DESC:FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling system for an engine and more particularly to a liquid cooling system installed on the rear portion of a two-wheeled vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] In an internal combustion engine, combustion of fuel inside the cylinder, powers the transmission system along with production of a large amount of heat energy. This heat energy is mainly concentrated near the cylinder block and cylinder head of the internal combustion engine. Furthermore, it is very necessary to maintain the engine temperature at an optimum level to improve the combustion process. Thus, the heat generated in the cylinder block, which may be transmitted to the cylinder head, must be removed by using an external cooling system.
[0003] In such a vehicle with swinging engine, a coolant circulated through cylinder block and cylinder head is used to extract the heat and thus cool down the engine. Different cooling system for extraction of heat from the internal combustion is possible. In a two-wheeler, disposing, locating and orientation of radiator becomes a great challenge due to space constraints. Placing a cooling system in such a two-wheeler in the front of the vehicle is not desirable, due to space constraints. In addition, since on the left side, kick-starter is located, left side usage for cooling system mounting is also not desirable. Furthermore, an air filter, which is on left side of the vehicle, shall be shielded from hot air coming through radiator; hence, radiator on the left side of the vehicle is also not desirable.
[0004] Hence, there is need of a liquid cooling system for an internal combustion engine, which does not interfere with the proper functioning of the air cleaner and suspension systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In order to obviate the limitations and the problems associated with the locations of radiator for cooling system as described above, the current invention discloses a radiator location for cooling system in a space formed behind the utility box, below the pillion rider seat and above the rear fender. The current location is also away from the cylinder head region to keep the radiator away from hot zones of the engine. The described cooling system according to the present invention is substantially located above the rear wheel.
[0006] The fan for the current radiator is an electric fan, in which the air is induced by fan & passed through radiator. The radiator fan is placed horizontally for air to be induced in and forced and channelized vertically downwards. The radiator is mounted on the mounting brackets rigidly joined to the side tubes. The radiator cover, which incorporates specially curved louvers for efficient entry of air, is mounted on the radiator.
[0007] In such a cooling system, the engine size is compact & has less number of parts. In the current invention, no outlet passage is required as required in a centrifugal fan. The hot air is expelled naturally in rearward direction of the vehicle. The electrical fan can be electronically controlled based on engine rpm using electronic control unit. Furthermore, we can avoid fan usage electronically by switching it on & off whenever required by using input from thermal sensor in the coolant passage. Installation of radiator in a two-wheeled vehicle under the pillion rider seat and above the air filter and in-between the two side tubes provides a better and efficient hot air exit from the engine cooling system.
[0008] The cooling system for the engine as described is to be used for two wheeled vehicles. The cooling is by liquid circuit around the engine & a radiator discharges the heat. The radiator is located above the rear fender & arranged horizontally behind the utility box. The radiator mounting is from side LH & RH frames. For cooling the radiator, air is supplied through an electric fan above the radiator. A pump mounted on the cylinder head & driven by a shaft in line with the camshaft drive circulates the coolant liquid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] Figure 1 illustrates a typical type two-wheeler.
[00010] Figure 2 illustrates top view of a typical two-wheeler with radiator mounting according to the current invention.
[00011] Figure 3 illustrates side view of the cooling system according to the current invention.
[00012] Figure 4 illustrates side view of the cooling system with modified rear fender according to the current invention.
[00013] Figure 5 illustrates side view of rear fender for the two-wheeler with radiator mounting according to the current invention.
[00014] Figure 6 illustrates top view of the rear fender for the two-wheeler with radiator mounting according to the current invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[00015] The cooling system as disclosed in the current invention comprises of a radiator, radiator mounting; and hot air vent profile through the fan cover as main elements. The current invention proposes a more efficient way of installing the radiator for a continuously variable transmission (CVT) type engine wherein the intake of fresh air for radiator cooling and exit of hot air is described. The radiator as disclosed in the current invention is mounted on plurality of mounting brackets, which are welded or rigidly joined to the vehicle side tubes. The radiator & cover radiator is mounted together one above the other using a plurality of fasteners. A fan cover is assembled on the radiator and cover radiator to which an electric fan is mounted. According to the invention, the radiator is horizontal and the radiator fan induces the cold air from upper portion and throws it downwardly. The hot air gets guided to the rear portion of the vehicle above the rear fender.
[00016] Figure 1 shows a typical two-wheeled vehicle 1 with a rear wheel 2, engine 3, air filter 4, front wheel 5, floorboard6, utility box 7, side panel 9, front shock absorber 10, rear shock absorber 11, grab rail 12, tail lamp 13, rider seat 14 and cylinder head portion 15. The direction of arrow “F” shows the front direction of the vehicle and direction of arrow “R” shows the rear direction of the vehicle.
[00017] The engine 3 as disclosed in Figure 1 produces heat energy after combustion of fuel inside it. The fuel is burnt inside the cylinder block and hence, the area near to cylinder block and the cylinder head get extensively heated up. The cylinder block and cylinder head area hence requires a supplementary cooling system to extract the heat thus generated. Furthermore, it is essential that the heated region i.e. the cylinder block as mentioned, be at a distance from the radiator which won’t affect the functioning of the radiator & the cooling system mechanism. The vehicle stands on a ground level 15.
[00018] Figure 2 shows top view of the vehicle 1 of Figure 1. Figure 2 illustrates the rear wheel 2, front wheel 5, utility box 7, down tube 20, radiator 21, side tube RH 22, side tube LH 23, longitudinal axis 25, radiator mountings 26, vehicle front F and vehicle rear R. The directions are labeled with respect to a rider sitting on the rider seat of the vehicle 1. The radiator 21 is mounted on mounting plurality of mounting brackets 26 which in turn are welded or rigidly joined to the side tube 22 and side tube 23. In the present cooling system as disclosed in the current invention, the radiator is horizontally placed in such a way that the fan induces the air from top of the radiator and expels downwardly in the direction AA’ (Figure 3). The space formed in-between the side tubes and above the rear fender, tire 2 and air filter 4 is used to place the radiator 21.
[00019] Figure 3 shows rear wheel 2, utility box 7, front suspension 10, rear suspension 11, rider seat 14, down tube 20, radiator 21, side tube LH 23, second space 31, and hot air flow direction AA'. In the cooling system as disclosed and illustrated in Figure 2, the radiator is surrounded namely by a shock absorber of rear suspension 11from the sides, air filter 4 from the bottom, side tubes from the upper sides and an utility box 7 substantially from the top. Hence the above mentioned parts of the vehicle namely the shock absorber of rear suspension 11from the sides, air filter 4 from the bottom are prone to heating during operation of the radiator due to possible hitting with the hot expelled air from the radiator.
[00020] In yet another embodiment of the current invention, Figure 4 shows rear suspension 11, rear suspension shield 40, rear fender 41 and radiator platform 42. The heating problem associated with the cooling system as described in the Figure 3 can be overcome by providing a specialized shield integrated with the radiator. The modified rear fender has a vertical projection shield to protect the rear suspension 11. Furthermore, the platform 42 shields the air filter 4. The modified rear fender assembly is more clearly explained in the Figure 5.
[00021] The second space is formed substantially upwardly of said air filter (4) and downwardly of said rider seat (14), wherein said second space is at a predetermined distance from said cylinder head portion (15) of said engine (3), said second space accommodating at least one heat exchanging device (21). The pre-determined distance being calculated and based on the factors like heat radiation from cylinder.
[00022] Figure 5 shows side view of the modified with the rear suspension shield 40, rear fender 41 and radiator platform 42. The radiator platform 42 shields the air filter 4 from hot air coming from the radiator. The vertical extended projection of the rear fender 41 shields the rear suspension 11.
[00023] Figure 6 shows top view of the modified rear fender 41 with the rear suspension shield 40 and radiator platform 42. By disposing the heat-exchanging medium above the rear fender, the radiator is protected from possible mud splash and water splash while vehicle is moving. Furthermore, by using suspension shield 40, the heat radiated from the heat exchanger is diverted to avoid the heating of suspension that improves the suspension life and operability.
,CLAIMS:We claim:
1. A two wheeled vehicle (1) comprising:
a rearwardly disposed and horizontally mounted internal combustion engine (3), said engine being liquid cooled;
at least one side tube (22,23) extending rearwardly upwardly from a down tube (20);
a rider seat (14) disposed above said at least one side tube (22,23);
a storage compartment (7) supported on said at least one side tube (22,23) and disposed substantially below said rider seat (14), wherein said storage compartment (7) is disposed substantially forwardly in a first space formed between a portion of said rider seat (14) and a cylinder head portion of said internal combustion engine (3); and
an air filter (4) disposed substantially rearwardly upward portion of said internal combustion engine (3); characterized in that:
a second space is formed substantially upwardly of said air filter (4) and downwardly of said rider seat (14), wherein said second space is disposed at a predetermined distance from said cylinder head portion (15) of said engine (3), said second space accommodating at least one heat exchanging device (21).

2. The two wheeled vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a substantially vertical projection and a flat portion is formed in the said rear fender (41) to shield the said rear suspension (11) and air filter (4) respectively.

3. The two wheeled vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a portion of the said heat exchanger (21) lies on the said vehicle longitudinal axis (25).

4. The two wheeled vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a portion of the said heat exchanger (21) is below pillion portion of the said rider seat (14).

5. The two wheeled vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a portion of the said heat exchanger (21) lies in front of the said tail lamp (13).