and the fan remains stationary.

' Upon the temperature of the water in the water jacket rising the thermal unit 16 forces the stem v17 upwardly carrying the lower piston 14 across the opening 56, closing said opening and driving the upper piston 12 above a passage 58 to the connection 24 wherebythe oil under pressure is carried to the cylinder 29 which drives the annular piston 31 toward the fan actuating the clutch 30 and thereby causing the fan to rotate. By this means the fan rotates only when it is desired to reduce the temperature of water in the water jacket of the engine.

The thermal unit 16 is positioned between a lower spring ring 59 in an annular groove 60 and an upper spring ring 61 in an annular groove 62 and the upper end of the stem 17 is positioned in a socket 63 in a sleeve The lower piston 14 is positioned on a pin 66 extended downwardly from the lower end of the collar 55 and the sleeve 52 extends upwardly from the upper side of the collar. The sealing or cup piston washer 13 on the upper end of the upper piston 12 is provided with a disc 67 that is positioned to engage a flange 68 of a sleeve 69 in which orifices 70, which are in registering relation with thelorifices 51 of the sleeve 52, are positioned, and as shown in Figure l, the lower end of the sleeve 69 is seated upon a shoulder 71 spaced from the upper end of the sleeve 52. A balancer spring lower end being seated upon the disc 67 at the upper end of the packing element 13 at the upper end of the upper iston.

p In addition to the valve 18 in the cap 74 at the upper end of the cylinder a check valve including a ball 76 urged against a seat 77 by a spring 78 is also provided, the seat 77 being in the lower portion of a bore 79 extended from the annular recess 48. The upper end of the sleeve 52 is provided with a plug 80 that is positioned to move upwardly with the sleeve to engage the ball 76 to unseat the ball thereby opening the lower end of the portion 79 of the bore of the cap to the interior of the cylinder 11.

The valve 18includes a cylindrical element rotatably mounted in a bore 81 and the passage 50 extends through the element to bypass the check valve formed with the ball 76 when water of the engine is cold.

The cylindrical valve element 18 is provided with an arm 82 having spaced openings 83 therein and the end of the arm is slidably mounted on the accelerator or throttle actuating rod 84 and positioned between collars 85 and 86 which are set to regulate the movement of the valve element 18. The said collars 85 and 86 are provided with conventional set screws 87. The valve element 18 is also provided with a cross passage 88 that is positioned to provide communicating means with the passage 49 with the valve element 18 turned to an angle of whereby one end of the passage 50 is in registering ,relation with an opening 89 between the cylinder 81 and bore 79 of the cap 74.

The fan assembly, as illustrated in Figure 4 is connected by the tube 24 to the valve cylinder 11 whereby oil under pressure is applied to the annular cylinder 29, the end of the ,tube 24 being secured by a coupling 90 which is threaded on the upper end of a plug 91 threaded in an opening 92 of a boss 93 of the housing 32 in which the cylinder 29 'is positioned.

The annular cup piston 31 is mounted ahead of pressure ring 94 with pins 95 and the pins extend from studs 96 around which springs 97 are positioned. Pressure applied to the cylinder 29 compresses the springs 97 urging the studs 96 toward the ball bearings 98 and opposite sides of the bearing contact rods 99, with attached pressure rings 100 which urge a friction through discs 101 against a driving friction disc 102 of a collar 35 on which the fan blades 33 are secured by the bolts 34. In the design illustrated in Figure 4 the shaft 25 extends from a water pump assembly 26 with the hub 27 of the flange 28 secured to the shaft 25 by a set screw 103. The ball bearing 36 is clamped against a shoulder 104 of the sleeve 37 at the end of the hub 27 by a cap screw 105 under the head of which is a washer 106. The cap screws 34 are threaded in the flange of the collar 35 with lock washers 107 between the heads of the cap screws and web of the -fan and the screws also secure a cylindrical guard 108 over the clutch disc, as shown in Figure 4. The guard '108 is provided with an inwardly extended annular flange 109 through which the cap screws extend.

The rods 99 are urged to releasing positions by springs 110 large ends of which are positioned in recesses 111 of the flange 28 and the opposite ends of which are retained by washers 112 on recessed pins 113 that extend from the rods 99, the washers 112 being retained in position by heads 114. The ball bearings 98 are provided with annular sleeves or guards 115 for retaining grease in areas around the balls. The ball hearing assembly is enclosed in a cylindrical housing 116 which is provided with an inwardly extended flange 117 through which cap screws 118 extend and the cap screws, which extend through a ring 119 are threaded in a flange 120 of the housing 32.

I The shaft 25 which extends from the end of the water pump ls-provided with a ball bearing 121 that is positioned in a sleeve 122 extended from the pump and the section 121 is retained in the sleeve 122 by a spring washer 123 in an annular groove 124.

Building up of pressure in a cylinder 11 with the temperature of the assembly unit 16 increased opens the passage 58 whereby oil under pressure passes through the connection 24 to the cylinder 29 driving the piston 31 with the annular washer 94 toward the clutch causing the friction clutch disc to engage whereby the fan is rotated with the rotation of the water pump. Upon dropping of the temperature of the water of the water jacket of the engine the pistons 12 and 14 are urged downwardly by the spring 75 whereby the piston 12 closes the passage 58 relieving the pressure against the friction disc so that rotation of the fan is terminated.

As illustrated in Figure 2 the valve may also be provided with a separate control valve 125 having a pressure oil line connection 126 to the engine, a constant oil pressure line 127 to a valve cap 128, similar to the cap 74 of the valve body and a variable pressure line 129 which extends to a passage 130 in the cap 128, similar to an orifice 131 of the valve cap 74. The valve 125 is positioned in a valve body 132 and the valve element 125 is provided with an arm 133, similar to the arm 82 of the valve 18. The connection 126 opens into a passage 134 which is connected to the connection 127 with

passages

135 and 136 with the valve member 125 in the position shown. By this means constant oil pressure is applied to the valve 128. At the same time oil is supplied through the passage 137 of the valve 125 through an opening 138 that provides communication between the valve element and connection 129 which extends through a passage 139 to the passage 130. The connection 127 opens into .a recess 140, similar to the recess 48 in the cap 74 of the yal've 10 and a check valve 141 is provided in this connection.

A modification is illustrated in Figure 3 wherein instead of the threaded nipple 42 on the lower end of the valve body 10 a valve body 142 is provided with a flange 143 and a cap screw 144 extends through the flange 143 and is threaded into a housing 145 of a water jacket of an engine. In this design a gasket 146 is provided between the flange 143 and wall 145 of the water jacket and a thermal unit 147, similar to the thermal unit 16 is positioned between the spring rings 148 and 149.

In the design illustrated in Figures 6, 7, and 8 the fan blades are actuated by springs to feathering positions wherein with the water cold the fan blades are positioned substantially in a common plane Whereas as the temperature of the water increases the fan blades are positioned at angles to the plane thereby making it possible to supply air to the engine or water jacket thereof in proportion to the temperature of water of the cooling system of the engine.

In this design the fan blades 150 carried on the outer ends of shafts 151 are actuated to operating positions by cams 152 which are secured on the shaft by set screws 153, as shown in Figure 8. The cams are positioned to be engaged by the heads 100 of the rods 99, of the design shown in Figure 8, the rods being actuated by the pistons 31 of the cylinder 29 through the bearings 98 and studs 99. The bearings are slidably mounted on a sleeve 154 and as pressure is applied to the cylinder 29 the bearings force the rods 99 outwardly whereby the heads 1% actuate the cams 152 from the position shown in full lines in Figure 8 to the position indicated by the broken lines.

The shafts 151 on which the fan blades are positioned are rotatably mounted in a housing 155 carried by a sleeve 156, similar to the sleeve or hub 27, the inner ends of the shafts being mounted with bearings 157' in the head 155 and the outer portions being rotatably mounted in a ring 158 with bearings 159.

The assembly in which the cams are used is provided with springs 168, the outer ends of which are anchored in the heads or hub 155 of the fan, as shown at the point 161 and the opposite ends of which are secured in openings 162 in the shaft .where'by upon release of the 8 cams 152 the fan blades are actuated by the springs to inoperative positions.

The cam assembly is enclosed in a casing 163 which is provided with a mounting flange 164 and the flange 164 is secured to a flange 28 of the hub that is similar to the hub 27 by cap screws 165, similar to the cap screws 40, and the center portion of the casing is secured by a cap screw 166 that is threaded in the outer end of a bore 167 of the head or hub 156. The fan blades 150 are secured by suitable fasteners such as the rivets 168 in slots 169 in ends of the shaft 151 and provided with openings 170 in which the rivets or fasteners are positioned. The cap screws 165 are threaded in openings 171 of the flange 28.

In Figure 6 the fan blades 150 are shown in angularly disposed positions in which the blades are held by fluid under pressure in the cylinder 29 and in Figure 9 the fan blades are illustrated in released positions wherein the fan rotates without circulating air over the engine or water jacket thereof.

In the design illustrated in Figure 10 a fan assembly, as illustrated in Figure 6, is mounted in a head or hub 172 similar to the head or hub 155 and the cams are actuated by heads 173 of rods 174, similar to the rods 99. The rods 174 are actuated by solenoids 175 which force a flange 176 against the bearings 177, similar to the bearings 98, and the bearings urge the rods 174 and heads 173 against the cams or clutch element compressing the springs 118. In this design oil under pressure from the engine actuates a pressure switch 178 whereby, with the ignition switch 179 closed a circuit is completed from a battery 180 of the vehicle to the solenoid, one terminal of the battery 180 being grounded, as shown at the point 181, and opposite terminals of the solenoids being grounded, as shown at the points 182. The circuit may include an ammeter 183 and a warning light 184 that is connected by a wire 185 to a wire 186 extended from the battery to the solenoid, and also to a ground 187 whereby the light indicates that the solenoids are actuating.

By this means the fan may be actuated by the blades feathering to compensate for different temperatures of water desired.

The design illustrated in Figure 11 is similar to that shown in Figure 10 except that two cylinders 188 are used instead of solenoids of the design shown in Figure 10, in which a cup piston having a thrust washer 189 thereon is positioned and the piston 190 actuates a flange 191 through studs 192, similar to the studs 96 when the flange is mounted similar to the flange 176 whereby pressure in the cylinder urges the flange and the thrust bearing 193 against the ends of rods 195 similar to the rods 99. The rods 195 operate the friction disc of a clutch or actuate the cams 152, as may be desired. Springs 196 are positioned on the studs 192, providing means for urging the piston toward the released position when the pressure is relieved. The fluid is applied through the tube 197, similar to the tube 24 and the tube is connected to the housing by a plug 198, the inner end of which opens into a recess 199 that is in communication with the cylinder 188 by means of a passage 208.

The design illustrated in Figure 12 is similar to that shown in Figure 4 except that a hub 281, similar to the hub 27, is rotatably mounted by bearings 282 and 203 on a shaft 204, similar to the shaft 25. This design controls both the fan and the pump simultaneously.

In the design, shown in Figure 12, a hub 205 of a fan 206 is secured to the end of the shaft 284 by a key 207 and a cap screw 208, under the head of which is a lock washer 209.

In the design shown in Figure 12, pressure is applied to a clutch 210, similar to the clutch 30 of the design shown in Figure 4 by a pressure cylinder 211 connected to the oil pressure system of the engine by a tube 212,

similar to the tube 24 and the cylinder is provided with an annular piston having a pressure ring 213, studs 214, ball thrust bearings 215 and rods 216 on the ends of which are pressure rings 217 that bear against friction discs of the clutch. The shaft 204 extends fromlball bearing portion 2180f the water pump 26, the portion 218 being retained in a sleeve 219 extended from the pump, by a spring washer 2 20. p

The shaft 204 is provided 221 that is positioned in an annular recess 222 and the shaft is provided with a spacer sleeve 22 3 for retaining the hearings in spaced relation. The parts are assembled in a housing 224, similar to the housing 32 and the inner portion of. the housing is provided with an extension sleeve 225, similar to the sleeve 154., Also, as shown in Figure 12 spacing

sleeves

226 and 227 are provided at the ends of

bearings

202 and 203, respectively. In the modification illustrated in Figure a fan blade 228 is provided with a hook like flange, 229 to retard the free spinning of the fan with forward motion of the vehicle when the fan is not in use.

Operation Upon starting the motor or engine oil is forced from the motor through the tube into the upper end of the valve and, assuming that the engine is cold, the oil flows through the orifice 50 of the valve 18 from the passage 49 passing through the openings 51 and 70 into the passage 53 from which the oil, as indicated by the arrows is returned to the crankcase of the engine through the tube 22.

Upon operation of the engine the temperature of the water rises and the warm water coming in contact with the thermal unit 16 causes the stem 17 to move upwardly forcing the lower piston 14 and the upper piston 12 upwardly with the piston 14 closing the opening 56 to the return connection 22 to the crankcase and opening the orifice 58 to the tube 24 connecting the oil under pressure to the cylinder 29 and the fan starts immediately. In this movement the upper piston 12 moves upward instantly, continuing to move until the disc 67 contacts the flange 68 in the meantime, the balancer spring 72 is compressed holding pistons 12 and 14 in this position unless valve 18 is closed, and it closed the movement continues and member 80 unseats the ball 76 opening the check valve permitting direct passage of the oil under pressure through the passage 53 into the area between the pistons and to the fan mounting or assembly through the tube 24.

This condition would occur only under sudden abnormal loads where cooling action of fan has not yet taken effect. The by-pass valve was incorporated in design to prevent over heating in such a situation.

In the fan mounting fluid under pressure forces the piston 31 toward the clutch transmitting the force through the thrust bearing 98 and rods 99 to the friction disc 101. With the clutch disc in engagement the fan is rotated and the fan continues to rotate as long as air is required for cooling the water of the water jacket of the engine.

It is also possible to operate the fan in the conventional manner by the belt 230 that is trained over the pulley 38, however for such use the bolts 34 should be longer to compress the clutch plates to the driving position.

The fan may also be actuated by the cam assembly or by the solenoid, as may be desired.

It will be understood that other modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A thermal hydraulic valve comprising a valve body having a longitudinally disposed bore providing a cylinder, the cylinder having a connection for receiving .oil under pressure from an engine, .a connectionthrough with a spring locking ring "which oil is returned to the crankcase of the engine and "fan mounting, and means in the fan mounting positioned to receive fluid from the connection of the valve body to the fan mounting for actuating the fan.

2. A thermal hydraulic valve comprising a valve body having a bore providing a cylinder therein, a piston in the cylinder, resilient means for urging the piston downwardly, 'a tube extended from one end of the cylinder for connecting the cylinder to oil under pressure of the engine, an outlet connection at one side of the cylinder for carrying oil under pressure to the crankcase of the engine, a foot actuated valve in the upper part of the valve body and positioned to open the tube for admitting oil under pressure of the engine to the return connection to the crankcase, a water pump, a fan mounting carried by the water pump, a fan rotatably mounted on the fan mounting, means operatively connecting the fan to pressure responsive means in the fan mounting, a tube connecting the pressure responsive means of the fan mounting to the valve body, a thermal unit in the lower end of the cylinder of the valve body and means actuating the piston of the cylinder to admit oil under pressure from the engine lubricating system to the pressure responsive element of the fan mounting for rotating the fan as temperature of the cooling water of the engine uses.

3. A thermal hydraulic valve comprising a valve body having a longitudinally disposed bore extended therethrough providing a cylinder, a lower piston positioned in the cylinder, an upper piston also positioned in the cylinder, a thermal unit in the lower end of the cylinder and having a stem positioned to engage the lower piston for controlling positions of the pistons to compensate for temperatures of water of the water jacket of the engine, an outlet connection extended from one side of the valve body to the crankcase of the engine, an inlet connection extended from the upper end of the valve body to the oil pressure system of the engine, a check valve in the inlet connection in the upper end of the valve body, a valve positioned to provide communicating means between the oil pressure system of the engine and the outlet connection of the valve body, means connecting the valve in the connection between the oil pressure system of the engine and outlet connection to the throttle valve actuating elements of the engine, a water pump having a shaft extended therefrom, a fan mounting assembly on the shaft extended from the water pump, a cylinder in the fan mounting assembly, a connection extended from the cylinder of the fan mounting assembly to the cylinder of the valve body, a fan mounted on the fan mounting assembly, a friction clutch in the fan mounting assembly and positioned to be actuated by the cylinder to cause rotation of the fan upon rotation of the shaft of the water pump and a pulley carried by the fan mounting assembly.

4. In a thermal hydraulic valve, the combination which comprises a valve body having a longitudinally disposed bore extended therethrough providing a cylinder, means for mounting the valve body on the water jacket of an engine having a water pump, an upper piston slidably mounted in 'the cylinder of the valve body, resilient means for urging the upper piston downwardly, a lower piston slidably mounted in the cylinder of the valve body and spaced from the upper piston, a thermal unit positioned in the lower end of the valve body and operatively connected to the lower piston in the cylinder thereof, a check valve in the upper end of the valve body for preventing passage of fluid into the upper end of the cylinder, means on the upper piston for unseating the check valve, a .tubeextended from, theupper end of the valve body for connecting the cylinder with the oil pressure system of the engine, a tube extended from one side of the valve body providing an outlet to the crankcase of the engine, a valve actuated by the foot throttle of the engine for opening the connection of the oil pressure system of the engine to the outlet and the crankcase when water of the water jacket of the engine is cold, a fan assembly mounted on the shaft of the water pump, a cylinder in the fan assembly, a connection from the cylinder of the fan assembly to the valve body whereby oil under pressure of the engine is supplied to the cylinder of the fan assembly, and means operatively connecting the cylinder of the fan assembly to the fan for rotating the fan.

5. In a thermal hydraulic valve, the combination which comprises a valve body having a longitudinally disposed bore extended therethrough providing a cylinder, means for mounting the valve body on the water jacket of an engine having a water pump, an upper piston slidably mounted in the cylinder of the valve body, resilient means for urging the upper piston downwardly, a lower piston slidably mounted in the cylinder of the valve body and spaced from the upper piston, a thermal unit positioned in the lower end of the valve body and operatively connected to the lower piston in the cylinder thereof, a check valve in the upper end of the valve body for preventing passage of fluid into the upper end of the cylinder, means on the upper piston for unseating the check valve, a tube extended from the upper end of the valve body for connecting the cylinder with the oil pressure system of the engine, a tube extended from one side of the valve body providing an outlet to the crankcase of the engine, a valve actuated by the foot throttle of the engine for opening the connection of the oil pressure system of the engine to the outlet and the crankcase when water of the water jacket of the engine is cold, a fan assembly mounted on the shaft of the water pump, a cylinder in the fan assembly, a connection from the cylinder of the fan assembly to the valve body whereby oil under pressure of the engine is supplied to the cylinder of the fan assembly, pressure actuated means in the fan assembly for connecting the fan to the shaft of the water pump whereby the tan is rotated by the water pump, and a pulley carried by the fan assembly.

6. In a thermal hydraulic valve, the combination which comprises a valve body having a longitudinally disposed bore extended therethrough providing a cylinder, means for mounting the valve body on the water jacket of an engine having a water pump, an upper piston slidably mounted in the cylinder of the valve body, resilient means for urging the upper piston downwardly, a lower piston slidably mounted in the cylinder of the valve body and spaced from the upper piston, a thermal unit positioned in the lower end of the valve body and operatively connected to the lower piston in the cylinder thereof, a check valve in the upper end of the valve body for preventing passage of fluid into the upper end of the cylinder, means on the upper piston for unseat-ing the check valve, a tube extended from the upper end of the valve body for connecting the cylinder with the oil pressure system of the engine, a tube extended from one side of the valve body providing an outlet to the crankcase of the engine, a valve actuated by the foot throttle of the engine for opening the connection of the oil pressure system of the engine to the outlet and the crankcase when water of the water jacket of the engine is cold, a fan assembly mounted on the shaft of the water pump, a cylinder in the fan assembly, a connection from the cylinder of the tan assembly to the valve body whereby oil under pressure of the engine is supplied to the cylinder of the tan assembly, means operatively connecting the cylinder of the fan assembly to fan blades thereof, and means regulating the connecting elements connecting the cylinder of the fan assembly to the blades whereby the blades are feathered to compensate for temperature of water in the water jacket of the engine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,644,708 Blackmore Oct. 11, 1927 2,553,214 Sanders May 15, 1951 2,652,816 Dodge Sept. 22, 1953