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:
Mar. 15, 2005
Filed:
Oct. 22, 2002
Chandran Bhala Santanam, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Chandran Bhala Santanam, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A variable flow thermostat, as applied to an internal combustion engine, provides a means for allowing the flow of coolant fluid from the engine block to the radiator to vary in response to the temperature of the engine coolant sensed at the engine block. The thermostat includes a central control unit that responds to changes in engine coolant temperature by sending signals to one of a plurality of control heaters, each in contact with block of a controllably expandable medium. These blocks, when heated by the control heaters, will heat and expand, exerting a force that controls the degree to which a valve opens. The valve controls the flow of coolant fluid from the engine to either a radiator or a bypass conduit. By varying how many blocks of material are heated, the position of the valve, and thus the amount of coolant reaching the radiator, can be varied.