The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 12, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 12, 1999
Takashi Ban, Kariya, JP;
Shigeru Suzuki, Kariya, JP;
Hidefumi Mori, Kariya, JP;
Tatsuyuki Hoshino, Kariya, JP;
Toshio Morikawa, Toyota, JP;
Toshihiro Oshima, Nagoya, JP;
Other;
Abstract
A control apparatus and method for controlling an automotive heater apparatus. The heater apparatus includes a coolant circuit for cooling an engine, a coolant circulating through the circuit, a heat generator for transferring heat to the coolant, and a heater core for transferring heat from the coolant. The heat generator houses a viscous fluid and a rotor selectively connected to and disconnected from the engine by a clutch. The clutch connects the engine with the rotor to shear the viscous fluid and generate heat. When the rotating speed of the rotor exceeds a rotor speed limit, which varies in accordance with the detected coolant temperature, the clutch disconnects the rotor of the heat generator from the engine and de-activates the heat generator.