Thermostat Inside Water Pump for Compact Engine Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine cooling apparatus designs, where the thermostat is attached to the water pump from the outside, increase the engine's width dimension and complicate the external appearance and assembly of pipes, leading to a less aesthetically pleasing and more difficult to assemble engine.
Innovation Solution
The thermostat is attached to the water pump from the inside in the vehicle width direction, allowing it to overlap the crankcase, thus preventing protrusion and simplifying pipe connections, which reduces the engine's width dimension and improves its external appearance and pipe assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the thermostat is attached to the water pump from the outside in the vehicle width direction, then the thermostat can be easily installed and accessed, but the engine's width dimension increases and the external appearance becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The thermostat is attached to the water pump from the inside in the vehicle width direction, utilizing the internal space of the water pump housing. This dimensional repositioning allows the thermostat to overlap the crankcase in front view, preventing protrusion and maintaining a compact engine width while preserving installation accessibility through the water pump assembly process
2Ease of operation
If the thermostat is attached to the water pump from the outside, then the thermostat is easily accessible for maintenance, but the pipe connections become complicated and the external appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The thermostat is integrated into the water pump assembly by attaching it to the inside of the water pump housing. This merging of components consolidates the cooling system architecture, simplifying pipe connections as they can be routed through the water pump's existing flow paths rather than requiring separate external connections, while maintaining accessibility during water pump maintenance procedures
3Ease of manufacture
If the thermostat protrudes from the crankcase to the outside, then the thermostat can be easily connected to pipes, but the engine's width dimension increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermostat is nested within the water pump housing, which itself is attached to the crankcase. This nested configuration allows the thermostat to be positioned inside the water pump's internal volume, overlapping the crankcase in front view, thereby eliminating the need for external protrusion while maintaining pipe connection accessibility through the water pump's integrated flow channels
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces the engine's size by preventing width dimension increase, enhances its external appearance by making pipes less conspicuous, and simplifies pipe assembly, resulting in a more compact and visually appealing engine cooling system.
Implementation Method 1
a radiator configured to radiate heat of cooling water that has passed through the engine
Implementation Method 2
a water pump configured to eject cooling water toward the engine
Data Source
AI summary
An engine cooling apparatus configured to circulate cooling water between an engine and a radiator is provided. A cylinder is provided on an upper part of a crankcase in the engine and the radiator is configured to radiate heat of the cooling water that has passed through the engine. The engine cooling apparatus includes a water pump configured to eject cooling water toward the engine, and a thermostat configured to send cooling water to the radiator in response to a cooling water temperature. The water pump is attached to the crankcase from an outside in a vehicle width direction. The thermostat is attached to the water pump from an inside in the vehicle width direction. The thermostat overlaps the crankcase in a front view of the engine.