This invention relates to a fan assembly for the rear engine compartment of a motor vehicle, more particularly, though not exclusively, an auto rickshaw type motor vehicle for the purpose of removing excess heat from the said compartment and thereby reducing cabin bulk temperature.
The known autorickshaw type motor vehicle is usually provided with an internal combustion engine and in many cases, these engines are mounted on the rear part of the chassis so that the drive can be taken directly to the rear wheel. Such vehicles have better ride comfort, less vibration and less noise to the driver and passenger as compared to the engine on the front side of the chassis. Since these engines are mounted on the rear part of the chassis and
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well covered with panels, the engines are not sufficiently cooled while running. In order to improve the cooling of the engine, these engines are conventionally provided with
forced air-cooling, which is achieved by a fan
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driven by the engine crankshaft and directed towards the engine through a cowl.
If proper airflow is not present in the engine compartment area, cabin bulk temperature will increase and the thermal efficiency of the engine may come down. Besides, whenever the user or serviceman opens the engine compartment door, he is certain to feel the heat on his face and body, causing him considerable discomfort. To meet this situation the door of the said compartment (what is commonly known as the service door) is provided with louvers or spaced
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slots for better circulation of air in the compartment and, consequently, better removal of heat from the compartment. However, this apparent solution is not always workable to the expected extent.
Apart from the discomfort felt by persons inside the vehicle as a result of the heat generated by the engine, while the vehicle is in motion, there is always the possibility of the driver or a serviceman getting his hands or other body parts scalded by the hot air emerging from the compartment whenever the service door is opened, even with the engine OFF, for the purpose of carrying out repairs or servicing operations.
It Is therefore the object of this Invention to propose a cooling fan assembly which avoids

the abovementioned drawbacks. The fan is fitted on the inside of the service door itself.
The fan will remove the excess heat from the engine compartment by forced convection and will also help in reducing cabin bulk air temperature.
As the fan will be fitted on the Inside of the service door it will not be visible from outside when the service door is closed.
The use of the fan does not depend upon the type of engine, that is, whether it is 2 stroke or 4 stroke
The fan assembly for the rear engine compartment of a motor vehicle, according to this invention, comprises a source of electric

power for the said assembly; an electrically operated fan fitted to the inside of the service door of the compartment; a thermal sensor installed in the compartment for sensing the temperature therein, said sensor switching on
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the fan for as long as the temperature in the compartment is sensed as being above a predetermined value and switching off the fan when the temperature is no longer above the said value.
This invention will now be described in further detail by referring to the accompanying- drawings which illustrate, by way of example, and not by way of limitation, one of various possible embodiments of the fan assembly proposed herein.

The fan assembly comprises a compartment C for the rear engine of the motor vehicle such as a three wheeler autorickshaw type passenger vehicle or goods transport vehicle. The assembly is provided with a source of electric power, such as, the battery of the vehicle and the alternator of the vehicle. As in any other motor vehicle the battery is always ON whether the engine is at rest or not, to supply power, while the alternator is ON to supply power only when the engine is running. An electrically operated fan F is fitted to the inside of the service door D of the compartment so that it is only when the service door is open that the fan is visible.
A thermal sensor T is installed in the compartment for sensing the temperature therein. The said sensor switches the fan ON

for as long as the temperature in the compartment is sensed to be above a predetermined "safe" value, the sensor switching the fan OFF when the temperature is no longer above the said value.
It will thus be see that the fan F is operative to cool the compartment C in a controlled manner to reduce the heat in the said compartment not only when the engine is running, but even when the engine is at rest. In the latter case, the assembly is powered by the battery and the fan helps to cool the compartment - even after the engine is switched off, to prevent injury to the user or serviceman if he should happen to open the service door when the temperature in the compartment is above the predetermined "safe" value. .

From the foregoing description, it will be observed that various other embodiments of the fan assembly are possible without departing from the scope and ambit of this invention
We Claim:
1. A fan assembly for the rear engine compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising a source of electric power for the said assembly;

From the foregoing description, it will be observed that various other embodiments of the fan assembly are possible without departing from the scope and ambit of this invention
We Claim:
1. A fan assembly for the rear engine compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising a source of electric power for the said assembly;

an electrically operated fan fitted to the inside of the service door of the compartment; a thermal sensor installed in the compartment for sensing the temperature therein, said sensor switching on the fan for as long as the temperature in the compartment is sensed as being above a predetermined value and switching off the fan when the temperature is no longer above the said value.
2. A fan assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the source of electric power is the battery of the vehicle.
3. A fan assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the source of electric power is the alternator of the vehicle.

4. A tan assembly for the rear engine compartment of a motor vehicle, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying dtawings.
Dated this the 2009