TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter relates generally to a cooling system. More particularly
but not specifically, the present invention relates to the cooling system for a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In general, an automobile includes an engine block coupled with other components
and suspended on a body frame with pair of wheels. Such automobile, often referred
to as a two-wheeled vehicle or a three-wheeled vehicle or a multi-wheeled vehicle,
may include a vehicle body cover which surrounds the engine to improve the outer appearance
of the vehicle and protect the component elements of the vehicle. In order to make
automobile appealing to diverse groups, various models of automobile designs have
been developed.
[0003] Conventionally, these appealing automobiles has various multitude of components and
parts fixed at various place on the vehicle which offers an unnecessary hurdle for
heat dissipation from heat generating or heat releasing parts. Hence, the design and
manufacturing of a cooling system plays a significant role for making appealing automobile
at high pace with effective cooling and better safety. An effective cooling system
enhances the engine efficiency and running efficiency of the automobile. Further,
effective cooling can improve rider comfort by reducing un-desired noise produced
by the cooling system as well as enhance performance & durability of the powertrain
as whole.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The detailed description is given with reference to the accompanying figures. The
same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components.
Fig. 1. illustrates the side view of a two-wheeled vehicle employing an embodiment of the
present subject matter.
Fig. 2. illustrates the isometric view of the two-wheeled vehicle after the side panel and
other style parts are removed according to the embodiment of present subject matter.
Fig. 3 illustrates a rear view of a cooling system with a heat exchanging device in accordance
with the present subject matter.
Fig. 4 illustrates the exploded side view of the cooling system with the heat exchanging
device in accordance with the present subject matter.
Fig. 5a illustrates a top view of a cooling fan in accordance with the present subject matter.
Fig. 5b illustrates a front view of the cooling fan in accordance with the present subject
matter.
Fig. 5c illustrates a side view of the cooling fan in accordance with the present subject
matter.
Fig. 6a depicts exemplary curve for cooling efficiency plotted against ratio, in accordance
with another embodiment of the present subject matter.
Fig. 6b depicts exemplary curve for noise plotted against ratio, in accordance with another
embodiment of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0005] Various features and embodiments of the present invention here will be discernible
from the following further description thereof, set out hereunder. According to an
embodiment, pair of wheels is described here to operate an automobile. The pair of
wheels is installed in a step through type two wheeled vehicle colloquially called
as scooter. It is pertinent to note that the pair of wheels may be mounted in two
wheeled vehicles in different arrangements. However, in the ensuing description, such
pair of wheels is disposed at extreme ends of the step through type two wheeled vehicle.
It is contemplated that the concepts of the present invention may be applied to other
types of vehicles and other types of casting methods within the spirit and scope of
this invention. Further "front" and "rear", and "left" and "right" referred to in
the ensuing description of the illustrated embodiment refer to front and rear, and
left and right directions as seen from a rear portion of the vehicle and looking forward.
The detailed explanation of the constitution of parts other than the present invention
which constitutes an essential part has been omitted at suitable places.
[0006] During operation of an IC engine, the burning of fuel and air occurs inside an internal
combustion (IC) engine generating mechanical energy which provides motive force for
movement of an automobile. But, this operation generates lot of thermal energy in
and around the IC engine which must be extracted out of the IC engine. Hence, it is
necessary to cool the IC engine, and many saddle type two & three wheeled vehicles
employ liquid cooling systems to cool the IC engine. In liquid cooling systems, a
coolant is pumped under pressure and circulates to critical hot zones of the IC engine
in passages. This helps to extract heat from various parts of the IC engine and maintains
an optimum operating temperature for the IC engine to operate. A heat exchanging device
is usually employed in such liquid cooling systems wherein the hot coolant is cooled
and the cooled coolant is circulated back for the next cycle. Within the heat exchanging
device, the coolant is made to pass through long circuitous passages and constant
flow of air is passed through its core to extract the heat. The flow of air is obtained
when the vehicle is moving by taking advantage of the impinging air flow from a front
direction and assisted by a cooling system which helps draws in the air and direct
the hot air out of the heat exchanging device after circulation especially when the
vehicle is running at low speed, as at higher speed of the vehicle the natural air
coming from the front is sufficient to cool the coolant circulating through the hat
exchanging device. Generally, in two wheeled vehicles the heat exchanging device is
disposed towards the front of the vehicle to take advantage of the incoming air from
the front during motion. Behind the heat exchanging device, the cooling system is
present to cool the coolant circulating through the heat exchanging device for controlling
the IC engine temperature.
[0007] Further, with a view to incorporate look, and aesthetic value to the vehicle large
side panels enclose the two sides of the vehicle in order to give a sporty look. The
side panels enclose the heat exchanging device, the cooling system to form a substantial
central region on the front to permit ingress of air and exits on either side behind
on the rear of the side panels to permit hot air exit after passing through the heat
exchanging device and the cooling system. However, due to the presence of the side
panels and other aesthetic value parts there is a limited area present for the entry
of the air to cool the IC engine. Hence, there is a requirement of high cooling rate
from the cooling system to cool the IC engine and control the IC engine temperature.
As the heat exchanging device is provided to cool the IC engine and the cooling system
is provided to cool the heat exchanging device. So, for getting high cooling rate
from the cooling system for the heat exchanging device, there is a need of developing
an efficient cooling system without making any layout changes in the vehicle & having
a cooling system of compact size and dimensions.
[0008] In general, the cooling system comprises a shroud, a motor and a cooling fan. The
cooling fan operates at a certain operating speed and generates air flow for air suction
coming out from the heat exchanging device. The cooling fan is having plurality of
blades and the plurality of blades comprises a first end and a second end which is
attached with a ring. The cooling system efficiency is directly proportional to the
air flow coming out from the cooling fan. Because when more air flow comes out from
the cooling fan then cooling of coolant circulating through the heat exchanging device
takes place rapidly. Hence, in order to increase the cooling rate, it is recommended
to have higher cooling fan air flow rate. Conventionally, the high cooling rate is
achieved by increasing the cooling fan dimension. But due to the presence of the side
panels and other aesthetic value parts there is a layout space constraint for increasing
the cooling fan or the cooling system size and dimension.
[0009] Further, the cooling system operations are controlled by a controller. The controller
in general considers coolant temperature as an input to control the cooling system
operations. For example, if coolant temperature reaches to a predetermined temperature
then the controller turns on the cooling system and the cooling system remains on
until coolant temperature reaches up to another predetermined temperature. Now, in
general the cooling system are having low cooling rate efficiency or low air flow
rate then the life of the cooling system parts such as the shroud, the motor and the
plurality of the blades of the cooling fan also comes down significantly.
[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and other problems, the present subject
matter is providing a cooling system configured to provide higher cooling rate without
increasing the cooling system size and dimension. As the present invention, discloses
the cooling system with the cooling fan which comprises plurality of blades and the
plurality of blades having a first end and a second end. The second end is partially
connected with a ring in accordance with a predetermined ratio between a ring height
and a blade height for increasing the cooling rate from the cooling system with minimal
noise and substantially optimum structural strength to the blade.
[0011] Due to the cooling system disclosed in the present invention which is based on the
predetermined ratio between a ring height and a blade height, the cooling fan throws
out more air coming out from the heat exchanging device. As under the head of the
predetermined ratio the ring height is maintained smaller than the blade height to
minimize the obstruction coming in the out flow of the air while leaving the cooling
fan. This results in a significant increase in the air flow coming out from the cooling
fan. Since, cooling system efficiency is directly proportional to the air flow coming
out from the cooling fan, Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the cooling system
for the heat exchanging device is also increased significantly without making any
change in the size and dimension of the cooling fan or the cooling system. Additionally,
plurality of ribs joining the shroud and a motor box is also reduced for providing
better cooling efficiency by removing obstruction coming in the air flow coming out
from the cooling fan. Further, the predetermined ratio also helps the blade to obtain
substantially optimum structural strength against the flow of the air through the
ring. Furthermore, the cooling system is offering minimal resistance to the air going
out from the cooling fan and this results in very minimal noise coming out from the
cooling system. This ensures that sufficient cooling requirements are available all
time around the internal combustion engine parts without causing any inconvenience
to the rider.
[0012] With the above design of the cooling system, the cooling efficiency or the cooling
fan flow rate is increased significantly with substantially optimum structural strength
to the blade, and helps in maintaining cooling requirements around the internal combustion
engine. The proposed subject matter is simple in construction and easy to remove and
mount giving rise to improved serviceability.
[0013] It is an aspect of the present subject matter to provide efficient cooling system
without making any change in the size and dimension of the cooling fan or the cooling
system.
[0014] It is another aspect of the present subject matter to reduce the weight of the cooling
system.
[0015] It is another aspect of the present subject matter to enhance the durability of the
cooling system.
[0016] It is advantage of the present subject matter that the noise coming out from the
cooling system is not inconvenient for the rider.
[0017] It is an effect of the present subject matter that the blade of the cooling fan is
having substantially optimum structural strength to stand against the flow of the
air.
[0018] The aforesaid and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described
in greater detail in conjunction with the figures in the following description.
[0019] Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of a two-wheeled straddle type vehicle
(100), for example, a motorcycle
(100), in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. A frontward direction
is indicated by an arrow
F, and a rearward direction indicated by an arrow
R provided in the top of the figure. The vehicle
(100) is extending from the front direction to the rear direction along the vehicle longitudinal
axis
(F-R). In an embodiment; the two-wheeled vehicle
(100) of the present subject matter comprises a frame assembly
(102). All the portions of the frame assembly
(102) are made of light weight metal alloy tubes joined together in a triangular form to
reinforce and support the vehicular components. The two-wheeled vehicle
(100) includes a front wheel
(104) steered by a handlebar
(108) and a rear wheel
(105) supported by a swing arm
(113). Steering assembly parts including the visor assembly
(131), the handlebar
(108) and the front wheel
(104) are supported for pivotal steering operation on a head tube (
123-shown in Fig.2) at the front end of the vehicle body frame
(102). A rider seat
(109) for a rider and a seat for a pillion rider
(110) are placed rearward to a fuel tank
(114). The IC engine
(101) is disposed below the fuel tank
(114) on the front portion of the two-wheeled vehicle. A front fender
(115) is provided above the front wheel
(104) to avoid the vehicle occupants from being splashed with mud. Likewise, a rear fender
(116) is placed above the rear wheel
(105), and to the outer side in the radial direction of rear wheel
(105). The rear fender
(116) inhibits rainwater or the like from being thrown up by rear wheel
(105). The swing arm
(113) along with a rear suspension assembly
(107) is supported at a rear portion
(R) thereof for pivotal motion by the frame assembly
(102). A front suspension assembly
(106) for providing better ride comfort to the rider. In general terms, both the front
suspension
(106) and rear suspension
(107) act as shock absorbers and help cushion the vehicle on uneven roads. The two-wheeled
vehicle
(100) further comprises of a headlamp
(111), a tail lamp assembly
(112) and at least two turn signal lamps.
[0020] The two-wheeled vehicle
(100) comprises two large side panels
(120) (only one shown) disposed on either side enclosing the sides of the front portion
(F) of the two-wheeled vehicle
(100). The side panel
(120) extends from the visor assembly
(131) on the upper region till the IC engine
(101) on the lower region almost enclosing the all components supported by the main frame
portion
(103) of the two-wheeled vehicle
(101). Due to the presence of the side panel
(120) and other style parts there is only a major way
(150) is available for air to enter inside the vehicle
(100) for cooling the IC engine
(101). Through the major way
(150) the air is drawn from a small inlet opening
(132) below the headlamp assembly
(111) and above the front fender
(115).
[0021] Fig. 2. illustrates the isometric view of the two-wheeled vehicle
(100) with a side panel
(120) and other outer body members of the two-wheeled vehicle which are removed according
to the embodiment of the present subject matter. In the present embodiment, the frame
assembly
(102) is the trellis type frame, and comprises the head tube
(123), a main frame portion
(103), a down frame portion
(124), and a rear frame portion
(125). The front suspension assembly
(106) includes a pair of front forks
(106a and
106b). In an embodiment; a heat exchanging device
(302) disposed in the front portion of the two-wheeled vehicle
(100) when the side panel
(120) is removed. The heat exchanging device
(302) functions to exchange heat of flowing coolant with the flowing air and forms part
of the engine coolant cooling system. A cooling system
(300) is disposed towards the rear of the heat exchanging device
(302) and on operation draws air from the atmosphere through the heat exchanging device
(302) thus extracting heat from the engine coolant. The air is drawn from the small inlet
opening
(132) through the major way
(150) below the headlamp assembly
(111) and above the front fender
(115). The air being drawn inside passes through the heat exchanging device
(302) and flows downstream of the cooling system
(300) wherein an air deflecting structure
(400) is disposed. The heat exchanging device
(302) is mounted to the frame assembly
(102) with aid of bosses disposed on the upper part of the heat exchanging device
(302) and the cooling system
(300) is mounted on rear part of the heat exchanging device
(302).
[0022] Fig. 3 illustrates a rear view of the cooling system
(300) with the heat exchanging device
(302) in accordance with the present subject matter. Typically, the cooling system
(300) is used in the automobile
(100) to control the internal combustion engine
(101) temperature. In present embodiment, the cooling system
(300) is used in the two-wheeled vehicle
(100) for cooling a coolant flowing through the heat exchanging device
(302). Further, the heat exchanging device
(302) is to cool and control the internal combustion engine
(101) temperature. The cooling system
(300) is located in the automobile
(300) behind the heat exchanging device
(302) which is also interchangeably termed as a radiator assembly
(302). The heat exchanging device
(302) receives the coolant from the internal combustion engine
(101). The coolant is used in the internal combustion engine
(101) to extract the heat generated inside the internal combustion engine
(101). Once, the coolant is passed through the heat exchanging device
(302). The heat exchanging device
(302) is use to transfer the temperature of coolant to the atmospheric air through heat
exchange process which includes forced cooling.
[0023] Conventionally, forced cooling occurs with the help of the cooling system
(300) located behind the heat exchanging device
(302). The cooling system
(300) in general comprises a shroud
(320) with plurality of ribs
(310), a motor
(315) and a cooling fan
(301) with a ring
(305). The cooling fan
(301) is interchangeably termed as a radiator fan
(301). The cooling fan
(301) operates at a certain operating speed and generated air flow. The cooling system
(300) efficiency is directly proportional to the air flow coming out from the cooling fan
(304). In order to increase the cooling rate, it is recommended to have higher fan air flow
rate.
[0024] Fig. 4 illustrates the exploded side view of the cooling system
(300) with the heat exchanging device
(302) in accordance with the present subject matter. A frontward direction is indicated
by an arrow
F, and a rearward direction indicated by an arrow
R provided in the top of the figure. The vehicle
(100) is extending from the front direction to the rear direction along the vehicle longitudinal
axis
(F-R). The heat exchanging device
(302) is in front of the vehicle ahead of the cooling system
(300). The cooling fan
(301) is having a hub
(333- shown in
Fig. 5b) and plurality of blades
(304). The plurality of blades
(304) comprises a first end
(304a) and a second end
(304b). The first end
(304a) of plurality of blades
(304) is disposed towards the shroud
(320) and second end
(304b) of plurality of blades
(304) is disposed towards the heat exchanging device
(302). The second end
(304b) is in partial contact with the ring
(305) in accordance with a predetermined ratio
(b/a-shown in
Fig. 5a) between a ring height
(b- shown in
Fig. 5a) and a blade height
(a-- shown in
Fig. 5a) for increasing cooling rate from said cooling system
(300) with minimal noise. The predetermined ratio
(b/a-shown in
Fig. 5a) between the ring height
(b) and the blade height
(a) ensures that minimal obstruction comes in the air flow coming out from the cooling
fan
(301) with substantially optimum structural strength to the plurality of blades
(304). As the cooling system
(300) is receiving hot air from the heat exchanging device
(302) and taking hot air away from the heat exchanging device
(302) majorly through the cooling fan
(301). The hot air is coming out from the heat exchanging device
(302) after taking heat from the coolant which is flowing through-out the heat exchanging
device
(302). Further, the cooling system
(300) efficiency is directly proportional to the air flow coming out from the cooling fan
(301). Because when more air flow comes out from the cooling fan
(301) then cooling of coolant circulating through the heat exchanging device
(302) takes place rapidly. Once coolant temperature is controlled effectively then the
internal combustion (IC) engine
(101) temperature is also remain in control. Hence, in order to increase the cooling rate,
the present subject matter is providing higher cooling fan
(301) air flow rate through the predetermined ratio
(b/a-shown in
Fig. 5a) between the ring height
(b-shown in
Fig. 5a) and the blade height
(a-shown in
Fig. 5a) without making any change in the size of the cooling system
(300). Moreover, maintaining the size of the cooling system
(300) is very much essential due to the presence of the side panels and other aesthetic
value parts in the two-wheeled vehicle
(100). As the presence of the side panels
(120) and other aesthetic value parts creates a space constraint for increasing the cooling
fan or the cooling system size and dimension. Further, in an embodiment, the ring
height
(b) is optimized for better flow rate with minimal noise and maximum mechanical strength
to avoid blade distortion over a period of time. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the
ring
(305) is provided on a suction side edge of the plurality of blades
(304) of the cooling fan
(301), such that a minimum possible obstruction to the outflow from the fan is achieved.
[0025] The cooling system
(300) disclosed in the present invention provides the cooling fan
(301) for throwing out more air coming out from the heat exchanging device
(302). As under the head of the predetermined ratio
(b/a-shown in
Fig. 5a) the ring height
(b-shown in
Fig. 5a) is smaller than the blade height
(a-shown in
Fig. 5a) to minimize the obstruction coming in the out flow of the air while leaving the cooling
fan
(301). This results in a significant increase in the air flow coming out from the cooling
fan
(301). Since, cooling system efficiency is directly proportional to the air flow coming
out from the cooling fan
(301). Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the cooling system for the heat exchanging device
is also increased significantly without making any change in the size and dimension
of the cooling fan or the cooling system
(300).
[0026] Moreover, the plurality of ribs
(310) joining the shroud
(320) and a motor box
(315) is also reduced for providing better cooling efficiency by removing obstruction coming
in the air flow coming out from the cooling fan
(301). Further, the predetermined ratio
(b/a-shown in
Fig. 5a) also helps the plurality of blades
(304) to obtain substantially optimum structural strength against the flow of the air through
the ring
(305). Furthermore, the cooling system
(300) is offering minimal resistance to the air going out from the cooling fan
(301) and this result in very minimal noise coming out from the cooling system. This ensures
that sufficient cooling requirements are available all time around the internal combustion
engine parts without causing any inconvenience to the rider.
[0027] The cooling system
(300) has the shroud
(320) with a shroud height
(c). In present embodiment, the shroud height
(c) is equal or less than the ring height
(b-shown in
Fig. 5a) for offering no obstruction in the air flow coming out from the cooling fan
(301). Further, the shroud height
(c) is longitudinally extending only towards the heat exchanging device
(302) and is restricted for extending in the other direction of the heat exchanging device
(302) for offering no obstruction in the air flow coming out from the cooling fan
(301). In present embodiment, the shroud height
(c) is longitudinally extending only in the front direction
(F) of the vehicle
(100).
[0028] Further, operations of the cooling system
(300) disclosed in present subject matter are controlled by a controller. The controller
in general considers coolant temperature as an input to control the cooling system
(300) operations. In present embodiment, the cooling system
(300) the cooling fan
(301) is based on the predetermined ratio
(b/a-shown in
Fig. 5a) to providing more air flow going out from the cooling fan
(301) and this increases the air flow rate and the cooling efficiency. Due to the increased
cooling efficiency, the cooling fan
(301) is able to through-out more air with less rotation while maintaining controlling
coolant temperature of the coolant flowing in the heat exchanging device
(302). When the efficient cooling fan
(301) is running less time, then the motor
(303) is also running less for controlling coolant temperature. When parts of the cooling
system
(300) are running less time for controlling the coolant temperature than the life & durability
of the cooling system
(300) and the cooling system parts
(300) such as the shroud
(320), the motor
(303) and the plurality of the blades
(304) of the cooling fan
(301) increases significantly.
[0029] Fig. 5a, 5b, and 5c illustrates a top view, a front view and a side view of the cooling fan
(301) in accordance with the present subject matter. The cooling fan
(301) is having the hub
(333) and plurality of blades
(304). The plurality of blades
(304) comprises the first end
(304a) and the second end
(304b). The first end
(304a) of plurality of blades
(304) is in contact with the hub
(333). The second end
(304b) is in partial contact with the ring
(305) in accordance with the predetermined ratio
(b/a) between the ring height
(b) and the blade height
(a) for increasing cooling rate from said cooling system
(300) with minimal noise. The predetermined ratio
(b/a) between the ring height
(b) and the blade height
(a) ensures that minimal obstruction comes in the air flow coming out from the cooling
fan
(301) with substantially optimum structural strength to the plurality of blades
(304). In present embodiment, the predetermined ratio
(b/a) value is less than or equal to
0.80
[0030] Fig. 6a depicts exemplary curve for cooling efficiency plotted against ratio between ring
height
(b) and blade height
(a), in accordance with another embodiment of the present subject matter. In present embodiment,
when the ratio between ring height
(b) and blade height
(a) lies in the range of the predetermined ratio
(b/a) which is less than or equal to
0.80 then the air coming out from the cooling system
(300) increases significantly because under the head of the predetermined ratio
(b/a) the ring height
(b) is smaller than the blade height
(a) to provide more space to the air while leaving the cooling fan
(301) with substantially optimum structural strength to the plurality of blades
(304) against the flow of the air through the ring
(305). Additionally, less number of the plurality of ribs
(310) is also for providing better cooling efficiency by removing obstruction coming in
the air flow coming out from the cooling fan
(301). Further, under the head of the predetermined ratio
(b/a) the cooling efficiency of the cooling system
(300) for the heat exchanging device
(302) increases significantly without increasing the size of the cooling system
(300) or the cooling fan
(301).
[0031] Fig. 6b depicts exemplary curve for noise level plotted against ratio between ring height
(b) and blade height
(a), in accordance with another embodiment of the present subject matter. In present embodiment,
when the ratio between ring height
(b) and blade height
(a) lies in the range of the predetermined ratio
(b/a) which is less than or equal to
0.80 then the noise level coming out from the cooling system
(300) reduces significantly because under the head of the predetermined ratio
(b/a) the ring height
(b) is smaller than the blade height
(a) to minimize the obstruction coming in the out flow of the air while leaving the cooling
fan
(301). Additionally, the presence of less number of the plurality of ribs
(310) is providing less obstruction to the air flow coming out from the cooling fan
(301). Further, the predetermined ratio
(b/a) value which is less than or equal to
0.80 provides the plurality of blades
(304) substantially optimum structural strength against the flow of the air through the
ring
(305). This ensures that sufficient cooling requirements are available all time around the
internal combustion engine parts without causing any noise related inconvenience to
the rider.
[0032] While preferred embodiments of the present subject matter have been described above,
it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those
skilled in the art without departing the scope and spirit of the present subject matter.