Heating apparatus and method for vehicle
US5829676A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 12, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 3, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 12, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF24V40/00
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A heating method and apparatus for vehicles. A viscous fluid type heater is located in a vehicle fluid circuit. The heater has a heating chamber that holds viscous fluid and a rotor. The rotor rotates to shear the viscous fluid and produce heat. The heat is transmitted to a heat exchange chamber located adjacent to the heating chamber. The rotor rotates at variable rotation velocity, which affects the temperature of the viscous fluid. Circulating fluid in the fluid circuit and is heated in the heat exchange chamber. The heater includes a reservoir chamber communicating with the heating chamber to store viscous fluid. The heater has a valve that selectively connects and disconnects the reservoir chamber with the heating chamber to regulate heat production. The apparatus has a detecting device for detecting a temperature or a speed that is indicative of the temperature of the viscous fluid. The apparatus also has a controller for controlling the valve to reduce heat production when the temperature of the viscous fluid is deemed to be high.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.